Generator Powered Furnace

[pc1966]

That's a good question. I'm not sure how the thermostats are wired, as we are newer to this house. I think the furnace is a heat pump, model s8b1b060m3ps. I guess I assumed that if there was power to it, that it would automatically turn on... But I'm guessing it would still need to be triggered from the thermostat?

Have a look at your panel and see if any breakers are labelled for heating on anything that might match that.

 

[pc1966]

It is possible that the feed from your panel goes to more than just the furnace (e.g. heating control, water pumps, etc) but that is not going to be easy to find out under your current conditions.

If it looks as if only one breaker feeds the heating system, it might be best to disconnect that from the panel (having switched off the main supply first!) and then use your extension lead to power the disconnected wires feeding the heating system.

Keep the earth/ground wire in the panel, and just add your generator earth to the panel earth so you don't have some of the home on supply earth and the heating on you generator that might be "floating" as not having its own earth rod, etc.

 

[jgruberman]

Have a look at your panel and see if any breakers are labelled for heating on anything that might match that.

Yes, we have three AC breakers and three furnace breakers. There are three separate systems in this house. Of course I'm only focused on one, we're all pretty cold in here, no power for 48 hours now, 9 degrees outside. If I can get at least one system running, that'll help immensely

 

[pc1966]

Good luck!

 

[jgruberman]

It is possible that the feed from your panel goes to more than just the furnace (e.g. heating control, water pumps, etc) but that is not going to be easy to find out under your current conditions.

If it looks as if only one breaker feeds the heating system, it might be best to disconnect that from the panel (having switched off the main supply first!) and then use your extension lead to power the disconnected wires feeding the heating system.

Keep the earth/ground wire in the panel, and just add your generator earth to the panel earth so you don't have some of the home on supply earth and the heating on you generator that might be "floating" as not having its own earth rod, etc.

Got it. I will connect an extension cord into the breaker room, run the ground and common to the bars and connect the hot directly to the furnace breaker and see what happens.

Thank you for your help, I know it's not conventional to get direct help but like I said.. we've been without power for 48 hours and have a baby and now sick animals, I'm desperate to get my family warmed.

 

[pc1966]

It is not something I would normally suggest trying out, but I appreciate your circumstances and the very real risk of not having heat at all.

Just remember to check things carefully and isolate the incoming power before doing ANY work on the panel, etc, as it might come back on at any time.

Hopefully we will hear back with some good news later!

 

[jgruberman]

It is not something I would normally suggest trying out, but I appreciate your circumstances and the very real risk of not having heat at all.

Just remember to check things carefully and isolate the incoming power before doing ANY work on the panel, etc, as it might come back on at any time.

Hopefully we will hear back with some good news later!

I completely understand that and appreciate your effort. I am definitely aware of the real dangers of both sending current upstream and handling live current. I will let you know how it goes

 

[jgruberman]

I do have one final question about getting a circuit in the box once I have an Interlock device. Our circuit box is full but has close to a dozen breakers for lights/switches. Can I switch several of those out for tandem breakers to make room for a generator breaker?

 

[pc1966]

I do have one final question about getting a circuit in the box once I have an Interlock device. Our circuit box is full but has close to a dozen breakers for lights/switches. Can I switch several of those out for tandem breakers to make room for a generator breaker?

For a permanent arrangement?

Usually you would get an transfer switch to allow you to move the whole panel from utility power to a local generator, but you will need to shut down a lot of circuits as your generator is probably only 30A or so and not going to run lots of high current stuff.

Also you need to check if your generator provides a 120-0-120 supply so you can run both 240V stuff and 120V stuff safely (though I think in the USA 240V stuff is usually quite high power and might be too much for your generator).

 

[pc1966]

These sort of things:

Generator Transfer Switch Guide for [year] - All You Need to Know! - Generator-Review.com

After buying a generator to ride you through the next power outage, the second thing you buy should be a generator transfer switch. It gives you the hassle-free connection of …

www.generator-review.com

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-Generators-Transfer-Switches/N-5yc1vZc7l9