House back up with 50amp RV outlet

[pirate4x4lance]

So my Lightning charger plugs into a 50 amp 4 prong RV outlet in my garage. Couldn't I install a breaker interlock for the houses main breaker, and make a double ended male cable to go from the 30 amp end from the Lightning bed to the 50amp RV outlet in my garage, and backfeed my house that way? Seems overly simple? What am I missing?

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[TaxmanHog]

So my Lightning charger plugs into a 50 amp 4 prong RV outlet in my garage. Couldn't I install a breaker interlock for the houses main breaker, and make a double ended male cable to go from the 30 amp end from the Lightning bed to the 50amp RV outlet in my garage, and backfeed my house that way? Seems overly simple? What am I missing?

Suicide patch cords are highly frowned upon per NEC & Local Code, NO you shouldn't!!

 

[pirate4x4lance]

Suicide patch cords are highly frowned upon per NEC & Local Code, NO you shouldn't!!

I didn't ask if it was frowned upon, I'm not dumb enough to put the male end in my mouth while it's hot, I asked if it would work with the Lightning.

 

[B177y]

There are lots of things you CAN do.

Jump out of a plane with no parachute.

Start a campfire with gasoline.

Drink rubbing alcohol.

Run across a busy freeway.

SHOULD you do do any of these?

 

[Heliian]

double ended male cable

They call this a suicide cable, don't EVER do this.

There are other options like male receptacles or a hardwired cord to plug in to the truck.

 

[RLXXI]

So my Lightning charger plugs into a 50 amp 4 prong RV outlet in my garage. Couldn't I install a breaker interlock for the houses main breaker, and make a double ended male cable to go from the 30 amp end from the Lightning bed to the 50amp RV outlet in my garage, and backfeed my house that way? Seems overly simple? What am I missing?

Sure you can. Just remember to shut off the main breaker before you connect the truck.

 

[potato]

The truck will detect the neutral-ground bond at the panel as a ground fault and will not supply current. You could maybe leave the ground disconnected on your suicide cable, I don't know, but do two wrongs make a right?

 

[Maquis]

With a breaker interlock as you describe, you’ll never be able to charge….the only time the outlet breaker can be on is if the main is off.
In addition to what everybody else is telling you.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

With a breaker interlock as you describe, you’ll never be able to charge….the only time the outlet breaker can be on is if the main is off.
In addition to what everybody else is telling you.

This is the dot that wasn't connecting (literally) on this plan. The interlock only allows one of the two breakers to be on at a time. Either the main or the generator (charger) outlet. Therefore you could not actually use the interlock.

Lots of people use a double-male death cable to connect a generator to an old existing 240v outlet, usually for a welder or clothes dryer. Those same people are doing this without an interlock on their panel main breaker. They do this by memory, remembering to make sure the main is off, and no touching energized prongs. So yes you CAN do this and it will work.

That said, I highly recommend against this tactic. The change of accidentally energizing I recommend pulling 10/3 to the garage for a proper generator inlet box, and put a new 30 amp breaker in the proper location adjacent to the main for the interlok. This is inexpensive in the grand scheme of electrical work. This may be easier said than done if your panel is on the other side of a finished basement or something. I had to run mine outside.

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