using a honda 2000 for power

Started by rdzone, September 29, 2010, 09:53:40 AM

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rdzone

Ok,

another electrical question.  I have not pulled power in to the cabin yet and it will have to wait until spring. However I do have my daughters mini cabin 95% complete.  It is wired and will have a line running to the main cabin for power, but at the moment I just have the romex (12-2)  stubbed out the wall into a water tight juction box.  I would like to be able to use my honda 2000 to power the mini cabin this winter while we are up there working, but the honda only has  two 20A 125V Receptacles, so I am not sure how to set things up to be able to use the honda as a power source.  It seems like all of the standard generator hookups (for this small of a generator) are for 20A 120/240V male inlet in NEMA configuration L14-20.    I am not willing to use a double male ended cord as some of my coworkers have advised me to do it is just to dangerous especially with my daughter around.    Any help with this would be appreciated.
Chuck

Shawn B

Power inlet box

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200220874_200220874

female plug

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200306809_200306809

plug for generator

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200321985_200321985

Then get some SO cord (extension cord wire) and make your own.


Since your not wiring for 240VAC (correct?) you won't need to hook up the other "hot" wire on the inlet box or female plug. I would drive a ground stake to ground the generator and the inlet box properly.



"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule." Samuel Adams


muldoon

just me, but I would add a nun-fused 30A disconnect in that line between the inlet and the circuits inside.  like the type they use for air conditioners condensers. 

rdzone

Yep no 240 only 120.  I have seen the plugs and parts locally, but a diagram of how to wire it would be helpful I couldn't figure out how to go from 3 prong to 4 prong.

"you won't need to hook up the other "hot" wire on the inlet box or female plug"  ??  Not real familar with wiring I have had help with my cabin, the other hot wire??
Chuck

MountainDon

I'm not familiar with the Honda but I figure that it is set up with standard 20 amp receptacles, the ones that will accept a 120 VAC 15 amp plug as well as the 120 VAC 20 amp with the one sideways prong.

IF there is no other power in the cabin, and IF this is to be temporary, and IF there are no inspection officials involved, I see nothing wrong with taking an extension cord, suitable for 20 amps, and hard wiring one end into the cabin electrical system. The other end would plug into the generator receptacle. I wired such a cord into my service entrance before the solar was up and running. If there is no service entrance, per se, that cord could be hard wired into a receptacle box (on the exterior if there is one). Further note; you only really need to be concerned about using 20 amp plugs and wires if you think you may draw more than 15 amps at one time.

I totally agree with the inherent dangers of using a double male end cheater cord. Sooner or later that can lead to a serious accident or worse.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.


Shawn B

Quote from: rdzone on September 29, 2010, 01:12:43 PM
Yep no 240 only 120.  I have seen the plugs and parts locally, but a diagram of how to wire it would be helpful I couldn't figure out how to go from 3 prong to 4 prong.

"you won't need to hook up the other "hot" wire on the inlet box or female plug"  ??  Not real familar with wiring I have had help with my cabin, the other hot wire??


If you use the four prong power inlet box and four prong female plug that I mentioned there is one terminal for neutral, one ground, and one for L1 "hot" and L2 "hot". You would only need to hook up the L1 "hot". Just make sure you hook up the same one on each plug. That is what I meant by not using the other "wire".
Do you have a small sub-panel in the daughters cabin already? If not I would take muldoon's advice and add a A/C style disconnect between the power inlet and the cabin. Make sure it is either fused or has a breaker for 20A. The plugs will come with wiring diagrams. Really straight forward.

If this is just temporary and you don't need a permanent generator hookup, I like Mtdons idea:

QuoteIF there is no other power in the cabin, and IF this is to be temporary, and IF there are no inspection officials involved, I see nothing wrong with taking an extension cord, suitable for 20 amps, and hard wiring one end into the cabin electrical system. The other end would plug into the generator receptacle. I wired such a cord into my service entrance before the solar was up and running. If there is no service entrance, per se, that cord could be hard wired into a receptacle box (on the exterior if there is one). Further note; you only really need to be concerned about using 20 amp plugs and wires if you think you may draw more than 15 amps at one time.
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule." Samuel Adams

Shawn B

I recommended using the 20 amp plugs to use the most power available safely. Where only talking 5 amps and there is a safety factor built in these components and wires already, but I tend to always up size a little  ???
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule." Samuel Adams

rdzone

Thanks for the input.  The honda only has two 20A 125V Receptacles, This is only to be for temporary power for this winter, not for long term use.  The main cabin will have power in the future.  I like the power cord idea.  All we really need power for is lights (It gets real dark here in Alaska during the winter) and maybe a fan (if my daughter has her way...a tv).    
Chuck

phalynx

The honda 2000 generator only puts out 13.8 amps of power nominal.  Connecting more than 1 plug is not neccessary.  It is 2000 watts for very very short bursts. 


muldoon

It has been hinted at in a few answers, but one thing should be clear.  When you put a real power line to this building you must undo what the temporary solution is.  It is not just a bad idea, it is illegal (and very dangerous) to allow in any fashion your generator from ever reaching the grid.  Thats why the hardwired in stuff is not discussed much and may not be obvious.  Since the building has no feed its not possible and the plan above should be fine.  When you do add a line, you can replace that fused disconnect inside with a real transfer switch.  Even something like this would be a good idea.

http://www.amazon.com/Reliance-TF151W-Single-Circuit-Generator-Generators/dp/B000HRWG8U/ref=sr_1_7?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285799380&sr=8-7

It ensures that you have one and only one source of power.  If one is active the other is completely removed from the circuit. 

Shawn B

Good call muldoon on the one circuit transfer switch. :) I seen that one when looking for the 20 amp power inlet box. But since the cabin was not on the grid I thought it might be overkill, plus Northern had it listed for $99.

Yes do make sure not to back feed into the grid.
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule." Samuel Adams

rdzone

Thanks for all of the input.   Since it only for temporary power and there is no way there can be feedback to any electrical lines, I am thinking about using this

http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-5239-Receptacle-Commercial-Thermoplastic/dp/B00004YUKT

and this

http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-4937-Weatherproof-Wallplate-Receptacle/dp/B00074USHY/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_b


with an extension cord to plug the generator in.
Chuck

muldoon

not sure what the first item on your list is for. 

This is how I see it using the product you mentioned in your last post. 

honda 2000

to
heavy duty extension cord (12/3 exterior grade)
http://www.amazon.com/2737-Heavy-Duty-Contractor-Extension-Locking/dp/B000LNRD4C/ref=sr_1_7?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1285869912&sr=1-7

to
levitron inlet mounted on external wall. 
http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-4937-Weatherproof-Wallplate-Receptacle/dp/B00074USHY/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

inside the cabin, that inlet above sits in a electrical junction box -
http://www.amazon.com/Carlon-B118B-UPC-Single-Gang-Switch/dp/B001PI8VFW/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1285877727&sr=1-2

from that box, you have some romex to connect to another electrical box. 
http://www.amazon.com/SouthWire-Company-13055921-Wire-25-Foot/dp/B000WNA5WS/ref=sr_1_10?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1285878120&sr=1-10
http://www.amazon.com/Carlon-B232AR-UPC-Gang-Captive-Nails/dp/B000XA0RLY/ref=sr_1_38?s=STORE&ie=UTF8&qid=1285877925&sr=1-38

inside that box you have either two electrical receptacles, or a receptacle and a light switch if you want to hang an overhead fixture. 

Is that what you have in mind? 

rdzone

Thanks Muldoon that is exactly the way I was thinking of using the products I mentioned.  I didn't realize the cover I linked to had the receptacle built in, thus the first link in my post.  I called around town and found the "Cooper wiring devices" version of the inlet mount.  I will mount it on the external wall and follow your other directions. 

Thanks everyone for putting up with me.   d*
Chuck


DirtyLittleSecret

Im still amazed at how much the Honda 2k can do.  I've actually decided to sell my 5000/6250 because the 2k will run everything I've got except my welding equipment and that needs over 8k anyhow. 
Until I got our cabin "hooked up" we just ran a power cord through the window and called it good.  Certainly cheaper and probably safer than going through all the hassle of second guessing powering a cabin on gen set.  Would be for me anyhow!
Thumb, meet hammer...hammer, meet thumb...

rdzone

Well I got everything wired.  It didn't take to long, but now my daughters mini cabin has temporary power.  All of the outlets work, the lights and even the ceiling fan.  My daughter and wife were excited.   [cool]
Chuck