What is a Suicide Cord and Why It Could Kill You
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 มิ.ย. 2022
- Hey gang! We're winding down on a lot of projects here in Louisiana, tying up loose ends and fixing deadly electrical setups. Down here in the South, generators are a big deal. Whether you have a portable one, or a standby, having them properly hooked up is critical. We're taking this afternoon to fix a bad generator setup, and hopefully throw a little knowledge out there that can save a life or two down the road. Thanks for watching, and we'll see ya in the next one!
Interlock kits are specific to panel brands/sizes/etc. Do your homework and get the correct one. Couple of great websites: interlockkit.com and geninterlock.com
Reliance PB30 power inlet box (30 amp)
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Klein torpedo level
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Klein Hi-Vis lineman pliers
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contact: Studpack225@gmail.com - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
What I love about Stud Pack is that you guys don't just show the right way to do something, you show WHY it's the right way to do something.
That's a great point right there!
He's "teaching" work that requires 4 years of on the job training. These youtube "electricians" kill many people.
Yes your right , I always like to know the WHY with everything. I piss my Doctor's off all the time. I don't give a crap , just tell me why , lol
I love instructions that say WHY. like when putting a sticker clear cover I finally got explanation It tells you to do it in the bathroom right after you run steam (hot water) it's to knock dust out of the air so you get less dust when you put the "sticker" on your phone screen.
Hopefully this area is dry well covered ... because correct hardie install for penetrations over 1.5 inches you want to use z flashing with a 1/4 inch gap before hardie starts above your block made of pvc is best material to use. You caulk up sides of penetrating block and base and in this case around the electrical block attached to pvc block.
Thank you for going into detail about how when we don't have interlocks, we can kill the linemen. That's a detail few get into, and most people think electricity only goes one way - from the power plant to us, not the other way around. That's a very important concept to teach since more and more people are going to solar, batteries, etc.
...it also helps prevent you from powering your neighborhood a little bit and nobody has enough energy to do anything. Then you ask "What's wrong? It's pushing 3000W of juice but I can't power my little radio!"
Even for those who don't give a damn about human life (too many people) it's also just overloading their generator by trying to power the whole neighborhood
Also if the generator is connected to the mains when they come back on the line frequencies will be out of phase resulting, effectively, in a short circuit that could toast the generator, and wiring between before the breakers trip.
It is not just a danger to linemen, but to yourself as well. Backfeeding the lines can kill a lineman, but it can also catch your generator on fire, when the feed is restored, and your generator is out of phase.
Linesmen are required to ground the power lines to avoid this situation 👌if one got fried its because he didn't follow proper procedures.
Best practice is to throw your main breaker, separating it from the grid, to avoid back feed
Good points about the suicide cord. Suggestions: I would have instead put in a flush mount receptacle, so it doesn't stick out from the wall, and be in the way outside. There's plenty of room inside the stud wall for the receptacle. I would also have caulked around or behind whatever receptacle you use, so blowing rain won't seep behind the receptacle and eventually rot the wood behind it. It looks like where the receptacle is located, there might not be a LOT of blowing rain to hit it, but it never hurts to seal it anyway...takes just a couple of minutes. This will also make it easier to seal against airflow into the building.
Electrician here. Great video! You know your stuff man. It’s good to make people aware of the danger to linemen and to the homeowner.
That "jiggle test" is crucial. Can't tell you how many trim QAs I did behind a guy putting a panel up and they had loose connections in their terminals
Always like how happy and the pride Paul shows in his work, no matter how small. It's in the details.
"Never Half-Ass anything. If you aren't going to Whole-Ass it, why bother doing it?" and
"If we don't have the time to do it right, when will we find the time to do it over?"
Important. The attention you give to the details is indicative of your mindset with your work. It’s a lifestyle, not a project by project thing.
Pretty good means Half-assed 😎
@@tonywolfemusic5920 "The Devil is in the Details."
He's always proud of his work, even when he is doing it completely wrong.
i'll be real, this just showed up in my recommended section. i don't have much need for Home improvement type content, but from this video alone i like this, because it's practical info that can actually be applied. i feel like i learned more from this video, than the 5 years of High School, and my year of taking Welding in a trade school. earned another subscriber.
