A properly connected generator has safety mechanisms to prevent both outcomes.
Using such cords, whether you bought one or fashioned it yourself, is extremely dangerous on multiple levels.
First, the cord itself.
Improperly backfeeeding a generator into your home can cause fires, property damage, and even death.
you might cause electrical fires in your home by overloading the smaller gauge wire in the individual circuits.
At best, this extends the power outage, making repairs take longer.
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Before discussing the different methods, let’s talk about general generator safety first.
First, never run your generator in an enclosed space.
Third, position the generator so that the exhaust is venting away from the structure.
Every little bit helps to keep harmful gases like carbon monoxide away from your living space.
It’s not exactly luxurious off-grid living, but it will get the job done safely.
It requires no special electrical work or additional expense.
This large capacity dual fuel generator from a company with an excellent reputation is a great pick for folks trying to keep not just the fridge running, but the lights and more too.
It must be installed in advance by a licensed electrician and according to the local building codes.
The way an interlock kit works is very straightforward.
The actual “interlock” component is a metal plate that functions as a safety switch.
Interlockkit.com
If you flip the breaker for the generator feed, the main breaker is turned off and vice versa.
Using an incorrectly sized interlock defeats the purpose of using the interlock.
It also allows you to use hardwired devices like your furnace and well pump.
Reliance/Lowes
On the downside, this design requires you to manually transfer the power and adjust the circuits accordingly.
Like an interlock kit, it must be installed by a licensed electrician and to local building codes.
The transfer switch is a secondary electrical panel installed next to your primary panel.
Transfer switches for residential applications come in two flavors, manual and automatic.
They are, however, easier and safer to operate.
Further, unlike interlock kits, you shouldn’t have issues with local building codes.
