Electrical Question from Guy about 220 Volt Wiring Diagram

Received from Guy a Handyman in Jacksonville, Florida

Question: I have a Generac 8550/5550 heavy duty generator with 120/240 30a ac and ran a romex type nm-B 10/3 600v wire into the garage to plug into the dryer, but after reading up on this bad idea I was wondering if I could take the wire into a stand alone panel box and run smaller circuits into the house to plug in refrigerator, window ac, lamp and maybe a tv on different outlets.

Additional Comments: This is a great website. Really nice for someone to share their wisdom with others. Thanks

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question.
Hello Guy – You are absolutely correct.
NEVER connect a generator in such a way as to back-feed your electrical system! This is extremely dangerous not only to your home but also the electrical utility crews who may be working on downed electrical wires.
The solution is to install a Transfer Switch and Sub-Panel specifically for essential circuits that you need to have on generator power. This is not advisable for a novice and it is best to have a licensed electrical contractor install this setup for you. Typically this is done with an building permit and inspection.
Be safe – not sorry!
Do it right the first time – you’ll sleep better at night!

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