You guys rock it is so hard to find people that do things right, take pride in their work, and enjoy passing on your knowledge. Keep up the good work guys
I, too, admire the quality upon which you insist when putting your projects together. I also like the way you explain what you are doing and why. Always clear, always appreciated!
You're one of the best channels, hands down. Not too much hype, and no BS. Just the kind of channel every homeowner (future and existing) needs!
Yeah, except the title is very extreme clickbait. Where is the cord referenced in the thumbnail?
I am Mister Safety in my group of DIYers and I loved this video. Always preach lineman safety to my friends. Job was well done. Absolute pleasure to watch them work.
You just saved lives with this video, the dangers of a “suicide cord” would’ve never truly occurred to me as a DIYer. Thank you sir!
Electricity is definitely a hobby. No such thing as suicide cord.
just plug the cord ends in before you turn on the generator its not that hard, do you call a kitchen knife a suicide stick? because it can also kill you if you use it incorrectly
@@GamingUpNorth I know right, As soon as I saw him explain and plug into live first I just smacked my forehead.
@@GamingUpNorthstanding voltage on a suicide cord is an unseen, potentially fatal hazard. The knife thing is dumb. This is a good video, especially the part about the interlock on the breaker.
@@andrewwilson6222 The person plugging in the suicide cord should just use their brains. Only touch the plastic of the plugs, not the pins themselves. And suicide is a bit exaggerated... I've had 230 volts on me many times, still alive and kicking.
I appreciate how careful y'all are about the electrical stuff you put out. You've always gone to the effort of learning from a trained and experienced pro to find out every aspect that pertains to the job you're showing, and that's more important than a lot of tradesmen realize.
I admire your enthusiasm and attention to detail. It's a pleasure watching two hardworking people who take pride in an honest day's work, sharing their knowledge. Father and son teamwork at its best, you guys are an inspiration. All the best from Minnesota.
And they are criminally underpaid. They get paid to fix real world problems. Doctors get paid three times as much to practice and get it wrong a very high percentage of the time.
This is exactly the work my husband and I did and seeing this makes me happy to see your work and the safety installed. Also, my grandfather was 50 years in the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Shout out to electricians everywhere.
The IBEW really took care of my dad when 2 other companies he worked 20 years each for didn’t and he only worked for them for 12 years
My grandfather was too! So cool
I have remodeled a couple of my homes and a cottage and I have watched a lot of TH-cam videos to help me along. Yours is one of the best I have seen. The attention to details, the tricks of the trade, the review of the work done and the overall production (sound and lighting) are all great. Short and sweet in a lot of ways but also covers all the important points. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I don't know what it is... Your Voice? Your Confidence?
What ever. . . .
When I watch your video, I'm transported somewhere, where time does not exist.
THANK YOU
it COULD be a self induced singularity, possibly a slight bending of space due to increasing density of gravity waves, most likely is an out of body experience normally experienced by folks on or at their death bed
You're getting creepy R M
great video. I learned a lot in a bunch of categories from you. Something I really appreciate about your video is that you don't take anything for granted and show footage up close of the details. Many videos online skip steps with cuts or sped up video(probably thinking that the steps are remedial) I really appreciate your explanations and your down to earth pragmatic decision making. Thank you for making and sharing this video. Much respect.
Shout out to the algorithm showing me videos I didn't know I needed to see. We bought out first home a year ago and have been doing a lot of DIY this summer. The cleanliness and organization in your work is an inspiration. Makes me want to go straight down to the basement and start new label sheets for both boxes, and open up the receptacles in the old part of the house (~100 years old) to see what horrors lie within.
I've never seen a video of yours before, and I'm unlikely to watch a whole ton of them at this time, but you've got so many little things to show how good you are at this.
When you wanted him to get a second look at the spreadsheet you made on the fusebox, I could *hear* the pride in your voice. You're a good worker, and I'll be one of many to tell you it.
Keep it up, Stud. It was impressive to see the care you put into your work.
I ran across these ge gentlemen a couple of years ago. For tips on something can’t recall anymore and I am simply hooked on these guys.
I love dads mentality of doing it right the first time and it’s ok to take a little extra time to make sure it’s done right and it lasts.
I also love that his son is adopting that good work ethic.
