Backfeeding my home with a generator. I know it’s a no no, but I have a few questions.

[Jason W]

Here is my set up. I have 100 amp service coming into my house into the panel box. I have a 50 amp subpanel in my garage fed from the main service. My 30 amp RV plug is runoff of the sub panel.

1) I turned off the main breaker from the street, and set all of the breakers to off on both panels.

2) I started my generator and plugged in the suicide cord.

3) I turned on the 30 amp RV breaker in the sub panel followed by the main 50 amp sub panel breaker . I turned on the 50 amp breaker on the main panel.

4) Started turning on breakers to my house from the main panel.

This is when the weird thing started happening. All of my light switches would turn on any lights in the house, but none of my outlets had power.

Is there an explanation for this?

Thanks.

 

[Megawatt]

Here is my set up. I have 100 amp service coming into my house into the panel box. I have a 50 amp subpanel in my garage fed from the main service. My 30 amp RV plug is runoff of the sub panel.

1) I turned off the main breaker from the street, and set all of the breakers to off on both panels.

2) I started my generator and plugged in the suicide cord.

3) I turned on the 30 amp RV breaker in the sub panel followed by the main 50 amp sub panel breaker . I turned on the 50 amp breaker on the main panel.

4) Started turning on breakers to my house from the main panel.

This is when the weird thing started happening. All of my light switches would turn on any lights in the house, but none of my outlets had power.

Is there an explanation for this?

Thanks.

I’m not trying to insult your intelligence but could it possibly be that you have a breaker off in your main panel. Possibly a tripped breaker which would have to be turned completely off and then back on to reset the breaker. It should be a 20 amp single pole breaker. Welcome to the forum and I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[littlespark]

Suicide cord…. We call them widow makers.

You already said in the title it’s a no no, but let me reiterate. We wouldn’t condone using such equipment. The dangers of a lead with two male ends should be obvious

 

[DPG]

Is it possible that the generator is only feeding one of the hot lines, but the socket outlets are fed from the other?

And definitely stop using that cable and fit a proper solution. Don't wait for someone to pick the end up one day.

 

[Marvo]

I'm going to lock this thread. What you're doing is blatently hazardous and likely to cause injury to yourself, an occupant of the house or even someone working on the supply to your premises.