Make A 30 Amp Generator Cord

[@steveprossick8779]

Thank you. Hurricane is hitting us now but had gotten parts from hardware store. They told me to just find a how to video. This was very helpful.

[@cornfields-crosshairs4182]

Thanks!! It's almost 3:00 a.m. here in Michigan and I'm in a brown-out watching this with my tools and cord! Much appreciated! Clear instructions!

[@abrahamochoa2161]

Best video ever! Other videos skip this part (the one you are actually looking for). Great job.

[@gusgstratton8977]

Excellent step-by-step instructions. Very clear, concise and to the point.

[@ericyoung1973]

Thanks!! So many videos that DO NOT tell you what X or Y mean on the plug. I used ferrules on my stranded wire and it really makes the connections clean.

[@keithmapes5758]

The best video for making this cord i have found on KZbin.

[@nkel6111]

not funny...he needs to do closeups and ...well so much more

[@chalemi]

Well hell yeah! This is exactly the plug and cord I bought at Lowes! Great instruction! Thanks!

[@jamiehutchins2586]

Two Thumbs Up! Excellent Presentation! Helped filled in the Blanks. Thanks!

[@josephrruggiero1253]

Great job explaining instructions. I have a 30 amp generator but a 20 amp transfer switch.I have a 30 amp extension. Can remove the 30 amp female connector and use a 20 amp female connector that would go into the transfer switch. Matching the wires to the x,y, g, w on the 20 amp connector ?

[@jimbo2487]

Outstanding, I’m headed to Lowe’s in the morning to get wire and plugs.

[@pirihern9329]

Just found this. Excellent video. Ordered a 40' cord but won't get here till wed. I'm in ct. Storm is coming fast. Need to go to Lowe's asap. Hope they have this.

[@bobbrown1942]

Craig Thanks for the great video! Really helpful 🌠🌠🌠 bob brown Melbourne florida

[@stevesierko3234]

Hi There thanks for the video. My current cord has a four prong that goes into that gen. and a 3 prong on the other end of the cord that goes into the plug attached to my sub-panel. I need a longer cable do the two hot wires go together on the the three prong end? Thanks Steve

[@JoeSimple]

Hey Steve, NO DONT DO THAT. in my opinion, I'm going to guess that the cable that's being used only has 3 wires black/white/green. And is only useing 120v from the generator.

[@barneyrubble4827]

Not only would I not do what you suggested, I would swap out one of the plugs making both ends the same to prevent a potentially dangerous situation for the unaware.

[@rezyl102]

I wonder if you could help me. I have a 4000W generator with a TT-30P outlet and I want to use a through-wall transfer kit with an L14-30R receptacle to pass electricity into my house. I have the RV plug, a length of 4-wire 10 gauge cord and the L14-30R adapter. When running the wires from the RV plug to the adapter, do I tie the two hots together at the plug so that I have all 4 wires at the adapter, or do I use only one hot and leave one unused? Thanks...

[@craigmichaud-electricalins4602]

Great question!! Most RV plugs are only rated for 125v. You will need to buy a 4 wire outlet in order to care the 240v load to the house. In my video on back feeding an electrical panel I explain how to do that. I hope this helps. Thanks for the question!! CM

[@SI-lg2vp]

For an inverter generator that only supplies 120 volt power, how do you wire a power cord to feed an electrical panel? I also have a 240v 14KW diesel generator that correctly wired with a manual transfer but prefer to not to run when I don't need to. I have an RV outlet 240v 30amp I would like to use for the inverter generator. Can you jumper the X, Y connection to feed the panel with the panel isolated ( mains disconnected using the manual generator interlock). I'm only looking to power a gas furnace, refrigerator, and freezer during the night time.

[@MrMickeysbee69]

So can x and y be crossed or do they have to be on the same terminal at each end?

[@0321recon]

did you get an answer, or figure it out? My question too.

[@MrMickeysbee69]

@@0321recon nope. I still don't know.

[@0321recon]

@@MrMickeysbee69 I see in comments people referring to them needing to be same on each end, and Craig says in a comment it is common practice to us X for Black and Y for Red. Hope that helps.

[@barneyrubble4827]

In 220v single phase, X and Y are interchangeable as both are 110v hot... they are the same. Keeping both ends wired the same is still a good idea tho imo.

[@bpleunik]

Great video thanks! I’m making one of these right now

[@SharonMartinez]

Excellent video. Thank you. I have a 9500 Watt (starting) inverter generator that runs at 7600 Watts but all the cords that I see are at a maximum of 7500 Watts. Surely I am missing something. How do I find an adequate cord?

[@dickeymoore7365]

So you say the X and Y wires does not matter which side so do they have to be the same place on each ends of the plugs like the red in the Y and the black in the X on each end on the plugs?

