On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 20:33:15 +0000, Keith (Southend) wrote:

... are generators more prone to spikes and the like?

They will sag and surge something rotten when loads are applied or
removed. Things with motors, like the fridge or freezer may well give
a generator a serious headache for a moment or two. Maybe long enough
to cause a computer to reboot or blow a fuse. I'd not connect
"sensitive" kit until I knew how that particular generator behaved as
loads came on and off.

I beleive that you can plug these directly into your ring main
(switch off the main incomer) and will effectively power up ALL the
house circuits.

ARGH! not plug as in a 13A plug on the end of the generator cable
PLEASE. Not only would the plug be LETHAL, potentially live exposed
pins when not connected, but there are issues regarding the
installation earth and Neutral/Earth bonding and the incoming supply
etc. There is no "one size fits all" solution as there are several
different ways of supplying mains power in the UK and each require
different treatment when connecting a generator.

You can fit a proper break before make changeover switch and fed the
generator side of that from a proper 16 or 32A CEE connecter. They
don't come cheap, though couple of hundred quid, plus fitting. You
can't legaly DIY this sort of stuff now.

The simplest and safest approach (if you are sensible about cable
routing...) is to have enough, suitably rated, extension cables to
feed the required kit direct from the genny and forget any interface
with the house wiring.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail