Can you plug a generator into a wall outlet?

What "backfeeding" means

Backfeeding is feeding power into your house wiring from the wrong end. The usual version: someone runs a cord with a male plug on each end from the generator into a wall outlet or dryer outlet, hoping to light up the whole house.

Your house is connected to the utility lines. Power fed backwards through your wiring can travel through the service transformer and onto the lines outside. Generac's safety page puts it this way: never plug a generator directly into your home's wiring, because it can send electricity back through the utility lines and injure or kill line workers.

Linemen working to restore your street think those wires are dead. That is why this one is not a "your house, your risk" question.

Why it's dangerous for you, too

• Fire. A normal wall circuit is protected by a breaker sized for that wire. A backfeed cord can push power into several outlets on a circuit at once, with no way for the breaker to see the true load. Wiring can overheat inside the walls.
• Live prongs. A cord with a plug on both ends has exposed live prongs at one end the moment the generator runs.
• Shock and damage. When the grid comes back on while the generator is connected, both sources meet. That can destroy the generator and your appliances.
• Neighbors. A shared transformer can send your generator's power to the houses next to you.

Switching off the main breaker first does not turn a hack into a safe setup. It only helps if the breaker is turned off every time and nothing else is wrong, and that is exactly what a proper interlock or transfer switch makes foolproof.

Three safe ways to power your home

Method	What it is	Who installs it
Plug straight into the generator	Run heavy-duty outdoor extension cords from the generator to each appliance. Nothing touches the house wiring.	You
Transfer switch	A small panel wired to chosen circuits. It physically cannot connect the generator and the utility at once.	Licensed electrician
Interlock kit	A plate on your main panel that blocks the main breaker and generator breaker from being on together.	Licensed electrician

Generac says a transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician is the only safe way to connect a portable generator to your home's electrical system. Ready.gov's own advice for the plug-in route is to connect appliances to the generator with heavy-duty extension cords.

For how the two installed options compare, see interlock kit vs transfer switch. For the full hookup, see how to connect a generator to your house.

Does this apply to a power station too?

Yes. A battery power station has no exhaust, but its AC output can push power into house wiring exactly like a generator can. The same rule applies: plug devices into the station directly, never into a wall outlet to feed a circuit. Many stations are safe to use indoors for the devices you plug into them: see portable power station vs generator.

What about the "generator inlet" box?

An inlet box mounted on the outside wall is not the same thing as a backfeed cord. It is safe only when it is wired to a transfer switch or an interlocked breaker by an electrician. An inlet wired straight to a breaker with no interlock is the same hazard in a nicer box.

What we'd buy

Choose the setup first, then the gear.

• If you want to run a few things directly: a quiet inverter generator with a CO shut-off, plus heavy-duty outdoor cords. See the models below.
• If you want circuits powered in the house: a transfer switch or interlock kit, installed by an electrician. Champion 201193 manual transfer switch is one listed unit, with its inlet box and cord. Buy one that matches your panel and your generator's outlet, and let your electrician confirm it before you buy.
• Cords: heavy-duty outdoor generator extension cord with all three prongs, rated for the watts of the load.
• Alarms: battery CO alarms, shown below.

Never run it inside to reach an outlet

The cord problem often leads to a second mistake: moving the generator near the house or into the garage so the cord reaches. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, as Ready.gov says. CPSC says carbon monoxide can kill within minutes, often before people notice symptoms. See generator carbon monoxide safety.