Tenants are backfeeding using generators...

Aasvoël said:
If they feed power back into the grid, why doesn't the neighbors lights also turn on? Or is it a case of the load being to high and "browning out" but still works in their house due do the electricity taking the path of least resistance?
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Because the complex has a mini sub so whatever live current comes from their unit will get dropped in the sub and not passed on.

Electricity is not connected between units in a bus, but in a star topology.
 
BlackStatic said:
We have two tenants here that I found out are backfeeding electricity using generators during loadshedding.

I'm no electrician, but I think this is illegal? I did send out a complex wide notice to advise as such.

Is this very dangerous? What steps can be taken to prohibit this? Any advice? I feel bad for them, they gave the "what else can we do?" excuse..

I'm a bit at a loss at what to do here.

Thanks
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End-users who use portable generators to interface with fixed electrical installations must adhere to the regulations of the OHS Act and SANS 10142-1.

Your Corporate body must ensure that those using portable generator comply with the regulations for their safety and those of all the tenants.
Back feeding into the grid can and will lead to serious injury to someone even a fatality.
The changes necessary to connect can only be done by someone with a Wiremans license who would issue a certificate of compliance.
 
What happens if they’re backfeeding and the eskom main power returns as well? Since they didn’t isolate that feed?
 
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neoprema said:
What happens if they’re backfeeding and the eskom main power returns as well? Since they didn’t isolate that feed?
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I’m actually not sure but it’s surprising how many people do it the wrong way.

If nothing serious happens, I’m assuming the generator will get damaged or something will trip
 
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Speedster said:
Probably flip their local main switch off
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Not sure about this but if the infeed is via a prepaid meter, there is some sort of contactor that is activated by the prepaid meter that cuts off the feed from the grid during LS. The problem comes in when the power comes back on. That contactor will activate and then you have a generator in parallel with the mains with anyone's guess of the synchronisation, which is really bad news for everyone. The BC of your complex needs to move and move quickly to see to it that the complex is protected from this sort of BS behaviour.
 
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Nemesys said:
changes necessary to connect can only be done by someone with a Wiremans license who would issue a certificate of compliance.
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Not really correct. Anyone can do the work, but it would have to be subjected to a CoC process after completion. Especially in a complex, where there may not be the protection installed for individual council feeds
 
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Speedster said:
While that would be fun, sadly it would simply either trip or stall.
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There is a guy down the road from us in Vredekloof who had such a system, with the genie installed in his garage. The mains came back on, the generator exploded, caught fire, set the garage and its contents on fire and nearly burnt the entire house down. the firewall and a very prompt response from the fire brigade is all that saved the place.
 
Geoff.D said:
There is a guy down the road from us in Vredekloof who had such a system, with the genie installed in his garage. The mains came back on, the generator exploded, caught fire, set the garage and its contents on fire and nearly burnt the entire house down. the firewall and a very prompt response from the fire brigade is all that saved the place.
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Yeah, I get that. But that would've been caused by the unsynchronized power sources as opposed to generator overload.
 
Geoff.D said:
Not sure about this but if the infeed is via a prepaid meter, there is some sort of contactor that is activated by the prepaid meter that cuts off the feed towards the grid during LS. The problem comes in when the power comes back on. That contactor will activate and then you have a generator in parallel with the mains with anyone guess of the synchronisation, which is really bad news for everyone. The BC of your complex needs to move and move quickly to see to it that the complex is protected from this sort of BS behaviour.
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Surely the prepaid meter is before the main switch? Flipping the main breaker should isolate the house circuits from the prepaid meter
 
Herewith some guidelines and requirement to connect a generator safely and legally to your premises

Connecting any unauthorised power source directly into any point of electrical wiring without a changeover switch is illegal and dangerous because of so-called “back feeding” which, by definition, means supplying power back into the grid when the grid is down. This must be avoided at all cost as the voltage fed back into the lines poses an electrocution hazard for utility workers and others who may not know that the line is charged.

Connection of any alternative power supply must comply with SANS 10142-1 Annexure S Emergency power installation configuration.

Never use a plug-to-plug cable to connect the generator to a socket outlet. Many generators are supplied with plug-to-plug cables, but their use is strictly forbidden as it provides no earth leakage protection.
Should the utility power be restored while the main circuit breaker is not switched off, the generator may be damaged or the entire system may be burnt, causing fire hazard.
While the main supply is not available, the generator will send power back into the main cable. This may overload the generator and shock electricians working on repairs on other power lines

Use a registered person in accordance with the Electrical Machinery Regulations to do the electrical installation. The registered person can be an installation electrician (IE) or master installation electrician (MIE) registered as a contractor with the Department of Labour. The registered person must issue a Certificate of Compliance upon completion of the installation.
 
Put a stop to it now! Electricians like me will be electrocuted and can be deadly!

Report them to CoCT immediately!
 
Out of interest, who would be responsible if the complex burns down - or someone is killed? The tenant - or the owner for not taking action. (with SA laws so in favour of tenants)
 
We have a small generator for emergencies and I have dedicated 15A leads for use with the generator. Backfeeding is beyond dangerous, especially in a complex. An electrical fire could spread and take out multiple units.
 
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xrapidx said:
Out of interest, who would be responsible if the complex burns down - or someone is killed? The tenant - or the owner for not taking action. (with SA laws so in favour of tenants)
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The offender who caused the problem will be responsible for their actions, the owner of the building would be accountable for not taking action, that's if he was aware and would also be complicit in the whole mess.
 
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