MEP-003 hooked to the house

m16ty · Jan 1, 2015

I finally got my MEP-003 hooked up to my house.

I've got it set up where all I have to do is pull the generator up the driveway and plug it in. I also installed a box right beside my main breaker box to monitor Hz, voltage on each leg, and amp draw on each leg.

For some reason the Hz meter on my MEP reads 60.5Hz (aftermarket digital Hz meter) and the one in the house reads 59.5Hz. I just concluded that they just aren't that accurate. For what it's worth, the house Hz meter read 59.5Hz when I back feed grid power through the generator circuit (with MEP not connected, of course).

R Racing · Jan 1, 2015

Very nice set up!! Love the meters !!

Jeepsinker · Jan 1, 2015

I like the meters too. So are you feeding it three phase and pulling off the separate legs or what? I need to do this but I'm not sure how to go about it. I will be permanently installing mine inside my shop feeding the main panel onto the property.

Keith_J · Jan 2, 2015

Not three phase but 120/240. The difference in reconnection is angular as three phase is 120 degrees out of phase where 120/240 is 180 degrees out of phase.

CDR · Jan 3, 2015

m16ty said:
I finally got my MEP-003 hooked up to my house.

I've got it set up where all I have to do is pull the generator up the driveway and plug it in. I also installed a box right beside my main breaker box to monitor Hz, voltage on each leg, and amp draw on each leg.

For some reason the Hz meter on my MEP reads 60.5Hz (aftermarket digital Hz meter) and the one in the house reads 59.5Hz. I just concluded that they just aren't that accurate. For what it's worth, the house Hz meter read 59.5Hz when I back feed grid power through the generator circuit (with MEP not connected, of course).

I have the same HZ gauge and it says the same thing!

glassk · Jan 4, 2015

My question is , Does it have safe guards against feeding the utility power lines , transfer switch or lock out, ?

on the 59.5 reading , could be parallel conductors in the metal conduit inducing a (monkey wrench in the works), or maybe reverse the leads on the meter , I noticed the 114 and 117 volts on L1 L2 could be the half a hertz

I just ordered from Amazon DROK® Two Wires Digital Frequency Panel Meter 10-199.9Hz LCD Electric Reading AC 80-250V

for $ 12 , thanks for posting your set up, nice to see quality work :goodjob:

steelandcanvas · Jan 4, 2015

I am curious also. Did you install a transfer switch or lock-out breaker?

m16ty · Jan 4, 2015

steelandcanvas said:
I am curious also. Did you install a transfer switch or lock-out breaker?

All I'm going to say is I'm confident in my setup. I understand the risk of doing it wrong and know the laws.

Glassk, I ordered my meters from Amazon also but am unsure the brand. They came from China and are just in a plain white box.

As far as the voltage goes, that's about is close as I could get it fooling with the voltage adjust on the MEP. Any adjustment from there either way I'd either get low voltage or high voltage on one of the legs. With the way it is I figure I was right in the 110v-120v range so I left it alone.

glassk · Jan 4, 2015

m16ty said:
All I'm going to say is I'm confident in my setup. I understand the risk of doing it wrong and know the laws.

Glassk, I ordered my meters from Amazon also but am unsure the brand. They came from China and are just in a plain white box.

As far as the voltage goes, that's about is close as I could get it fooling with the voltage adjust on the MEP. Any adjustment from there either way I'd either get low voltage or high voltage on one of the legs. With the way it is I figure I was right in the 110v-120v range so I left it alone.

I'm thinking an off by .5 hertz reading for the simplicity and price of the meter is not too bad,

I have an MEP002A plus got lucky and have the M60 60 amp distribution box and cables,

rustystud · Jan 5, 2015

m16ty said:
All I'm going to say is I'm confident in my setup. I understand the risk of doing it wrong and know the laws.

Glassk, I ordered my meters from Amazon also but am unsure the brand. They came from China and are just in a plain white box.

As far as the voltage goes, that's about is close as I could get it fooling with the voltage adjust on the MEP. Any adjustment from there either way I'd either get low voltage or high voltage on one of the legs. With the way it is I figure I was right in the 110v-120v range so I left it alone.

I think you did a great job ! As far as the different voltage levels goes, if the house is not totally balanced on both 120V loads you will never have the same voltage on both meters. I tried one year when I was just running on generator power alone (we had no power to the house for 5 years) to balance the loads. Nearly went crazy !!! Turn on one light in one room and the balance goes off ! All you can do is judge how much total power will be used on both legs, and then even it out as best as you can. Washer on one circuit, the dryer on another.

Eaglhawk · Jan 5, 2015

Slightly above 60Hz is much better than slightly lower than 60Hz. The frequency can go down slightly when the Diesel Engine is under load. Depending on how good the frequency controller can keep the engine speed to 60Hz when the loads change, it is best to keep it slightly higher without load, so under nominal load it will be exactly 60Hz...(RMS or Peak to Peak). This is more important in older generators with mechanical frequency throttle controls. 60.5 Hz is nothing to worry about, it is just fine... If you are an Uber perfectionist get a oscilliscope and time it to the resonance of an atom...

khestee · Jan 18, 2015

What kind of connection did you use at the house. I just finished my house and had the electrician install a lock out/transfer panel and an outside 30 amp plug. Just wondering down how I wire the 30 anp plug to the gen.

Jimc · Jan 18, 2015

missed this one....to m16ty, if those are my gauges on your gen then those are reading correct. i take all my electronics before assembly and zero them out to 60hz. i never rely on them to be set correctly at the factory. the ones in your panel can normally be off +-.5 or so. found that out a long time ago.

m16ty · Jan 18, 2015

Jimc said:
missed this one....to m16ty, if those are my gauges on your gen then those are reading correct. i take all my electronics before assembly and zero them out to 60hz. i never rely on them to be set correctly at the factory. the ones in your panel can normally be off +-.5 or so. found that out a long time ago.

Yes, my frequency gauge on the MEP came from you. I suspect if there is one a little off it's the one in the house (made in China).

Khestee, The plug is just something I had laying around. I picked up a few of them when a factory was going to throw them in the garbage. I did some research on them awhile back and the best I remember they were rated for something like 100amps, weatherproof, and rated for explosive environments. I also remembered them being very expensive if you have to buy them.

I suspect you could just go down to the big box store and pick up a 4 prong dryer or range plug to make the connection.

jonesal · Feb 4, 2015

Installing this setup without the proper lockouts is NOT a good job. Nor should it be complimented. Your response was sheepish at best. Please be honest and say if it's hooked up properly (by law) or not. I hope it is. I worked for electrical utilities in the past and a setup without the proper transfer switch (double pole, double throw) kills people. It's illegal. It's irresponsible. I don't care what the situation is. I have a similar setup but have the proper switch on the pole. I find it amazing that people on SS flame others for not using safety chains when towing, or driving with no knowledge of the vehicle, etc. But in this case, people gloss right over something that is worse. Screw the meters, do you have the correct transfer switch installed?

Al Jones
Generator that is hooked up correctly.

steelandcanvas · Feb 4, 2015

This is what is installed on my system. Fairly inexpensive, and prevents liability issues. Here is a link: http://natramelec.com/

Isaac-1 · Feb 4, 2015

jonesal, sometimes one just gets tired of tilting at windmills, and while I will usually post messages about the importance of safe transfer techniques, I doubt there is anything to be gained when replying to someone that responded that the knew the law... Afterall for every person that may be reached on forums like this there are probably 50 that have a suicide plug dryer cord that they were taught to use by a 20 year old kid in a hardware store.

swbradley1 · Feb 4, 2015

Okay, you piqued my curiosity. WTH is a suicide plug dryer cord?

mkcoen · Feb 4, 2015

swbradley1 said:
Okay, you piqued my curiosity. WTH is a suicide plug dryer cord?

Cord with 2 male ends. Plug one into the wall outlet and the other into the generator. Problem is if the unit is hot and not plugged into the wall you have live 220.

jonesal · Feb 4, 2015

And Isaac-1 is right, there are a lot of them out there...

Al Jones

MEP-003 hooked to the house

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