[@berniemac8413]

No it doesn’t matter.. but you can keep it consistent if you’d like..

[@dougbritt9505]

On each connector (male and female) does it matter if the black wire connects to the "X" terminal and red wire connects to the "Y" terminal, as long as they match on both ends?

[@craigmichaud-electricalins4602]

That is correct. It is common practice to use (X) for Black and (Y) for red. CM

[@Bluesman57]

I am a licensed master electrician in Michigan, I just ran across your video's tonight, and I am enjoying them! In your previous video (how to hook up a generator in a power outage) you said X was red and Y was black, I know it doesn't matter as long as they are the same on both ends. Just wondering the difference in videos.

[@RSole9999]

@@Bluesman57 Licensed electrician or not, you are wrong. The X and Y can be different at both ends, since the load won't be affected by it. Each leg will be 120V and 240V across both. With a single phase source it won't matter.

[@JamesAmbrose48]

Hi. I just wired my first generator plug, male end only because the other end is going to wire directly into my inverter. I got 3 wire 10 AWG romex because that’s all I could find; red, white, black, and bare copper ground. The wires are solid instead of stranded and I wired them correctly into the plug. Will I have any issues with these modifications?

[@dailystruggletv5403]

thank you super helpful appreciate it ✌🏽

[@joeoquendo4943]

How do I make two male sides so that I can connect the generator to the house? Thanks.

[@joshm3342]

Be sure to have your Life and Umbrella policies paid up. Oh, and a current will.

[@joeoquendo4943]

Obviously you’ve never lived in a Hurricane saturated corridor. Local electricians do it all the time. Just make sure the main breaker is off as to not shock the power company workers.

[@Pondybolk]

I just made mine. Excellent video. Thank you

[@bigjoe4294]

Could you demonstrate or explain making 4 wire cord to 3 wire connection? Thank you.

[@walterbuller9171]

You connect the ground and neutral wires together on the 3 prong end..

[@phxgrindcoffee3634]

I’m needing to make a male to go to my predator 9500 and my trailer which also is a male - this will work the same exact way correct? All these supplies at Home Depot?

[@jvazquez53]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[@josephacavell7752]

can you tell me what gauge wire i should use to make a 30ft 30 amp generator cable

[@harryinoklahoma1866]

10ga. will work fine for 30 feet.

[@petermurphy6644]

I changed my air compressor motor from 110 to 220. But it only has 3 wires, black white and ground. My receptacle on my portable generator is 4 wires (L14-20R). How do I wire an L14-20P with only 3 wires so I can run my compressor off my generator? Can I use the black and white as both hot and have no neutral?

[@chalemi]

Ok lets say my 30A recepticle on my generator is a 3 prong interlock, how would I connect wires on a 3 prong male plug versus the 4 prong shown here?

[@joshuabradshaw2201]

Following been trying to find out the answer for almost a year and seems no one knows

[@Affordablebath_remodel]

they make an adapter to go from 3 to 4 wire. found it on amazon.

[@nathanarunyan06]

Can you wire L14-30 male end (connects to generator ) to a L6-20 female end on the same cord. ? Or do I need an adapter for that. Thank you.

[@joshm3342]

One of the benefits of making your own cable is that you can have whichever connectors make sense electrically, eliminating points of resistance & heat. Adapters are OK in a pinch, but every plug-in connection is gonna have a bit more resistance than uninterrupted copper wire.

[@joshuabradshaw2201]

Would a 3 prong work reason I ask I have a outlet set up outside our house for our camper and everything I have set up is for 3 prong with no extra space for another breaker

[@middlecrossranch3977]

Are there any extension cord ends that are look good after they’re on your cord, like the factory ones?

[@cmcc1971]

My 4 prong doesn’t have a “W” but it does have a “Z”. It does have a G, X and a Y. Do I connect the red and black wires to the X and Y screws and the white wire to the Z? I already have the green wire connected to the G.

[@barneyrubble4827]

Yes, the Z replaces the W. X and Y are hot. G is ground so the Z can only be W.

[@pourliver]

I have a question. I bought an oven cable (NEMA 15-50P), and attached a NEMA (15--30P) on the otherside for one of my device. I do not know the wiring on the 15-50p, so I cannot know if black or red is on x (or y). Is that something I need to worry about on the 15-30p side? I know you can interchange x and y if done on both sides, but is it OK if X on one end goes the Y on the other end, and vice versa?

