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ArkansasCabin
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:07am
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I'm wondering if I'm capable of running 2 'power inlets' into one 'load center/breaker box' -- I've put together a simple illustration of what i have, and I'm not looking for AHJs and all of the specific codes regarding my question. I'm more curious to know if this is capable of being done.
1) Can i use 2 power inlets to power a single load center? (I want to know if i can use 2 extension cords from my generator receptacle to plug into 2 power inlets on my cabin, and then have both power inlets terminate in the same load center)
**I assume this cannot be done but figured I would ask because I have 2 power inlets sitting around
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 08:28am
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Looking at your drawing, you can do this- but I have no idea why you would want or need to. What's the beneift? Although there are two outlets they are both on the same circuit inside the generator. So, you will get the same amount of power to your load center with just the one cord. And with only 1000w, it's not like you'll exceed the ability for a standard 14g wire to handle the draw, so you don't need the excess carrying capacity of 2-cords in parallel. Why complicate things?
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ArkansasCabin
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:53pm - Edited by: ArkansasCabin
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Thats exactly what i needed to hear. I didnt even think about the output of the generator being the same regardless. Thanks for the response.
I'm assuming you have pretty good knowledge on this type of thing, so i have a follow up question. Would i be able to run 12volts thru the same circuit when i dont have a generator handy, and still be able to power my lights?
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:15pm - Edited by: PA_Bound
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Unfortunately no, and least not directly. The largest, but not only, problem with this is that (with rare exceptions) lights are not interchangeable between AC and DC. To run from a generator you would likley want 110vac light fixtures. To run them from a battery, whose output is DC, you would need to install an inverter between the battery and the load center to convert the DC to AC before it enters the center. Once inverted to AC however, you could wire the load center to use either the inverted battery or generator as the supply. This is common among many in this forum, including me.
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buckeyebuck
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:17pm
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I have hear that if your wiring inside is for ac and not dc, you cannot use dc with ac wiring or it will get hot and cat ch fire.
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ArkansasCabin
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:40pm
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Thanks for the descriptive answers, it really helps. I own an inverter as well, so ill just do the same.
PA_Bound, Im curious to know, how many Amp Hours is your battery you use in your cabin, and how many watt inverter?
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 07:27pm
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Quoting: PA_Bound Looking at your drawing, you can do this- but I have no idea why you would want or need to.
I think the second inlet would be very handy if he bought another inverter generator and wanted to twin them
Quoting: buckeyebuck I have hear that if your wiring inside is for ac and not dc, you cannot use dc with ac wiring or it will get hot and catch fire.
The electrons don't care, but if you overload the wire you can cause a fire. Low voltage systems need a lot bigger wire for the same load
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 07:42pm
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Quoting: Rob_O I think the second inlet would be very handy if he bought another inverter generator and wanted to twin them
Frequency will not match without the special coupling cord ahrness.
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 08:19pm
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Quoting: MtnDon Frequency will not match without the special coupling cord ahrness.
This is correct
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 08:55pm
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Ya' don't want to release the magic smoke from those babies. Expensive smoke.
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PA_Bound
Member
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# Posted: 31 Jan 2013 09:05pm
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I am using two Exide GC135 (226AH) 6v golf cart batteries in series, attached to a Xantrex Freedom HF 1800 (1800 watt) inverter. I'm still in the cabin construction phase however, so most of the time I'm running from a generator. I really haven't pushed the batteries that hard yet.
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ArkansasCabin
Member
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# Posted: 3 Feb 2013 09:13pm
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One other question. I know you're not supposed to bond the neutral and ground more than once in any electrical system. Assuming my generator has the neutral and ground bonded, how do i go about wiring the neutral and ground into the load center which only has one ground bar/neutral bar?
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rayyy
Member
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# Posted: 4 Feb 2013 01:45pm - Edited by: rayyy
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That's a 2 breaker distrabution panel,the two plug in positions on your generator's outlet are already circuit breaker protected.No need to run them through that second circuit breaker panel.You are limited to using about 1600 watts total,safely,on that honda 2000.That means you can run only one high powered gaget at a time like a table saw,microwave oven,a big vaccuum cleaner,or a toaster,even a small air conditioner.They all use 1000 watts to 1500 watts.You can run smaller gagets in combination together on the generator like your computer or T.v.,radio,cell phone charger,power tool charger,printer,120 v lights,fans,ect,ect.they each use 100 to 300 watts.You add the wattage comsumption of each gaget up that are plugged in and running on your generator.It would actually take a lot of stuff plugged in and running to exceed your 2000 watt generator.
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