Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

[ramdiesel3500]

Have a homeowner who is trying to save money (as usual ) He has a new transfer switch in his basement and he needs a means for feeding the switch with his portable generator. Here is his idea: Run a 10/3 w/ground romex from the switch to the corner of his basement where the generator will sit just outside the wall. Set a small J-box and switch over to 10/4 SO cord. The cord will be about 25' long and will have a NEMA L14-30 Plug that fits his 7.5KW generator. He wants to bore a hole through the end floor joist (band board) to outside and install a short piece of 3" conduit as a sleeve with a removable cap. Now during a power outage he can remove the cap and poke the flexible cord out through the hole to connect the generator. I smell a violation here, but cannot put my finger on it! Any ideas?

 

[frenchelectrican]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

Ramdiesel3500:

this kind of set up i am not too comfotable with what you describing.

Why not ask him to set up a " generator outlet box " on the wall [not the female end type use the male end and with in use bubble cover for it]

and that way you dont have to worry about the cord storing in a space where the cord can get kinked up or do other damage if not used for while.


i will let other members chime in here too to see their option on this one also


Merci, Marc

 

[charlie b]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

Originally posted by ramdiesel3500:I smell a violation here, but cannot put my finger on it! Any ideas?

408(2), or perhaps 408(6)?

Flexible cord (for example, type SO) is not permitted to be run through holes in walls or floors, nor to be run through raceway.

 

[peteo]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

The question of this penetration might be in 400.8(1) and (2), as Charlie mentioned. Between building, fire, and insurance inspectors, this homeowner is basically dreaming.

Pierre has suggested what sounds much more practical. A regular bubble cover will, of course, not fit a 30 amp twistlock with 10 gauge SO. And then, the cord must be weatherproof (SO is not, see table 400.5) and the other equipment must then be listed for damp locations (406.6). In use doghouse? One alternative would be to use a listed outdoor setup, as for a marina.

Edit: table 400.4 not table 400.5

[ February 10, 2006, 04:11 PM: Message edited by: peteo ]

 

[augie47]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

Marc's idea is real commonplace here. Run NM to a genterator flanged motor outlet mounted in a bubble cover box (these are readily avaialable from a Midwest distributor, Norther Tool, Grainger). His cord set (with male and female end) can be stored and used whenever he needs the generator. (Midwest U030N for example)

[ February 10, 2006, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: augie47 ]

 

[jim dungar]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

I think the term SO was used generically instead of the more correct term "portable or flexible cord". I know of no current manufacturer of SJ or SO only, everything has been SOO-WA for almost 10 years.

 

[LarryFine]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

First of all, we need a power inlet, not outlet for the house's end of the cord. No double-male-ended cords! The flanged inlet should have blades, not slots.

I would spend the $40-50 for a real inlet box, like this one (except the right type, of course):

 

[augie47]

Re: Generator Cord -- Legal installation??

opps thank you, Larry... knew what I meant, said wrong thing..definitely INLET (the catalog # I mentioned was an inlet)