Welcome! Here are the website rules, as well as some tips for using this forum.
Need to contact us? Visit https://heatinghelp.com/contact-us/.
Click here to Find a Contractor in your area.
If our community has helped you, please consider making a contribution to support this website. Thanks!

Using service outlet on system2000 to power up

Options
bdd
bdd Member Posts: 2

Can I use the service outlet to power up System 2000 after i turn off the breaker from the mains?

mattmia2

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,933

    As with a generator?

  • JaymeHart
    JaymeHart Member Posts: 66
  • Roger
    Roger Member Posts: 460

    I like your idea @JaymeHart . @bdd , if you are unsure of any modifications to your system that involve life, health and safety, you should consult or hire a professional. Think safety first, last, and always.

    Best,
    Roger

    President
    Energy Kinetics, Inc.
    pecmsgRobertw
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,117
    edited January 25

    so $100 for like $40 of parts from the supply house. maybe not even that since a 3 way switch is a spdt switch and a 20a spec grade one of those is under $10.

  • bdd
    bdd Member Posts: 2

    My querry was specific for System2000 ,where the system manager has a "Service Outlet"

    Screenshot 2026-01-25 170554.png

    Can I hook up a line from a portable generator into the outlet to power up the system?

    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,117
    edited January 25

    no. that is an outlet not an inlet.

    and it isn't interlocked with the mains source

    HydronicMike
  • Expenses1188
    Expenses1188 Member Posts: 16

    My boiler was wired to an electrical box with BX cable. I replaced the blank cover with one that would accept a receptacle. Added a electrical plug made for BX cable. I have used a small generator several times to power the boiler when there was a electricity outage.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,060

    No. You MUST have some sort of interlock device so that it is physically impossible to connect the generator to the system without disconnecting the mains power from the system.

    There are a number of devices which do that. Some are a good deal less expensive than others. A few can even be installed on the circuit breaker box — provided you know what you are doing.

    The rule isn't whimsy. It is to protect you and your equipment — and the linesman who is trying to reconnect your mains power. But it is a rule, and both the civil penalties (including jail) and other penalties (destroyed equipment, death, stuff like that) are pretty fierce.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,060

    I might add — linesmen these days are trained to ground all power lines before they work on them. This is to protect them against people whose generators are not properly connected. This does not, however, protect the innocent passerby who happens to step on a line which got energized by some rogue generator down the street.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,933

    Be advised If you back feed the grid and get caught you will be the last to get your power restored along with a hefty fine!

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,933
    edited January 27

    *

  • Expenses1188
    Expenses1188 Member Posts: 16

    I hope your not suggesting my method of connecting a generator to a boiler is back feeding the electrical grid. It is not. Use a standard extension cord to plug the appliance (boiler) into. I am not using an extension cord with a plug on each end.

  • Robertw
    Robertw Member Posts: 65

    I would add, if you look closely at the wiring diagram provided, the outlet is wired to the hot side of the switch . Therefore, it will be live all the time unless the breaker or another switch up stream is thrown.

    Robert W.

    Energy Kinetics

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,060

    My point exactly. unbales that diagram is wonky (it's a little hard to read as reproduced here) plugging the generator into the service plug will energize the entire rest of the building electrics.

    JUST DON'T DO IT

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,933

    Your House

    Your responsibility.

    It's wrong

    It's illegal

    and just plain stupid.

    There are many devices that prevent any chance of something going wrong!

  • Expenses1188
    Expenses1188 Member Posts: 16

    When I unplug the boiler from the receptacle it is completely isolated from the homes electrical system. I think people are assuming wrong. The boiler still has it's fuse and shut off switch.

    ethicalpaul
  • Expenses1188
    Expenses1188 Member Posts: 16

    Also I am not suggesting the OP use the service outlet on his boiler. If that boiler has all it's electricity supplied though the incoming electric according to the schematic maybe this could work.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,933

    exactly and if you don’t unplug it then you’re back

    the safety has to be idiot proof

  • Expenses1188
    Expenses1188 Member Posts: 16

    It is idiot proof. Unless you suggesting that someone might unplug the boiler an not realize their boiler is not working because it is unplugged.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,933

    all the time the plug is live!

  • Expenses1188
    Expenses1188 Member Posts: 16

    no it is not. The plug is on the bx cable from the boiler.

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 4,208

    @bdd (if you're still reading this!), the power outlet is directly connected to the incoming power wiring. If you forgot to flip the breaker and plug/unplug in the right order, Bad Things would happen to the line crew, your generator, or both. A better idea would be the generator switch @JaymeHart mentioned, or something like this: https://www.geninterlock.com/ (no association with them, just a google result) which would provide backup for your entire house. I use this style myself. It's safe for the repair crews and, as others mentioned, one of the few legal ways to do it.

    I understand that some people have cordsets on their boilers so they can be unplugged from the wall and simply plugged in to a generator, but there is some question whether this is allowed by the electric code in general, and is subject to interpretation by your local electrical inspector/building dept in any case.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,060

    You have a plug/socket for your boiler?

    That's a code violation. A boiler must be on an individual, breaker or fuse protected circuit of suitable ampacity, hard wired.

    'I don't even want to know what else is going on. I don't want to be on the same distribution mains.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 4,208

    I don't, I have a listed interlock on my panel. It doesn't sound like the OP does ("turn off the breaker", not "unplug the boiler"), but I know I've heard someone on HH saying they did that so it could be plugged in to an inverter. I haven't checked the NEC myself regarding the legality of it, hence the non-committal mention.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,117

    you have 2 threads mixed together here. @Expenses1188 has their boiler cord and plug connected and it unplugging the cord to plug in to the generator which is completely fine(other than maybe some minor code violations about is the appliance listed to be cord and plug connected and mc isn't a flexible cord so not sure about putting a plug on it).

    @bdd seems to want to use the completely illegal backfeeding without an interlock method.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,060

    I've heard it said, too, @ratio . Doesn't make it correct. I neglected above, by the way, that an easily accessible emergency shutoff switch is also required…

    It occurs to me, by the way, that if our OP does unplug his unit and plugs his generator in to the service outlet, then the unplugged cord (it's a male plug, no?) becomes powered. Aaargh…

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,797
    edited January 27

    Why wouldn't the OP just unplug the boiler from the socket and plug it into the generator with the male end? I don't understand why they are wanting to use the service plug either? I'm also wondering if the power plug thing is maybe regional? They definitely let us use them on residential mod/cons here in northern michigan, the rest sounds about right though, dedicated circuit, shut-off within sight, there are some rules about the nature of and length of the power cord, location of the receptacle etc.

    I know all my heating devices are on pigtails (dedicated boiler circuit) for easy generator usage without backfeeding a panel. I did get a legitimate transfer switch this fall to power the whole panel that I haven't used yet, and I always would switch off my mains during any outage I needed to bust the generator out for just from an abundance of caution. am I flying too dangerously here? This thread has me really questioning myself today lol.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,060

    I think you're basically OK, @GGross

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England