can you use a generator to power a home circuit?

Question

Can you power a home curcuit by using a generator and a male-male extention cord plugged into a wall outlet?

Answer 1

Quick & Dirty - Potentially Dangerous
The right thing to do is have a licensed electrician install a transfer box which essentially disconnects the house from the power line comming into the house and then connects the generator to predetermined circuits in the house. This prevents power from the generator from energizing the power line while utility people might be working on repairs and distributes power via breaker protection to specific devices/circuits in the house.

You could disconnect the house from the power line by switching off/removing/disconnecting the main circuit breakers from the breaker box where the power line enters the house. This will prevent electric power from backfeeding into the utility power lines and eliminates one potentially life threatening danger.

Now, if you plug the generator into an outlet, the generator power does not go thru the circuit breaker that normally protects all the other things connected to the same circuit as that outlet. And, if all the individual breaker switches in the breaker box are on, some of the other circuits in the house might also be energized by the generator unless ALL the breaker switches are turned off. The only protection on this circuit now is whatever the generator breaker offers which could be more power than that one circuit should have.

I'm assuming the generator would be providing 110V and not 220V. So, there are even more concerns regarding 220V circuits. Potentially, having only one side of a 220V circuit energized, could damage some devices like motors, pumps, etc.

Messing around with electricity and power panels can be very dangerous; a licensed electrician is you best, safest bet.

Answer 2

You can, but don't do it! Male to male power connections are very dangerous! You also risk back feeding the power system if you forget to turn off the main breaker to the house, which could electrocute line workers who are expecting a "dead" circuit. Spend the money on having a proper transfer switch installed. The transfer switch makes it impossible to back feed the utility. Depending on the size of the generator, you can have a whole house transfer switch installed as I did, or if it's a smaller generator, Generic (among others) sells a transfer switch that only switches the generator to "critical loads", such as your refrigerator, a couple of lights, etc.

Answer 3

No!!!! You would need an expensive transfer switch to do this properly. Also connecting "male to male" is dangerous because of the two prongs on one male being hot. That cord can easily be unplugged while the generator is on and have "hot" prongs exposed. Also if you did this you would only be able to safely supply 15 amps because of the size of the wiring and the supply breaker to the outlet.

Answer 4

Call an expert in this field before you try to power up with a generator. Plugging into a home must be done thru a set up at the Breaker box. You will need to purchase a special hook up for that method. Call you nearest electrical contractor. But plugging into a plug into the house. NO

Answer 5

Most people that answered this question are correct, never ever use a "male to male" connection. There is a reason behind the design of the female being "hot". Also good guidance here with the mandantory use of a transfer switch. The backfeed could kill a lineman "downstream" from your property. I suggest the contacting of a licensed, professional Electrician.

Answer 6

To answer your question, yes... it can be done. A male-to-male cord will backfeed any circuit it is plugged in to. But please read on.

Unless you know what you are doing, you will also backfeed any breakers which are on the same panel, as well as the main coming from the utility. This is a terribly dangerous condition which could destroy property or kill someone.

If you are going to do this safely, you MUST install a transfer switch which will ensure that the circuit are isolated BEFORE power transfer occurs.

Answer 7

depending on the out put of your generater , no. unless you have a machine than will produce the amperage where it would be 100 or 200 or what ever your service may be. it is possible to install am emergency generator. and never use a male to male on an extention cord---never!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Not all of them, check with an electrician or the electric company first. You could blow up your meter or the generator.

I saw a man take out five feet of a fourplex trying to hook up a generator, it can be dangerous.

Answer 9

yes you can. there is a device that can be installed next to your breaker box for this purpose. ask an electrician. much safer than an extention cord.