Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

[sceepe]

It's that time of year again. As folks who work in this industry, you are likely to be asked by friends and neighbors questions about generators. Please take the time to explain to them why they should not double end an extension cord and backfeed their panel. Its very tempting to a homeowner to be able to use his panel as a "load selection center" .

 

[charlie]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

I second that, thank you.

 

[tshea]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

More detailed info

Right way to wire generator

Mike Holt's site!

 

[redfish]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

Heard on the news that some poor sole in the hurricane ravaged area was killed today when he stepped on a downed power line. I thought it was common for utility to turn off power before storms, and methodically check prior to energizing them.

 

[charlie]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

We never turn the power off unless an area is wiped out. We then turn it off to make it safe after getting permission from the local disaster control people.

IF A LINE IS DOWN, LEAVE IT ALONE!

Sorry, I don't like to shout but I thought it was important to yell that out.

 

[physis]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

I'm not trying to say anything about the poor guy but I can't think of a good reason to step on a utility wire. Unless he was unaware of it.

 

[mikeames]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

Charlie,

Or any others set me straight if I am wrong. Although I completely agree with the first post, I would expect any lineman to check a line before they work on it, and also take any precautions during working on it. I just feel that its would be silly for a lineman to hurt himself by working carelessly. Am I wrong??? Maybe linemen dont expect some things. I would imagine in that line of work you cant take any chances. There are no second chances at those voltages.

 

[charlie]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

Mike, I agree. Our rules require a set of grounds on each side of our work site. We install 4/0 jumpers from every available phase to the neutral conductor on both sides of the area being worked or to be rubbered up and stick everything with the assumption that it is hot.

With all that said, pile on 24 to 36 hours of work without sleep and you tend to make mistakes. We sometimes get into situations where the line crews work that long and mistakes can happen. That is why we try to stop after 16 hours for 8 hours of down time.

Again, after a few 16 hour days and only 8 hours of down time, you start getting very tired. I would be willing to bet that most of you have done shifts like that and know where I am coming from.

 

[iwire]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

Originally posted by mikeames:
Or any others set me straight if I am wrong. Although I completely agree with the first post, I would expect any lineman to check a line before they work on it, and also take any precautions during working on it. I just feel that its would be silly for a lineman to hurt himself by working carelessly. Am I wrong???

No I do not think your wrong but how many times should the lineman be checking the same circuit?

If you and your coworkers are doing the finish do you quietly turn breakers on expecting your coworkers to check each conductor every time they touch it?

Picture the lineman checks the circuit, finds it dead then starts working on it.

Now Joe homeowner back feeds the line.

Is it the lineman's fault for not continuously checking the line?

 

[jwelectric]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

Originally posted by charlie:

Again, after a few 16 hour days and only 8 hours of down time, you start getting very tired. I would be willing to bet that most of you have done shifts like that and know where I am coming from.

Sometimes in a heated debate here on this site!

Ditto to Bob?s post.

I looked left then right before pulling through the light that was green but I still got T-boned. Oh well I should have kept looking left to right instead of watching where I was going. Sounds crazy don?t

 

[mikeames]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

I see your point but working like Charlie stated would protect against that. " Grounding out before and after the section their working on"...... I see both sides I was just stating a point. I dont disagree. I am was just thinking that these guys work around voltages all day that would make your hair stand up, I would hate to think that silly "Joe Homeowner with the 5KW genset" stepped up to what ever the primary voltage is would get them. I have more confidence in the linemens safe working habits. All in all I will end my debate and agree with this thread.
24 - 36 hours though to be safe all the time.

 

[molotov27]

Re: Hurricane Season Again - DONT BACKFEED

the GOLDEN rule for linemen, electricians, engineers, general public, etc....... ALWAYS assume that the line is energized