What is a Suicide Cord and Why It Could Kill You

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Published 2022-06-12
Hey gang! We're winding down on a lot of projects here in Louisiana, tying up loose ends and fixing deadly electrical setups. Down here in the South, generators are a big deal. Whether you have a portable one, or a standby, having them properly hooked up is critical. We're taking this afternoon to fix a bad generator setup, and hopefully throw a little knowledge out there that can save a life or two down the road. Thanks for watching, and we'll see ya in the next one!

Interlock kits are specific to panel brands/sizes/etc. Do your homework and get the correct one. Couple of great websites: interlockkit.com and geninterlock.com

Reliance PB30 power inlet box (30 amp)
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Klein torpedo level
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Klein Hi-Vis lineman pliers
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contact: [email protected]

All Comments (21)
  • What I love about Stud Pack is that you guys don't just show the right way to do something, you show WHY it's the right way to do something.
  • @NinthSettler
    The documentation on the fusebox is something to applaud. Everyone should do that kind of thing for everything. A little bit of extra work now saves you a lot of headaches later.
  • @andrewwilson6222
    Electrician here. Great video! You know your stuff man. It’s good to make people aware of the danger to linemen and to the homeowner.
  • I've never seen a video of yours before, and I'm unlikely to watch a whole ton of them at this time, but you've got so many little things to show how good you are at this.

    When you wanted him to get a second look at the spreadsheet you made on the fusebox, I could hear the pride in your voice. You're a good worker, and I'll be one of many to tell you it.

    Keep it up, Stud. It was impressive to see the care you put into your work.
  • You just saved lives with this video, the dangers of a “suicide cord” would’ve never truly occurred to me as a DIYer. Thank you sir!
  • i'll be real, this just showed up in my recommended section. i don't have much need for Home improvement type content, but from this video alone i like this, because it's practical info that can actually be applied. i feel like i learned more from this video, than the 5 years of High School, and my year of taking Welding in a trade school. earned another subscriber.
  • Thank you for going into detail about how when we don't have interlocks, we can kill the linemen. That's a detail few get into, and most people think electricity only goes one way - from the power plant to us, not the other way around. That's a very important concept to teach since more and more people are going to solar, batteries, etc.
  • @crazykitty275
    Great video, you covered a lot of basics but I was surprised that while you discussed changing out the 20A power outlet, you never mentioned the wiring gage at all. The copper wire looks like 12AWG ... could be 10AWG but you really should have talked about the importance of ensuring the existing wiring can support the load capacity of your new connection point.
  • @updownstate
    This is exactly the work my husband and I did and seeing this makes me happy to see your work and the safety installed. Also, my grandfather was 50 years in the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Shout out to electricians everywhere.
  • Important safety tip: After you doubly confirm the circuit has been disconnected there comes a time when you must touch the wires with your bare hands. As a general habit, always touch the ground to you thumb and the hot wire with your pointer finger with the same hand. This way, if somehow you forgot to power off or if someone energized the circuit without your knowledge, a path between your fingers on he same hand will be formed. You would feel a shock, but it won’t go through your heart.
  • You guys rock it is so hard to find people that do things right, take pride in their work, and enjoy passing on your knowledge. Keep up the good work guys
  • @joeweatlu5169
    Your videos are among the best for real-world scenarios. Unlike other "professional" videos where everything just works right, and nothing seems to go wrong.
    Also, as others have said, your attention to detail and your explanations make for a great experience. Thank you.
  • Always like how happy and the pride Paul shows in his work, no matter how small. It's in the details.
  • @kentslocum
    The danger of watching such high-quality, informative videos is that I am tempted to think I now know enough to do my own electrical work. However, this video was taught me an important lesson--always have a qualified electrician review your work before, during, and after.
  • @snickpickle
    This is the first time I've seen a dedicated circuit in a panel for backup power like this. When we installed our backup generator in the early 1990s, we were required to put in an (exterior) transfer switch to not backfeed the generator power. That slider is really slick (and a ton cheaper) -- I like it! I would hope that this would be a code thing in Minnesota by now. Genius device.
  • I am Mister Safety in my group of DIYers and I loved this video. Always preach lineman safety to my friends. Job was well done. Absolute pleasure to watch them work.
  • @doug8718
    Good points about the suicide cord. Suggestions: I would have instead put in a flush mount receptacle, so it doesn't stick out from the wall, and be in the way outside. There's plenty of room inside the stud wall for the receptacle. I would also have caulked around or behind whatever receptacle you use, so blowing rain won't seep behind the receptacle and eventually rot the wood behind it. It looks like where the receptacle is located, there might not be a LOT of blowing rain to hit it, but it never hurts to seal it anyway...takes just a couple of minutes. This will also make it easier to seal against airflow into the building.
  • Always enjoy your vids and how you break down things and add pro tips to the mix. Always a pleasure stopping by the channel. Look forward to more tips and tricks!
  • @jamess1787
    You're one of the best channels, hands down. Not too much hype, and no BS. Just the kind of channel every homeowner (future and existing) needs!