Why Electricians Call This Generator Hack a Suicide Cord

One of the biggest mistakes one can make with a generator is to attempt to use it with a double male extension cord. These cords, also known as "widowmaker cords" or "suicide cords," are so named because they can injure or kill you. People use these cords to connect a portable generator to their home’s electrical system by plugging one end into their generator and the other into a wall outlet. This practice, known as backfeeding, in theory sends power directly into your home’s electrical system, bypassing the need to use extension cords to power appliances. In reality, it's a move that can have lethal consequences. We sought help from Carl Murawski, a licensed electrician, construction coordinator, and influencer to find out why this practice is so dangerous. 

The Dangers of Backfeeding

Plugging a double ended extension cord into an outlet on your generator and then into your wall creates backfeeding, a dangerous electrical situation in which power flows in reverse from a generator back into the energy grid. 

Why it's Dangerous for Homeowners 

When you plug this type of cord into a running generator, the exposed prongs on the other end essentially turn into a lethal taser. “(Double male cords) are a terrible idea mostly because when one end is plugged in, the other end is now live with bare, exposed prongs,” Murawski says. “It’s a great way to shock yourself or start a fire.” 

And since this practice bypasses the main breaker in the electrical panel, there’s nothing to stop power from leaking back into the grid. To make matters worse, when the utility company restores power, it will collide with the power your generator is producing. With no transfer switch to keep these two power sources separate, the resulting electrical surge will quickly melt wires, causing a fire, while instantly frying your generator. 

Why it's Dangerous for Utility Workers 

Suicide cords aren’t just hazardous for homeowners. They also threaten the lives of utility workers. “If you try to back feed your home without a proper transfer switch, you’re sending power to the utility pole,” Murawski says. “That can be fatal for a lineman trying to restore power.” It becomes even more dangerous should backfeeding reach a transformer, which is meant to step down utility voltage for your home’s appliances. When the electricity moves in reverse, Murawski says a transformer acts as a booster, stepping up that voltage from 240 Volts to 7,200V or more. A lineman who thinks they’re working on a “dead” line is actually working on one with thousands of volts running through it. 

Related: Is a Whole-Home Generator Worth It? An Expert Explains Costs, Benefits, and ROI

Backfeeding could void your insurance

Not only is backfeeding dangerous but it’s also illegal. This practice violates the National Electric Code, which is used to regulate electrical installations in all states. Using one could void your homeowner's insurance. If a fire is caused by a backfeeding suicide cord, most insurance companies will classify this as negligence and refuse your claim to pay for damages. 

The Safe and Legal Alternative

If you’re looking for a way to connect a generator directly to your home’s grid to bypass the need for extension cords, then do it the legal way. Hire a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch, a device that allows you to connect your home’s electrical panel to your generator while avoiding backfeeding. “They act like a wall switch to only allow power to your home's grid from one source at a time,” Murawski says. “These come in manual and automatic versions depending on your needs but will need to be installed by a licensed electrician.”