[@barneyrubble4827]

In 220 single phase, the 2 hot wires are inter changeable. The device doesn't care bout the color of wire, only that it's getting 110v through X & Y. For continuity sake, i wire each plug the same way cause I feel more comfortable. If you were using one of these plugs to wire a 220v 3(industrial) phase with 3 hot leads and a neutral, it would most definitely matter that both,plugs were wired the same

[@pourliver]

@@barneyrubble4827 Thanks a ton! I tried my cable and it works just fine now. From what I understand, as long as its single phase, hot cables can be interchanged, glad to know I didn't fuck up! :)

[@Ojeramup12]

I have aTHEORETICAL question. IF I turn OFF the main breaker from my house and then turn off every breaker in the panel and want to use a generator, can I plug in to an existing exterior receptacle from my generator. If the electricity is going to this receptacle would it power ONLY this breaker if I turned it on or can I turn on another breaker to use that breaker as well.I have a 2000watt generator and would only use maybe 1000-1500 watts total.

[@barneyrubble4827]

With the main panel switch turned off, connecting the Gen to a breaker will backfeed the whole panel with if using a 2 pole(220v) breaker or half the panel if using a single pole(110v) breaker. Doing this w/o a proper generator safety switch is very dangerous tho cause if by mistake somehow the main panel switch was accidentally turned on while Gen was actively backfeeding that breaker...VERY VERY BAD!!!! Also, if power employee is working to restore a line and main switch gets turned on, you could electrocute him. He thinks the line is dead but it's not.

[@davidrivera8634]

I have a 240 buffer that has 3 prongs. Every residence I go to now has 4 prong connections for the range and the dryer. What do I do in these situations?

[@phenofarmsloot4matt324]

Would 10/3 (Orange Romex) work just the same? I understand you don’t want to use romex as an extension chord. I’m running it through liquid tuff conduit along the wall. Just wanted to confirm the wire it does would work just the same as the SJO

[@Zues64]

My Champion generator has a floating neutral with a 3-terminal 30-A outlet; not 4. Can you show how to wire a 3 vs 4 wire plug?

[@2muchspl]

Great How To!!!! Simple and clear.

[@andrew86-82]

I have a generator panel with the proper plug but my generator only has regular plugs on it. Can I wire a regular plug to the 4 prong that is plugging into the house as long as I am only running 15-20 amps at a time...

[@toro20061]

Is it the same thing for 4 wires and 3 wire female? Thanks

[@rocketrider1405]

Why twist the stranded conductors ‘backward’ (CCW) ?

[@joshm3342]

I look at the diection of wire twist after some insulation has been stripped off, and twist in the same direction. Keeps the strands tight and compact for best connection.

[@mark1952able]

I have a 30amp 3 wire cord. Can I hook it up to a 4 prong male adapter?

[@islammoselhi6500]

Thanks for that, but I have s question pls, I need to make the extension cord like that ( one end has 3 pin of male and other end has 4 colors of female ) that's because I have a food trailer and the cable in the trailer ends with male 4 colors , but I cant plug in that 4 pins in my home as the home has 3 pin only ,so is that okay to have 4 colors cable one end is 4 pins female and other end 3 pin male ? I wish I made u understand me, thanks alot!

[@DJIzzyDC]

What if i want to replace a regular home 220V outlet and put in a Generator type receptacle instead? what do i do with the neutral, cause as i understand you don't use neutral in a 220v receptacle, is that correct?

[@jbbolts]

just skip it

[@barneyrubble4827]

If using 4 wire, twist the gnd and neutral together for use with 3 prong

[@djnamek215phillysfinest2]

Your video did help. Thank you

[@brianhilligoss]

So what do I do if I need to go from the male twist lock that’s 240v and split it for 120v?

[@genetemplet7022]

Very good and to the point.

[@murphymj]

Great video!

[@6hcastro]

I have two 25ft 30amp 10g extension cords, can i connect both of them to make a 50ft. If i do will be loosing voltage? Or its better just to buy one extension cord of 50ft?

[@barneyrubble4827]

There should be no difference long as the connectors are in good condition.

[@TheAwesomeHomestead]

my genny says i can use the NEMA locking cord as a 120 at 30 amps. how do i do that?

[@danlevine2584]

Craig? Here's my question. It seems that everyone wires a FEMALE out-let to their fuse box to plug-in their Generator. Here we have a Female out-let on the Generator. Here we have a Female outlet at the fuse box. To connect the generator to the fuse box will require a cord with two Male connectors. I had to wire a MALE connector to my breaker box to avoid cutting my brand new 10/4 Generator cable. Is it normal for your breakers to become warm considering we are now back feeding with a generator.

[@antdrodz]

I have a 9500 running watts generator. Will this cable work for my house .

[@jimcarney6115]

30 amp connectors rated at 7500 watts at 250v. As long as your Gen has 30 amp outlet and you draw less than 7500 watts you'd be golden, but I'm no electrocutioner. ASK A PRO.

