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Yamaha Generator problem
Well, let's start with the basics.
When you turned off the main service breakers, did you also shut off all but just the 110 volt circuits you wanted to power?
Secondly to that, are you sure the 110 cicuit you wanted to power is on the same leg of the main 220 as the generator was plugged into?
From the description thus far, my guess would be that no other breakers but the mains were flipped, this caused a HUGE overload on the genset causing the breaker on it to trip.
Best of luck.
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Yamaha Generator problem
Murf is probably hitting the nail on the head.
IF you have not, find out the wattage of what you are wanting to run. On motors such as refregiators or freezers you need to use the starting wattage and NOT the running wattage. Be sure the total load is within your generator's ability or figure what items to remove to get there.
Trying to plug into your house circuit as you did, picks up a lot of items you may not think of. The lights by themself may exceed your generator. Some electric applicances and such use some power when off. Many items using small amounts can quickly add up. kt
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Yamaha Generator problem
Generally speaking you won't find a generator any bigger than about 3KW that produces ONLY 110 volts. Above that (some smaller) produce both 110 & 220 volts.
In basic terms a generator of that size will run only one circuit at capacity.
If the circuit it is plugged into is not isolated from everything else, it will try to power everything on that leg of the 220 service, AND will give power to half of the 220 circuits in the house too.
A 220 motor such as those on a well pump won't last very long with 100 volts on one side and not the other.
Best of luck.
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Yamaha Generator problem
Yup you are correct, my bad, live and learn. Anyway things are back to normal and I'm looking into having a backup system installed at the house to cover any future outages
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Yamaha Generator problem
Murf, help me understand this. I was under the assumption that on a 220v motor, breaking either L1 or L2 is the start and stop? In other words 110v on a 220v motor will do nothing. The motor motor won't even try to run.
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Yamaha Generator problem
Billy, it depends on the wiring of the motor. Some of them will certainly TRY to run. 
Even if it is of the type you are referring to, there will still be quite a load on the one leg of the 220 that the generator is back-feeding.
There's a big difference between the motor doing nothing, and it have no effect. The motor won't turn, but it will sure create a heck of a load.
Best of luck.
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Yamaha Generator problem
Sure don't know much about how electric motors can vary with their internally wiring but I would have thought Billy correct.
Makes me wonder if amp meter was placed on one leg and the other broken if there is an amp draw? Unless it were to feed somewhere such as through the ground (of course not proper) then how does it have a power load or usage if one of the lines is broken? It has alway been my understanding electricty had to have a complete path. kt
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Yamaha Generator problem
Murf, I'm not the type to disagree but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. I have somewhere around 50 220v motors on my farm and everyone is wired so when one hot wire (L1 or L2) is broken the motor shuts off. That's the only way it will work since you don't "have" to have a ground or neutral with 220v. I've fixed way too many electrical problems where the only thing wrong was a break in one of the hot wires.
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Yamaha Generator problem
Billy,
I don't recommend switching just one leg of any 220vac motor. Whether or not there will be any current flow with one leg broken, the primary issue here is safety.
How would you safely go about repairing or replacing such a motor?
If the motor is hard-wired.......that is.....without a plug on the end of the cord........you will always have 110vac to the motor, even with the switch shut off.
Every 220vac motor should have a disconnect switch installed in the power line. When the disconnect switch is thrown to the off position, both hot legs are broken. If both legs aren't broken, a serious safety situation exists, in which electrocution is highly possible.
Since a motor is nothing more than a group of windings, current can flow through the motor, even if the motor isn't turning.
Joel
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Yamaha Generator problem
Breaking one leg on a single phase motor will lead to no current or load on the connected leg - unless the motor has short to ground.
Breaking one leg on a 3 phase motor will cause the motor to single phase, drawing a lot of current with no motor movement.
- Jason
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08-17-2007, 10:35 
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