Originally Posted by
PorkRind
Generally speaking, yes. But it's not likely your neighbors will add significantly to that load . . . the AC outlets on the generator itself have a 15A breaker. You can be reasonably confident they won't draw more than that
Thanks. Does this mean around 1.5 KW, if I am calculating correctly?
Originally Posted by
PorkRind
If your neighbors need to do much more than save the contents of their refrigerators and run some lights, they'll need a lot more current than can be supplied over a conventional extension cord.
Nevertheless, people do stupid things.
Originally Posted by
PorkRind
On a related note: It would be harder than you might think to determine whether someone is tapping into your power (other than finding an extension cord running across your lawn). Your own current usage will vary dramatically over the course of a day; the water heater, electric range, microwave, and any small appliances (hair drier, toaster, iron, portable heater, air conditioner, etc) will have intermittent usage patterns and your current draw will never be a constant value.
Here it is extremely difficult to steal electricity from one detached house and bring it to another. If you have attached houses, that would depend on the location of the electrical mains as well as meters. If each has those separate from the other, it is again difficult.
Ostensibly, the electric utility is running computer models on how much each customer should be using. If Customer #1 is using x KWH and next door neighbor is using 25% of that, hopefully someone notices.
Anyway, all this goes out the window when your power is supplied by a generator in your yard.