I wish these guys where in Southern California so they could remodel my house!!!
Take the time to watch their other videos. You won’t regret it. Support they channel brother watch here and there.
Great comment. I am sure they appreciate it.
@@BigOsTaco Single parent Moms do the best they can but it makes a really big difference when there I a Dad in the home. Thanks for the great videos, StudPack!
Single parent moms are amazing!!!! Props and tremendous respect to you all!!!
That’s a great power inlet. I’ve never had emergency backup so I’ve never done one of these but I like it. Also that panel schedule is BOSS! I’m a firm believer in actuate legible panel schedules! Saves time, headaches, and unintentional zaps
there is another style available that is nonmetallic and has the inlet in the bottom - it's a bit bulkier, but it makes it a bit harder for water to get in around the cord while it's in use.
Hey gang, lots of comments about the following. Thought I'd address them.
#1 The existing wire from the receptacle to the panel is 10 gauge. Color coded Romex started in 2001. It was all the same white sheathing before that. Interestingly, color coding is not required by NEC, NFPA, or UL. It simply makes the inspector's job a lot easier (14G white, 12G yellow, 10G orange)
#2 This is an unconditioned outdoor storage shed, no insulation required. Not sure why there's no sheathing under the Hardi-Plank on that wall. There is everywhere else
#3 WE SEALED THE BOX when we returned the cord😁
#4 We were kidding around about not modifying extension cords. We've done a couple of great videos on that subject 👍
#5 I put a new female plug on the cord
Thanks, Paul
Thanks, I was wondering if that was 10 gauge, around here that white jacket is for 14 gauge I think the 30 amp 10 gauge stuff has a black jacket
@@jeffhreid Yeah this cable is pre-2001, the year color coding started.
Is you extension cord also 10 guage
I had the Romeo gauge question. Thanks for addressing here.
@@vincentgonzales8917 Yes, the extension cord wires must be able to handle the amperage that the connectors are rated.
You can’t get any better than this channel. Always detailed and no bs. They let you know the issue. Why it’s an issue. How to fix it. And the materials needed to fix the issue and any issues that may encounter. Thank you guys.
The documentation on the fusebox is something to applaud. Everyone should do that kind of thing for everything. A little bit of extra work now saves you a lot of headaches later.
i'm a UK approved electrician, the apprentices were always told to check screw tightness before shutting something. they were also told to leave a little spare length, for the next guy, in case of problems so that they had a little spare to play with. and the earth wire always got covered by earth sleeving green/yellow or green, in case of a short against something when it's screwed up tight. and i've seen a few suicide extensions with a plug on both ends :D i love the consumer unit spreadsheet, things like that can save so much time in repairing something.
I was gonna say the same thing about the earth sleeving
I really like that you created an actual list of which breakers go to what. Every place I've lived in never has the list filled out and you have to figure it out on your own.
I move in somewhere, one of the first things I do is make labels for the breakers.
That's because of the inefficient and lousy electricians we get all around the world.
Yup, good practice for sure. But with my own experience I never assume any list that someone else has made is 100% correct
@@Derek_Garnham - easy to verify without reinventing the wheel... if it's missing something, add it. If it's wrong, correct it...
Residential guys.
Labeling circuits and then turning in final prints with the revision is standard procedure. At any larger commercial or industrial build, you’re going to have many.
This is great info that I have related to hundreds of customers over the years. Thank you for putting this out there. I’m sure this will reach many more people than I ever could.
Really happy see many positive comments on your chanel. Not my Dad, but really learn a ton from you on this video and make senses all the way.
I'm from Minnesota with cold blizzards,tornados and humidity and really helps to any one lives in United States with all weather variations. Thank you.God Bless!
This sort of video is amazing! People don't seem to realize how many little steps are involved in a "simple" job like this, like adding the blocking (love the pocket hole jig!)
In the video at 12:50 when you say, "It's going all the way in; we don't want any shiners," that's the sort of pithy wisdom that sticks with you, but doesn't usually make it into an instruction manual or classroom curriculum, you only get that from OTJ training, or when we get to shadow a master at work. Great filming, great editing, and great work! There's a lot I'm taking away from this, but I'll let you keep that FL heat though!
