Not exactly. The disconnect switch is there to prevent the generator
from trying to energize the line back out to power lines and pose a
problem for power company personnel who are trying to restore service.
But you are correct in that if your backup generator doesn't have
sufficient capacity to operate the entire house, then you should have a
transfer panel set up to transfer only those essential circuits to the
generator.
I am not nitpicking on terminology - you are dealing with lethal power,
and setting up a backup generator is not like putting a sprinkler on a
garden hose; it takes planning and care to make sure that 1. you don't
electrocute someone (including you), 2. don't burn your house down, and
3. don't asphyxiate you and your family by placing the generator in the
wrong place. While all this might seem obvious, these problems occur all
too often.
Mike
SwampFox wrote:
> That's why most Emergency generators have the essential loads wired through
> a disconnect switch.
> You only want what is "Essential" on the emergency buss,
> At the hospital I worked at the smallest of three A/C units was on the
> emergency buss.
> That was enough to keep the OR cool to close any in progress surgeries.
>
--
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
Email: (msloane@att.net)
Website: <http://www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Blog: <www.mikesloane.blogspot.com
Tractor images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>
Work: none - retired
Our elections are free, it's in the results where eventually we pay.
-Bill Stern, sports announcer (1907-1971)
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