| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Mr BlueSky |
Quick generator questionI'm wiring my generator into the main fuseboard via some tripswitches in preparation for the cold weather and power cuts ahead.I had planned on using 10 amp trips as the generator is 2.8kw meaning it will supply approximately 12.2 amps. The question is, am I better off going for 16 amp trips to make the best use of the power available as the genny will only supply what it can supply? The trips would obviousely still trip if there was to be a surge such as some dipstick putting a leccy kettle on when it's already close to 12 amps output. |
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| RichardW |
Will you also have a disconect to stop the power going out of the house back up the mains wire? What is the continuos load the genny can handle & the max surge?
Justme |
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| Mr BlueSky |
Erm, you've lost me there.
I have wired 2 sets of trips. One for the mains in to supply the kitchen as normal and a second set to supply the kitchen in a crisis. Also a HUGE note in the connection box to remind me to disconnect the mains trippers before connecting the genny trippers. ALthough the trips accommodate for a straight through 'neutral' I have put this on a separate trip too just in case. All I am concerned about at present is whether to upgrade the 10 amp trips to 16 amp in order to make use of the power the genny will supply. (I am asuming it will use the same amount of petty (more-or-less) at full output as at nearly full)? |
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| dougal |
I'd suggest that you might consider putting switches so that you can have particular house circuits supplied by *either* mains *or* genny.
So you can "switch that circuit" to the genny (and off mains). That'd mean you are completely clear of the mains with the genny... and can control what load the genny sees... and you can leave something (a big obvious light maybe) connected to the mains, so you know when it is restored... You need to watch out for earthing and RCD protection with the genny (no idea about French ways of doing such things, sorry!) |
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| Mr BlueSky |
Thanks Dougal.
That is about what I have done. (in my mind) The only circuit that will be supplied by the backup will be The wall lights and a couple of sockets in the kitchen. Should the power go off (as it will) then I can cut the circuit breakers on the mains for this circuit and leave the main 'disjoncteur' connected. I can then crank up the genny and flip the two circuit breakers to connect the mini-kitchen panel without affecting the rest of the power. Once the main kitchen light comes back on we will know the mains is back and can then turn of the backup. Does that make any sense?  It does to me ... 
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| dougal |
I'm not sure about the business of *two* circuit breakers to move one circuit to an alternate source...
You need a single DPDT switch. (Suitably rated) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DPDT No error potential. And I'd put a lock on it, to ensure no inadvertent use... |
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| Mr BlueSky |
Yeah, I know exactly what you are getting at but I consider myself competent enough and the genny will be going with me if ever I move house. 
I have just ordered 4x16 amp trips from Castorama-online. |
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| vegplot |
You'll have to ensure that you can disconnect from the grid during mains outages otherwise you can electrify the grid while workman are working on the lines. I think it's called automatic grid-disconnect. | ||
| dougal |
Yep, that's why (if he used a DPDT) there would be no way it was possible to apply voltage to the mains. There shouldn't be any way, as long as he uses his switches sensibly. But for proper safety, it really ought to be *impossible* to get it dangerously wrong. Hence the single DPDT switch... |