That 1/4 x 12” drill bit is pretty handy to keep in your tool box. I use it a lot for wall penetrations for conduit. A lot of guys use a hole saw with an extension but once you get through the 1st layer of drywall, the shaft of your extension is much smaller than the 1st hole and it’s near impossible to get the hole on the opposite side of the wall to line up with the 1st so your conduit passes through the wall straight without trimming the hole on one side or the other. With the long 1/4” drill bit you drill a pilot hole all the way through the wall and then use a hole saw to drill in towards the wall from both sides. After drilling through the 1st layer, when your bit bottoms out on the other side of the wall, there’s enough of the bit sticking out of the wall to line it up square with the wall and level before you penetrate the other side.
This is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Informative. Clear. Concise. With a wise and charismatic speaker. Wow.
Always enjoy your vids and how you break down things and add pro tips to the mix. Always a pleasure stopping by the channel. Look forward to more tips and tricks!
Love this channel, precisely because they show us practical and safe ways to do things!!
The section on the suicide cord is a legit life saver for some homeowners. Folks start those generators up with the plug in the generator and the other end not plugged in, especially when they are in a hurry. Really like the videos by Stud Pack - straightforward and at a level of detail that explains the topic from an educational standpoint and of course the "how to". I also did not know about the step up, good video.
that kind of cord should be BANNED and the NEC should add code to do it the way these guys did here! good lord, that is an an accident looking to happen...
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Ok. So what if it's plugged in before the generator is started up? Don't lick the copper and you'll be fine. I play with live 480 every day. More voltage on each leg than both legs of genset create together. Just don't touch the copper bits and you'll be fine.
@@mprenn1547 BANNED how? Can't buy male plugs from the hardware store anymore? 😂😂
@@sammorgan31 Not really, is not that male ends on their own are dangerous... And I dont live in the US, but man.. u gotta admit selling a cable with 2 male ends is A HALF-STEP close to selling one of those put-two-fingers-in suicide adapters iss crazy in my pov
I have done a LOT of 120 wiring, but far less 240. This video not only gave great info on this particular application, but also just general 240v wiring safety considerations. Since I have some 240v work to do in the near future, this video showed up just in time to maybe prevent me from hurting myself. Ya done good !
Great video, it was nice to see a real electrician performing a task safely and properly on TH-cam, doesnt happen often! Thank you!
I enjoy watching you guys. I'm learning a lot. I have a contractor friend who works like you, enjoys doing the task right, and takes pride in his work. Good job. Keep the videos coming.
Your content is always on the money. Just getting after it - and getting after it right. Anyone who wants to learn home improvements...this is the right channel to watch. What makes you guys cool is you sweat the big things....AND the little things. And in LA, you just plain sweat. 🤣
Great no-nonsense tutorial. at 71, I certainly learned valuable information today. All the best to you and family in 2023. "The JJ" SW Penna.
I just recently purchased a commercial building, and I envy the attention to detail you did with labeling the breaker box. The box at the building I purchased half of them aren't labeled at all, and the ones that are labeled are wrong. My son and I are supposed to go thru each outlet and figure out which breaker goes where (and yes, I have to do each outlet AND every light switch in the building because some rooms are on multiple outlets, and some outlets are on multiple rooms in the building) and we'll be doing something very similar to what you did.
Anyhow, thank you for the pride and enthusiasm you put into your work, and hopefully your son(s) also pick and follow in that footstep as well.
Little tip for ya - use a square bit on those electrical screws and never strip the heads . Especially on those higher gauge higher torque ones :) almost all outlets are either s1 or s2 & once you start doing it this way you’ll never go back .
Robertson bit for the win!
better yet, use an ECX bit. it's a flathead and robertson combo :D
@@mynamesnotimportant6941 WHOA! I'd never heard of those before. Thanks for the tip!
@@KeithOlson I just recently learned about them myself. Saw a couple YTers raving about them. I haven't tried them myself but they look super dope.
until you have an older device that only has 2 way screws instead of 3 way screws - or Lutron who still uses 2 way screws.
Good job!!! My wife and I just bought a new WEN generator for our house here near Redding, CA. Each summer, PG & E shuts the power off about a dozen times, and your comment about the suicide cord really got to me! I didn't realize that, so we will make sure to plug the end going to the house in first, though the generator should never be started until BOTH ends are plugged in. Thanks so much!!!
