Hi Soloboss,
As tcmtech has already mentioned, workers on electrical supply services are well aware of the possibility of back-feeds from other generators. Not only small domestic sets but larger units which may be intended for factories or small industrial estates as back-ups.
I think that the most likely problem of the interlocking arrangements faced by the small domestic set, is the electric mains coming back on line while the generator is running.
I personally know a person who took account of the back-feed situation, and made sure that he switched out the mains supply before feeding his house from his small generator.
This was fine the first time.
He turned off and removed his generator when the mains came back, then switched back to the normal electric supply.
That was fine second time too.
Some time ago, we had "rolling power cuts" for a few months here in the UK.
They would typically last for a few hours at peak times in selected areas.
I forget exactly why they occurred, but they were very annoying.
On the third occasion when his utility power supply came back on,
he thought he would do it a little bit differently.
He thought he would maintain the supply to his house by switching back the electricity supply, then removing his generator.
Well it didnt quite work like that. He bust his generator, and i think he blew a fuse on the generator feed too.
Fortunately the damage was minor, i think the diodes were shot.
And his generator was out until i repaired it.
But it gave him a start, and i think he was much more careful after that.
********************
Ive been interested in interlocking systems of various types for many years. I first noticed my interest when i was an apprentice, a long time back now.
The small toolbox i used most was a small metal carrying type, lockable with a tongue of metal that went through a slot in the lid, and a padlock goes in the hole in the tongue.
A very common type of padlock arrangement on a small metal toolbox.
Occasionally the work was outdoors, or in awkward areas, and the open toolbox would be next to me, and that where i would put down any tools i was using, and any bits of stuff associated with what i was doing.
After finishing i would make sure everything of mine was back in the box, then close the box and get back.
That was fine mostly, but a couple of times i shut the keys in the box. Not often but enough to make me think, cos it meant cutting off the padlock and getting another one unless i was lucky enough to find its spare key.
Finally, after what seemed to me to be a year or so, a solution came to me.
There are two types of padlock. The type which are locked and unlocked using a key, and the type which lock when you squeeze them shut, you need the key to open this type.
All i had to do was to get the type of padlock which needs the key to lock it.
Then i can't lock my keys in the toolbox. This solution was so simple, it hit me like a smack in the ear.
I changed the padlock that day, even though it wasn't necessary.
********************
Dont worry too much about people looking over your shoulder, waiting to jump on you if you do something daft.
I used to feel a bit like that, but you've got to do start doing something really dangerous before anyone here starts kicking off.
Like playing around with generators and utility electricity supplies.
Thanks for the picture, a picture says a thousand words.
I see now exactly what you mean.
If you should happen to think of a simple arrangement which does cover it both ways, please post it as i would like to know.
Haven't thought of one myself yet, but i feel there would be something simple along the lines that you have already.
Regards, John
