Generator Cord

[Pierre C Belarge]

I was inspecting some work where the basement of a large building was flooded (2,000,000 gallons were pumped out by the fire department).
There was an interesting cord that I had not seen before...I do not get out much anymore:wink:

The cord had a UL listing label on it.

It started on one end as a 240V- 30 amp connector - plugged into the generator. The 30 amp end is twistlock.

The cord is about 25 feet long.
The other end has a small plastic box with fuses in it for the individual female cord caps. These cord caps are 120V- 15 amps.

Have any of you worked with these before?

 

[jerm]

I saw one plugged into a resi genset on one of the (60+) service-rebuild calls I took before/during the holidays. Very nice indeed- everyone with a decent size portable generator should have one.

Besides that cord/fuse/adapter thing, I also remember that specific house because I rebuilt the service twice. The first time it came off the wall due to the ice storm. The second time it came off the wall (after I had rebuilt it) due to tree hacks working in the backyard cutting on limbs without ropes in the right places. The HO paid for the first rebuild, the tree guys paid for the other one. The inspector called me to tell me that the service looked great, passed, and would I come and do it again? (He was there when the limb got cut, apparently)

The other 59 service rebuilds are all a blur. I'm not even sure I could find a single address I visited.

 

[stickboy1375]

I own one of those cords, it came with my portable generator that I use for my house.

 

[KP2]

I have seen them come with small gen-sets, however not with individual fuses before. That's nice.

 

[480sparky]

I have seen them come with small gen-sets, however not with individual fuses before. That's nice.

Small gennies probably don't need fuses in them, the output is 20a anyway.

 

[jerm]

the output is 20a anyway.

on a 30a plug? is that kosher?

 

[TOOL_5150]

Ive seen those @ big orange and blue stores many times - they come with some gen sets.

~Matt

 

[goldstar]

This is the generator mrf's answer to getting more small generator sales from the big box stores. I guess the mfr's started to realize that sales were dropping when the average consumer started to realize that they would need an electrician to install a manual xfer switch for these generators. I could be wrong but I thought initially these generators were being sold with small manual xfer switches and when sales weren't up to par the mfr's stareted selling these cords to make it easier for the average consumer to own a generator

Small gennies probably don't need fuses in them, the output is 20a anyway

on a 30a plug? is that kosher?

I don't see it as a problem. If the circuits weren't individually fused then I would say there would be a problem. If the total load on the 30 amp circuit was drawing more that the specified amperage then either the breaker would trip or the generator would bog down and crap out.

 

[jrannis]

Marine applications have a cord that goes from 30amp twistlock to 20amp straight blade. (or is it the other way around?)