What would trip the main house breaker?

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Things I have seen trip a main breaker:

Loose connection at the breaker, the heat will cause it to trip.
A dead short on a branch circuit and someone tries to turn that breaker back on, holds it...

Since the OP said the appliances were connected t the genny back feed is likely not the cause. I think his sparky was coming by yesterday, any updates?
 
backmarkerducati said:
Things I have seen trip a main breaker:

Loose connection at the breaker, the heat will cause it to trip.
A dead short on a branch circuit and someone tries to turn that breaker back on, holds it...

Since the OP said the appliances were connected t the genny back feed is likely not the cause. I think his sparky was coming by yesterday, any updates?
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Holding the breaker on shouldn't work anymore. To stop that stupidity (and the ultimate level of using a piece of wire to permanently hold it on), they can trip without moving the handle. I don't know when that change was made.
 
daught said:
Two panels, one for critical loads and one for general loads, with a transfer switch. That’s the move.
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They also make split panels if you don't need that many circuits. Same concept, smaller packaging. Generator interlock is the tie between the two parts of the panel.
 
Nothing found. I set the level 2 charger to 40 amps and ran the pool pump, A/C, toaster oven, 2 gaming PC's, telly, fridge and freezer like that night. Nada. No heat marks, some slightly loose connections. Infra was cold except for a warm (26.3C) pool pump circuit but that's 20 meters of 14/2 on a 1HP pump. 6/3 50 amp circuit was warm as well but nothing out of the ordinary according to sparky. See if it happens again he said. Might change the 2/100 main breakers after that.
 
DJM said:
Nothing found. I set the level 2 charger to 40 amps and ran the pool pump, A/C, toaster oven, 2 gaming PC's, telly, fridge and freezer like that night. Nada. No heat marks, some slightly loose connections. Infra was cold except for a warm (26.3C) pool pump circuit but that's 20 meters of 14/2 on a 1HP pump. 6/3 50 amp circuit was warm as well but nothing out of the ordinary according to sparky. See if it happens again he said. Might change the 2/100 main breakers after that.
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If it was a one-time event, I wouldn't fire the parts cannon. To replace a main IIRC, you are required to pull the meter as there is a crap ton of power available on those wires if someone screws up.
 
GreyGhost said:
If it was a one-time event, I wouldn't fire the parts cannon. To replace a main IIRC, you are required to pull the meter as there is a crap ton of power available on those wires if someone screws up.
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Yes I do recall that being mentioned. He's a fast talker that moves at the speed of light so I'm still processing things. House is going up for sale next year so I'm hoping it was just a fluke. New place is only 100 amp service so that's going to be the challenge moving forward.
 
GreyGhost said:
A 2000W generator can likely handle that load (assuming gas furnace and not a plasma TV).
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I have a suitcase 2kw inverter gennie too, I use it for the garage. The little inverters will run 6hours on light loads <1kw, at 2kw load you get less than 3 hrs on a full 1 gal tank. The bigger gennie holds 7 US gallons, up to 2kw load it runs about 20hrs.

At 2kwh load, they both burn about the same GPH, if the average load drops to a 1kw on the little guy, it runs twice as efficiently.
 
AllistonGT said:
Furnace with a plug is not compliant. Though some have it plugged in and that outlet is switched to get around the code. But its doesn't.
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Emergency Backup Exception​

If you are modifying the setup so that the furnace can be unplugged from the wall and plugged into a portable generator during a power outage, a cord-and-plug connection is allowed by the ESA, provided it meets this criteria:
  1. Dedicated Receptacle Only: The cord must plug into a single, dedicated receptacle powered by its own 15A branch circuit. You cannot connect the furnace to another outlet other than a receptacle connected to a generator.
  2. Local Service Switch: A standard line-of-sight emergency shut-off switch must still be present in the circuit.
  3. You cannot use extension cords.
 
Mad Mike said:

Emergency Backup Exception​

If you are modifying the setup so that the furnace can be unplugged from the wall and plugged into a portable generator during a power outage, a cord-and-plug connection is allowed by the ESA, provided it meets this criteria:
  1. Dedicated Receptacle Only: The cord must plug into a single, dedicated receptacle powered by its own 15A branch circuit. You cannot connect the furnace to another outlet other than a receptacle connected to a generator.
  2. Local Service Switch: A standard line-of-sight emergency shut-off switch must still be present in the circuit.
  3. You cannot use extension cords.
Click to expand...
You did say you used extension cords for your furnace. I would also. But not allowed.
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