So I read this question: Hooking two (gasoline) generators together to make 220VAC
And it’s close to what I’m wanting to do but not quite. We had a power outage due to weather. I purchased a generator that is 30 amps but 120 V. Initially I was going to wire this to allow power to come to both phases of my panel but I decided against it. I just opted for bare minimum until the power came back on. I want to purchase a second generator and come up with a better solution in the future just in case.
The generator manufacturer makes a parallel kit but it appears to only double the output wattage not the volts which is understandable. I get that running 220 V can cause phase issues. That’s not what I want to do. I don’t care about running any 220 V devices during an outage. My hot water heater is the only 220 V device I missed and I’m swapping it out with a gas one.
Can I possibly buy two of these generators, the parallel kit, and somehow make a plug/setup that will allow me to have the combined 60 amp capacity, still 120 V but on both legs of the power?
I realize that a standby generator and transfer switch is the way to go but I don’t want to spend that much money.
Best Answer
If you want to use one generator on each side of a 120/240 volt, split phase system, you don't need a parallel kit. If you don't want to connect any 240 volt loads, you only need to connect one generator between neutral and one hot leg and the other between neutral and the other hot leg. You need to to do whatever the utility requires to assure that your system is disconnected from the utility when the generators are connected. There must be no possibility that your generators energize the utility lines. You need some kind of transfer switch. In can probably be a manual 2 or 3 pole double-throw switch. You probably should not make any kind of connection involving plugs and receptacles.