--There will be a lineman, or a pedestrian or little kid who will still be around to thank you for that little detail . . . after a storm outage.
This is the first time I've seen a dedicated circuit in a panel for backup power like this. When we installed our backup generator in the early 1990s, we were required to put in an (exterior) transfer switch to not backfeed the generator power. That slider is really slick (and a ton cheaper) -- I like it! I would hope that this would be a code thing in Minnesota by now. Genius device.
@klinestill "The word is, "ingenious". A person may be a genius, but a device, process, or idea would be ingenious." For now.
Seen alot of fake electrician channels. Half of their advice violates the NEC. You are by far the first channel that is 100% spot on with knowledge and codes. You have a master electrician as a sub for life. 👏👏👍
Great dialog - - - Thank you for showing us DIYers not only the proper way to do several things in this video but the reasoning WHY. PS - love the use of the oscillating saw (very handy tool)
OMG!!! An actual "how to" without a story line or narrative or wasted time of not topic related drivel.!!! ....LOVE IT !!!! Get to the point... How to do it...Easy to understand.. OUTSTANDING !!! I've just recently discovered your videos in my search for reliable how to's for those of us who enjoy doing it ourselves correctly and safely and every one I saw I had to "smash" the like button and save for future reference! Guess I'm going to just have to subscribe! Keep up the GREAT work and videos! I'm looking forward to watching and learning much more!
Your videos are among the best for real-world scenarios. Unlike other "professional" videos where everything just works right, and nothing seems to go wrong.
Also, as others have said, your attention to detail and your explanations make for a great experience. Thank you.
I'm an electrician in training at my community college. This video is not from my instructor but it came up in my feed. This made me want to continue studying since this seems fun. Thanks for the great video btw.
For a possible future scenario... The hole you made through the plywood was big enough for the metal Romex connector... You can screw the connector onto the wire first then put it through the knockout on the box and install the locknut. 👍
You beat me to it -- I've used that technique for all sorts of similar cases - and not just on "house wiring", but low-voltage, coax, etc.😊
imagine if for some reason someone has to take the box out. "Gotta open up the drywall"
@@cmh-re why? You can remove the locknut from the inside of the box and pull it off, just like you out it on, leaving the wire in the wall
@@IrrationalBstrd Yeah but what are the odds someone figures that out unless they have prior knowledge of that technique?
I'm not sure they teach it in the classes you can take to become an electrician, but it's something worth knowing for sure.
Someone ought to go around and write down all these little things you "learned from your mentor", otherwise they might become forgotten.
That kind of trade knowledge that isn't in a book is an extremely important thing to put down in books somewhere, and I have an example of why:
This kind of trade knowledge becoming forgotten is why we can't build the mighty Rocketdyne F-1 engine that powered the first stage of the Saturn-V moon rocket any more (and haven't been able to since the start of the '80s).
Yes, NASA still has the blueprints for the F-1 engine, but that's not all you need to make one.
What we lost are the trained tradespeople that were actually building those engines, and had figured out all the little tricks and techniques that turn that blueprint from a plan into something you can take a series of steps to produce.
Now, because nobody wrote down the knowledge they had that was required to build one properly, we can't build it any more unless we go thru and figure all that out again.
Why did he drill such a large hole? It looked like a 3/4 inch hole would have worked.
Can't tell you how many of these DIYers repairs I've had to go fix over the years here in CA. I always shake my head and shudder at the lengths some people will go to to serve themselves without a single thought or care to those working "upstream", just to give themselves some back up power. Fantastic vid and hopefully knocks some sense into these DIYers out there!
I expect the majority of people simply don't know how the grid works.
I don't know how widespread the information is regarding this kind of setup.
@@Cheepchipsable I've heard of people using a suicide cord to feed power to their home through the outlet the clothes dryer plugs into. I know that can't be safe.
@@Cheepchipsable Agreed. Even very handy people have no idea how the grid works.
@Hello Chris how are you doing
I had this same thing done to the house we had built in Southern California, and glad I did. We had a bad storm go through that downed a lot of power lines. We were without power for 3 days. We had a diesel pusher motorhome with a 12.5k generator and an external 220 outlet. It ran our whole house until the power came back. They also installed a power transfer switch, which was needed to pass code.
