Residential Service

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Re: Residential Service

Originally posted by davedottcom:
I just finished a rather lengthy reply only to lose it after getting bumped off line! :(

I do hate when I make a good reply only to lose it in cyberspace. :(

Well have at it, try again, don't be a post tease. :D
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Re: Residential Service

Dave,

AOL is it's own conspiracy. And the worst part is that they make these special CD cases for their incesant marketing campain that I can't even put to any real use cause they don't fit anything made for CD's.

Alas, if they'd only put that money toward servers instead of mailing costs and my garbage bill.
 
Re: Residential Service

All i want or expect from my 5500 watts is to keep the frig going,charge up my ups battery for computer and lights,run tv/radio,run water pump,water heater,maybe a few ceiling fans,electric coffee maker,cook top.In the event of another hurricane season like last year all most want is to be able to survive.We do not need everything at one time.I had a friend in the everglades that kept a rustic cabin going with 12 volt system,photocell,propane range and frig.A back up generator when needed.One can get by fine without a 100 amp or even 60 amp service.My 5500 at half load takes 6 gallons and runs 12 hours.How can a ahj demand anyone to have a electrical system if electric from a poco is not available ? Can they evict a tenant that does not pay for electric to get turned on ? I hope that day never comes.
 
Re: Residential Service

702.5 does allow an install just like I described for the little old lady, but at the same time it says the system shall have adequate capacity... :roll:

Here's where I think there is a problem. It doesn't limit the intial load that is automatically applied before anyone has a chance to "select" the load. The people might not even be home. They could be on vacation, thinking the food in their freezers are on "standby" power, and their HVAC sytem is going to keep their house climate controlled. (For pets, mildew etc...)
When they come home they find out their house was out of power for days, and the gen breaker tripped in the first 5 minutes. :roll:
To me that's NOT adequate capacity.

whew...

Now, I'm ALL worked up!


Dave
 
Re: Residential Service

Originally posted by davedottcom:
These people are only thinking about losing power in the summer due to hurricanes)
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You mean 'these people' that are paying for the work? :D

Hey to each their own and I certainly am not going to complain that you want to go beyond the minimum. :cool:

I just believe these design decisions are better left to the people paying for it.

My own generator is sized to run a sump pump and my old burner. It can not run my ACs, dryer, welder etc.
 
Re: Residential Service

Dave.

You can't be serious that because some bafoon can screw up an installation that everybody "must" be only allowed to use a generator that will run the entire service.
 
Re: Residential Service

Ok what you do is go around and mark every item with a #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 your only allowed a total of 7 or the gen goes pooof.Everones needs are differant.Mine is not self starting.When we go on vacation for a week we turn the frig off or take a chance.For about $25 you can buy a digital thermomiter from radio shack and monitor your freezer temp,they also have an alarm you can set if it goes higher than a preselect number. With or without a gen the risk of bad food is there.Perhaps a 30 day timer is needed to show any down time.Personally i can not afford a generator big enough to run everything nor could i store that much fuel.I can risk a $100 worth of food in the event the power goes out and no one was at home.
 
Re: Residential Service

No Sam, that's not at all what I'm saying!

I'm saying every generator has a maximum output.
(Just like a utility transformer)
This max. output should be used to determine how much load it can supply.

I feel the NEC should have us apply a demand calculation, just like we do for Utility power.

Why do they limit the amount of load for a utility service (Requiring a 200 amp service if the min. 100 amp is too small for the load) but they don't limit the load that can be applied on a generator? (Optional power source)

I guess I'm alone on this one!
I'll drop it!

Dave
 
Re: Residential Service

No, I agree that the load on a generator should be within it's rating.
 
Re: Residential Service

Originally posted by davedottcom:
Why do they limit the amount of load for a utility service (Requiring a 200 amp service if the min. 100 amp is too small for the load) but they don't limit the load that can be applied on a generator? (Optional power source)
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It think you answered your own question. :)

Because it is "optional".

It is not dangerous to overload the generator as long as the proper OCPDs have been installed.

[ June 03, 2005, 05:27 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
Re: Residential Service

Originally posted by iwire:
It think you answered your own question. :)

Because it is "optional".
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What? That doesn't answer anything. Using an optional source of power (Temp. or permanent) doesn't change the laws of physics/ electricity?

How Is the generator's electricity different than the utility Co's electricity?

It is not dangerous to overload the generator as long as the proper OCPDs have been installed.
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I would think as long as the proper OCPD's are installed for BOTH power sources, they should be Equally protected.


Obviously the two systems are very different sizes. But once the Utility co. steps down the voltage through your Transformer and the proper OCPD's are installed, how is it so different, or more dangerous than the generator's output?
(There are plenty of Huge generators!)

I'm not trying to argue, there's obviously some reason why the NEC doesn't require a demand load calc. for Generators, but I still don't understand what that reason is.

Dave
 
Re: Residential Service

You can't let the people choose the loads they want,AND,try to write a rule that restricts load.JMO

frank
 
Re: Residential Service

I really love gauges. This is a perfect reason to sell an nice anolog ammeter that looks just like a tachometer. :cool:
 
Re: Residential Service

When a load calc is done on a residence it takes all applicalble circuits in the calculation.Un less a whole house gen set then the circuits designated for the gen set should be the only ones considered to be enerized and load calced :D
 
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