Are you plugging both extension cords from the generator into your
house wiring when the GFCI blows? Try only plugging one in.
Also, try plugging both into the power strip... well... maybe after
doing the test mentioned below.
One possibility could be that you have the Common on one plug from the
generator connected to Common on the breaker box, but the Hot from the
other plug connected to Common on the breaker box.
An easy test is to use a multimeter to test the voltages across the 2
plugs from the generator. You should see 120V from each pair, but when
measuring from one spade on one plug to one spade on the other
extension cord plug, you'll see 0V or 240V depending on the
combination you test.
This way, you can determine hot on each plug and make sure they get to
the right spots in the breaker panel.
Russ
---------------------------------------------------------
You Can't Solve a Problem with the Thinking that Created the Problem -
Albert Einstein
On Sep 2, 2008, at 8:57 AM, Robert McElwee wrote:
> Several times over the past few years I have killed my main breaker
> (as well as all the other breakers), hooked up two extension cords I
> made that have double male ends on them, and powered up both sides
> of my breaker box with a 5K generator. This year hurricane season is
> here so I pulled out my "new" generator (a used 6K generator my
> father traded me for a 10K generator I bought for him) and fired it
> up. It is running fine so I killed my main breaker and all the other
> breakers and tried to back feed into the house through the two
> electrical outlets I have always used. Here is what I see:
>
> 1) As soon as I plug the generator into the house outlet the GFCI on
> the generator trips.
> 2) Plugging two refrigerators into one of my extension cords
> (without the double male patch) works fine.
> 3) Plugging the double male patch into my extension cord and back
> feeding a power strip works fine (power from the generator coming
> into one of the strip outlets - the male cord on the outlet just
> laying on the ground).
>
> Any ideas? It looks like to me that both my generator and extension
> cords with double male ends are working fine. I've tried to plug
> into a house outlet (all breakers still off) in several different
> rooms and it trips the GFCI every time. I am confused since this is
> something I have done many times before with another generator.
>
>
> --
> Robert McElwee and Blue Flash
> "The 50 MPG Miata"
> www.lightweightmiata.com/mpg
>
> Lightweight Miata Forum:
> www.lightweightmiata.com/forum
>
> The Miata Trailer Project:
> www.lightweightmiata.com/trailer
>
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