The amount of information I learned in the first five minutes safety wise is astounding. Definitely subbed and great info and delivery.
As soon as the camera went off Paul definitely modified that extension cord.
I don't see a big problem with that, those plugs are made to come on and off.
@@mikemortensen4973 As long as the gauge is sufficient, there is no reason why you couldn't just replace the pug end.
Right is right, and that was a completely correct install. L14-30 plug&receptacle for a 10/4 SO cord, inlet box, and the interlock kit are key ingredients to a correct portable generator install. Nice work.
He should have mentioned that the wiring needs to support 30a. It's EXTREMELY important.
Hey Paul, I just realized from another one of your videos that you gotta connect the ground first, then the neutral and then the hots. I was doing electrical today and thought I should always do it that way. You're the man 👊🏻👊🏻
Thank you so much for your video! I have been trying to figure out how to make a cord for my generator to house without making a suicide cord. So glad I come across your video. Material is ordered and be here tomorrow. I live in Kentucky and we are getting to a point of bad weather for ice now. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.
Man, I absolutely *love* your channel, and it's incredibly useful to me as a homeowner.
That panelbox labeling is top notched.
Yes I can't believe I never thought of making an excel spreadsheet. Makes for super clean edits too
What’s an edit?? 😂😂😂
@@StudPack hahahahahaha
Man did your video bring back memories... Was married to a native of Terrytown, LA for 12 years. Her father had a backup genset attached to his house in Terrytown. In 1995 a bad storm came through and flooded everything right up to the front doorstep. The genset never stopped but we had bunch of neighbors throwing extension cords over the fence looking to get hooked up to my father-in-law's genset. I can't remember if we hooked any of them up or not. All the best to y'all.
@8068 -- Thanks for your post ! I think it it flooded as you said it did back then, there was NO connecting ANY Electricity with Water around... Ever..... :)
Proficient, quick, and to the point...clear explanations and no jibber jabber!
Such an important video. I've seen so many deadly issues like this.
great video. I do have one criticism. When taking apart the inlet at the house, you should have tested for power. Even if you "know" the power is off, there is a chance that there could be a feedback on that line.
That and why not put a female end on the cable? Unless the old one is very old or damaged in some way. There are ways to test extension cords.
@@Cheepchipsable My thoughts too, you need to destroy that suicide cable anyway.
@@Cheepchipsable The cable was only rated for 20A.
@@rogerbarton497 Exactly or take one end off and hide it. The Dolphin RV I bought had a suicide cord(120v) in it. I cut off one end to disable it, replaced it with a standard ext cord, and replaced the standard outlet(really an inlet in this case) with a recessed male one.
@@hackjealousy The cable looked to me to be a #12. But, the camera view may be deceiving.
So much great information in a short amount of time, no BS, quality work and even a few tips along the way. THIS HERE is what TH-cam is for! Thank you. New subscriber.
"No BS"? All the people who thought he was going to talk about a dangerous extension cable (you know, only everyone who's new to the channel and read the title and thumbnail) disagree to at least some degree.
Every homeowner with a generator needs to see this video.
I agree with You
You guys always do such a thorough job, nice work.
It's so very refreshing watching a pro knowing what they're doing. I've had estimates given and they look real shady, and I had zero faith in them. I'd hire yall in a heart beat. I have a smaller Champion that's worked great with several cords and am waiting for my larger inverter Champion this week. Great video, enjoyed it. Wish I had faith in someone doing it with your quality.
I made one of these cords. It's really useful for wiring a house. You can test each of your newly wired sockets is wired correctly by feeding in current to the socket before from another live outlet somewhere in the house. Do that with each one you wire and you know when you eventually connect that circuit to the switchboard there will be no wiring errors to search for.
All good until you plug on leg into another and have 240V short across your cord 💀
One of the most underrated channels on YT! Thanks SP!
Teaching the next generation to take pride in their work, well done.
Great video guys. I have become and electrician recently so any little tip helps. You didn't miss a beat. Clear, concise, and relaxed.
I like the professionalism of this channel no cutting corners.
