Off Grid Portable Generator Hook UP Original Message Dec 5, 2012 10:03 am
I've mentioned in the past that I have a fairly large diesel generator at camp. There is no electrical power service out there and no "grid" to hook up to. So the camp is entirely independent of any other power source. With that said, I've recently purchased a small 2kw inverter generator that I would prefer to use to watch TV and provide some lighting rather than cranking up the big diesel unit. I calculate that I will need less than 500 watts from the generator to provide the power for light duty applications.
The camp is wired as per normal North American code. It has a panel with main breaker and I have fuses instead of breakers. My intention is to plug the small generator into an external outlet to feed the camp. From what I've read, there may be a problem supplying all of the outlets/lights in the camp due to only "one leg" only being powered due to using the 120 volt outlet. I don't have any 240 volt outlets in the camp and the generator doesn't have a 240 output.
My question is: If it's correct that I will only be able to power half of the electrical panel/camp circuits, is there an easy way around this? I.e. running another extension cord from an activated outlet to a non activated outlet?
Re: Off Grid Portable Generator Hook UP Reply #14 Dec 7, 2012 9:40 am
I have no plans to operate both power plants simultaneously. The diesel will power the entire camp including water pumps and air conditioning.
All I want the small generator to do is to run the lights, a TV, and a satellite receiver (600 watts or less). The problem is that in order to power all the lights and outlets inside the camp, I need to ensure both legs of the panel are energized. From the guidance of a few people here, I've figured out what needs to be done to power both legs of the panel. I plan to ensure that each of my external outlets on the camp are on separate legs of the panel. I will run a line from each of the two outlets on the generator to each external outlet. That will cover the whole camp, providing lights in every room and power to outlets for low power consumption appliances.