[@barneyrubble4827]

If you draw more than 7500 watts which you could, your cord could overheat rather than shutting down the generator, that is dangerous. Do it right man!

[@mainewoods1862]

Thank you excellent tutorial!

[@mikes.1882]

Electricians, Always gotta grab the biggest longest tool out of the bag 😆

[@terryswails1191]

Big tools= status symbol.

[@pharpester]

How would you make a 50a twist lock cord

[@cllim80]

May I know would it be OK to make a backfeed 150-200 feet length of 30 Amp cord by using your method ?

[@josephpuchel6497]

Hey Read your question what did you end up doing ? Thicker gauge wire ? What’s the distance of wire did you make? Thank you

[@cllim80]

@@josephpuchel6497 At the end, I went to Amz and bought two long cables and connected them together.

[@barneyrubble4827]

Long runs will have some loss and possibly heat if too long. Heavier GA would prevent that. There are charts for this calculation.

[@randylee2549]

is this cheaper than a pre moulded one?

[@bigpardner]

Probably not. I see at Home Depot the cord is 2.45 a foot, which is more than a ready made cord, at least for a 25 foot one. $61.25 just for the cord alone.

[@yellow_panther]

@@bigpardner I think the HD wire is more flexible in colder weather than the pre-made cords I am finding (SJO vs SJTW)

[@seanryan2740]

Would this cord be safe to use in the rain?

[@barneyrubble4827]

Def Not!! in emergency, raise connection higher than the cable(off the gnd) and cover with waterproof housing FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY!!

[@tammyburris3993]

Nice work

[@waynejump3263]

is it ok to make a 100' cord?

[@wilh.7485]

An you help, I am going from a 4 wire generator to a 3 wire dryer connection. Do eliminate the ground or do I connect the ground and the neutral together

[@craigmichaud-electricalins4602]

In a jam either way should work!!

[@Mazel_Tov_888]

instead of using that finger slicer, use diangular plier starting at the end of the cable to cut back insulation.

[@jimgresham5529]

Explain please "Diangular plier". wtf

[@tommiekeen2314]

What gauge is the wire need to be?

[@fredwild190]

See notes at the top. He used 10 gauge, 4 wire cable.

[@freelancellc]

good I'm getting about a 28.6% conversion rate on each test I do with a Power Lead Generator funnel.

[@nkgaming4508]

PLEASE HELP ME: I put X on Red and Y black is that correct?

[@Inariusclaimedthethrone]

NK GAMING should be as long as you did that on both sides of the cord

[@mikeshotglass5119]

How much did this cost to make?

[@craigmichaud-electricalins4602]

About $40.00. It depends on the wire size and how long you want it to be. I use 10AWG for anything under 10 feet. at 30 amps. If you need it longer then you can use 8AWG. Bigger is always better!! Thanks for watching. CM

[@ryannastaj]

Craig, did you find this a "better" option than buying one at big box? What did you choose to make vs buy prefabricated?

[@fredwild190]

@@craigmichaud-electricalins4602 Bigger is better IF the connector will take the larger gauge wire. For example, #6AWG wire is too big for a typical 30 amp connector.

[@tsi87supr60]

Now do a 4 prong 240v to 120v for generator use.

[@mark1952able]

When there is 4 wires on the cord and a 4 prong adapter, it's pretty self explanatory.

[@CarlosCastro-bz8nc]

Subtítulos en español por favor

[@drublod530]

Isn’t that a 50 amp cord? I thought 50 amp were 4 prong and 30 amp is 3 prong. You made a 50 amp cord NOT 30 amps!!

[@craigmichaud-electricalins4602]

The prongs have NOTHING to do with AMPS. It is wire size , and 10AWG is rated for 30 Amps. Not sure who or where you were told prongs dictates amps but you may want to let them know so someone does not get hurt. CM

[@drublod530]

Craig Michaud- Electrical Instructor Nonsense, plugs were designed to dictate amps so stupid people wouldn’t plug the wrong amp cord into the wrong socket. Really? I shouldn’t have to tell an electrician this!

[@billconnell8688]

@@drublod530 Unfortunately that is not true. My 30 amp, 40 amp and 50 amp outlets installed by a major electrical contractor here in San Diego use the exact same receptacle. Only the wire size going from the receptacle to the panels circuit breakers were different. 30 amp for my genny was 10awg, the 40amp for my electric car was 8 awg and the 50 amp for my welder was 6 awg (he said that was actually rated for 55 amp.

[@barneyrubble4827]

@@drublod530 a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous! You are right bout the plugs but there is flexibility within each design. You should make sure of yourself b4 you go blasting people.