Great video, you covered a lot of basics but I was surprised that while you discussed changing out the 20A power outlet, you never mentioned the wiring gage at all. The copper wire looks like 12AWG ... could be 10AWG but you really should have talked about the importance of ensuring the existing wiring can support the load capacity of your new connection point.
True. That needs to be #10 for 30A
Exactly my comment. Looks like 12 gauge wire. Only good for 20 amps.
Just the comment I was looking for. Surprised not that many people caught this.
Glad i found this as well. Was about to make the same comment
A vice president from Chicago's, Com Ed told me that they have had Lyman killed from generators back feeding the grid. So thank you for showing your viewers a way to connect a portable generator that's in compliance with NEC: it certainly is a public service
Excellent video! The explanation of how a generator works and the danger of improper connections and/or cable is spot on. The only thing I would have done in addition to the installation of the generator interface would be adding a bead of 100% silicone sealant to the sides and top of the box before mounting it on the wall. It looks like the box is installed under a porch over hang, but driving rain could still allow water to penetrate the wall behind the box.
At -1:45 he said their was a lip on the back for weather proofing 😅
Awesome ! Thank you for the time you took making your videos. Up until now I haven’t watched much TH-cam, but I am so grateful to you for sharing.
Studpack Sunday afternoon enjoyment watching another great video!! Thank You Guys..Keep up the good work!!
When I make penetrations to the exterior i always use a bead of clear silicone around the box. Looks good guys!
This is definitely an important detail; could see daylight coming through the socket from the rear and that's just asking for rainwater to go inside that wall cavity and trigger rotting/ mold on that drywall, especially in a hurricane area. Suprising just how fast a wall cavity will fail if it's not weatherproofed.
@@hijackstudios also, this is probably a smaller issue, but one I noticed nonetheless. The pocket screws are barely holding into any material on the stud because the tip of the screw is pointing toward the outer face of the stud. Pocket screws are supposed to be oriented toward the meat of the material they're screwing in to. that tiny bit of wood on the corner of the stud could easily crack or even entirely break off when tightening it down, leaving the screw with nearly zero pullout strength. If during a hurricane a some debris hits that box it could knock it loose, creating a serious hazard, hell a rowdy toddler could ram into it a knock it loose. Best way would be to put a strip of blocking on either side of the plywood panel screwed on through the face of the ply, slide it into place, then screw through those into the wide face of the stud. It would be much stronger.
This is great, you are very lucky to have a wonderful Father like this! I hope you cherish him, we all aren’t as lucky to have someone like him in our lives.
This was so satisfying to watch, and I have no plans to ever do this work myself. You are a true craftsman.
Man I’m the same way. I’ve never been into electrical. I didnt understand it, nor want to. My stepdad was an electrician and it wasn’t until his passing that I have found an interest. Small stuff lights ect. I won’t attemp anything like this, but these guys are so dang awesome and alive about what they do, I’m hooked!
Your work is awesome. I've never heard of a suicide cord. I would have not known to plug both ends in before starting my generator.
That is a great comment for those that are not familiar with the "suicide cord." I've always told those that use them to PLUG INTO THE HOUSE FIRST before even "STARTING" much less thinking about plugging into the generator. But, that's just from an old f@rt that's been on this planet over 3/4 of a Century using common sense, and trust me, common sense is "not" something we are born with. We have to "learn and earn" it!!!!
Yeah I just recently, about 6 months ago heard about these cords. To me though when dealing with 220, which I'm very afraid of lol, it's common sense not to have power going to it before you plug it in. I realize and understand that inexperienced people who don't have the fear of it they should could easily make a mistake.
You know you are a professional when you get excited about Excel sheets. Organization and foresight really are what separate the pros from the novices.
I do the same thing in my field. I do access control systems and cameras. I make excel sheets of every door/ camera and stick it on the can or switch map.
I'd just like to take a moment and say this video is a masterclass in craftsmanship. I tip my hat to you sir!
Wow, thanks!
Came across this on a whim, no idea why... but great discussion, information, and tutorial for improving that power connection! Great video!
Check for power anyway, especially for DIYer's who aren't wiring every day. You "know" it's off because you turned it off, but someday an ingrained safety habit will save your life. That moment when a non-contact voltage tester lights up on a circuit you personally turned off is a moment that sticks with you.
