Russ said what I was thinking way better than I said it:
Thanks Russ!! :)
-Chuck
Russ wrote:
Are you plugging both extension cords from the generator
into your house wiring when the GFCI blows? Try only plugging one in.
Also, try plugging both into the power strip... well... maybe
after doing the test mentioned below.
One possibility could be that you have the Common on one plug
from the generator connected to Common on the breaker box, but the Hot
from the other plug connected to Common on the breaker box.
An easy test is to use a multimeter to test the voltages across
the 2 plugs from the generator. You should see 120V from each pair, but
when measuring from one spade on one plug to one spade on the other
extension cord plug, you'll see 0V or 240V depending on the combination
you test.
This way, you can determine hot on each plug and make sure they
get to the right spots in the breaker panel.
Russ
---------------------------------------------------------
You Can't Solve a Problem with the Thinking that Created the
Problem - Albert Einstein
On Sep 2, 2008, at 8:57 AM, Robert McElwee wrote:
Several times over the past few years I have killed
my main breaker (as well as all the other breakers), hooked up two
extension cords I made that have double male ends on them, and powered
up both sides of my breaker box with a 5K generator. This year
hurricane season is here so I pulled out my "new" generator (a used 6K
generator my father traded me for a 10K generator I bought for him) and
fired it up. It is running fine so I killed my main breaker and all the
other breakers and tried to back feed into the house through the two
electrical outlets I have always used. Here is what I see:
1) As soon as I plug the generator into the house outlet the GFCI on
the generator trips.
2) Plugging two refrigerators into one of my extension cords (without
the double male patch) works fine.
3) Plugging the double male patch into my extension cord and back
feeding a power strip works fine (power from the generator coming into
one of the strip outlets - the male cord on the outlet just laying on
the ground).
Any ideas? It looks like to me that both my generator and extension
cords with double male ends are working fine. I've tried to plug into a
house outlet (all breakers still off) in several different rooms and it
trips the GFCI every time. I am confused since this is something I have
done many times before with another generator.
--
Robert McElwee and Blue Flash
"The 50 MPG Miata"
www.lightweightmiata.com/mpg
Lightweight Miata Forum:
www.lightweightmiata.com/forum
The Miata Trailer Project:
www.lightweightmiata.com/trailer
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