I’ve seen these used in low income homes where the basement electricity is paid by the landlord for coin operated washers. Then someone gets their electricity cut (lack of payment) so they use these cables to jump the outlets and steal electricity from the landlord.
The dude just went to a hardware store and bought an extension cable and a replacement plug head. Snipped the female end and added the male in like 5 minutes.
The only practical usage of those things is jumping a generator to a house during a blackout.
fkn@lemmy.world 8 months ago
And that “practical use” kills linemen.
Landless2029@lemmy.world 8 months ago
I think the correct way to jump is to flip your main so you’re disconnected. I’m probably talking out of my ass tho.
I don’t own a generator nor have the need. Just basing this on what I’ve seen in the wild.
theneverfox@pawb.social 8 months ago
The more correct way is to install a switch that does that, so you can be connected to the grid or to the generator, not both. It’s basically what you said, but it doesn’t trust users to remember to do it correctly
Landless2029@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Does such a switch exist?
fkn@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Yes, in theory that would work. But they actually make main disconnect switches for this in the event that the main breaker fails. It’s a mandatory install in all grid tie electrical generator systems (including solar).