Well in this case it was locked out at the panel with the interlock as shown and there was no generator hooked up so it was a no brainer. In fact this set up with the interlock can never have power without the generator connected and turned on with the interlock in place unless the breaker in panel was somehow broken which is highly unlikely but I guess possible perhaps?
@@jstar1000 You're right about this specific instance, of course, but I'm just saying if you check for voltage EVERY SINGLE TIME, without exception, sooner or later you will find power on a circuit you were certain was already off, and save yourself a nasty surprise.
Hey, brilliant! I had been tempted to use a suicide cord in the past. Now I understand how dangerous they are and how to fix the problem. You folks are life savers!
Don't put grapes up your nose.
@@cadcncengineeringfabricati3497 dont put marbles in your nose put them in there do not put them in there
@@DaarthPingas I didn't understand the video, now I'm circumcised and married to a man.
None of this applies to me in Arizona, however that was one of the best instructional videos I've seen. Great work, guys!!!!
Great video guys. It's good that you explain the WHYs of the steps that you're doing. Lot better chance people will remember stuff when they know the whys behind things.
WOW! I am looking into systems for dealing with brownouts and short outages --- good to know that "suicide plug" is a thing and how to avoid it.
Thanks for this - I didn't know the term for the cable. Be thankful you can work with your dad/son on projects like this - must be really fun!
One suggestion for future installations like this - if you have the space, might be better to use a flush mounted box - I'm sure that area sees a lot of activity and in a few years, that box will be hanging off the wall.
👍
5:00 you really are a true professional sir! Im a commercial superintendent and your videos are a service to the working man.
The danger of watching such high-quality, informative videos is that I am tempted to think I now know enough to do my own electrical work. However, this video was taught me an important lesson--always have a qualified electrician review your work before, during, and after.
Important safety tip: After you doubly confirm the circuit has been disconnected there comes a time when you must touch the wires with your bare hands. As a general habit, always touch the ground to you thumb and the hot wire with your pointer finger with the same hand. This way, if somehow you forgot to power off or if someone energized the circuit without your knowledge, a path between your fingers on he same hand will be formed. You would feel a shock, but it won’t go through your heart.
Is this true or are you trying to thin the heard using natural selection.... I am completely uneducated with anything related to being an electrician and home improvement so forgive me if it's a dumb question. I read this and it just felt like a troll who wants people to try it so they get hurt bad, lol. No offense, just curious.
Use your Non-Contact Voltage Detector Pen! ( Klein Tools NCVT1P Voltage Tester, Non-Contact Voltage Detector) Never risk a shock especially with 240v. If you heart stops you don’t get a do over😢
@@nostalgiaarcadefuturewhat he was saying would make the majority of the current pass through your hand. Worse for you hand, better for your heart and rest of your body.
You just saved my life. Power is out and I was just going to do the WRONG thing shown here. Thank you. ❤️🙏
You guys really do quite a service! All though I may never have to hook up a portable generator to a house, but I know where to look if I need to!
I got into a verbal confrontation with a guy at home depot who was trying to make one instead of just getting a transfer switch for his generator. He was being rowdy with the home depot employee. Told him he could kill someone with that thing, he didn't seem to care at all. As a teacher, I stress (secondary to the obvious danger of having a hot male plug) about the dangers of backfeeding the transformers and putting voltage on the line, putting our linemen at risk.
This is an excellent video. I've been wanting to upgrade my generator situation to run the house directly instead of laying extension cords all over. Thanks!
Nice work.
It's refreshing to watch someone who knows what they are doing.
You know what I learned from this? That I never want to mess with generators... But thank you for teaching me this! Never would've known
Good info, good vid. I would have added polyurethane or silicone caulk to the siding around the edge of the opening before attaching the box, for a little insurance against water infiltration.
Minor thing, but consider connecting the earth from the house side direct into the connector, then taking the second wire out to the box casing. That way, if a connection gets loose, it's more likely to be something that doesn't remove the earth connection between the generator and the house. The way you've done it, any connection getting loose would lead to a dodgy earth between the generator and house. Earthing is always the key thing in my book (I'm a 25kV system design engineer).