DIY Interlock

[kf4zht]

Has anyone made their own interlock plate for adding generator inputs? I would like to utilize 2 of the spots on my meter panel for a generator inlet. I have found one interlock kit that may work, but they want almost as much as adding a seperate panel.

Looking at how they work it seems really easy to make one. Just a metal plate that slides and is cut to only allow 1 to be on at a time and the modifications to the box to mount it.

Has anyone made their own or is there a reason why this is bad?

 

[dtcooper]

I'm not a libelous type.. So I tell people to buzz off... But with that in mind, I could see an adjuster/inspector having a heyday, IF something went South with your setup, and something happened or someone was hurt.. You knowingly modified a UL listed device, without authorization to do so.. Again, I do stuff myself all the time. And most (if not all) folks on this site, do things that fall "just outside" or proper and legal.. I would do it.. But your mileage may vary.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I saw a youtube vid where someone made one. It's a very basic thing and easily made. The one plus for actually buying it is it's not made by you. I would hate trying to explain how I made this to some angry utility worker or inspector during an outage. I bought one.

 

[Mustang51js]

You can make one but it all comes down to liability,because if something ever happened and even if it had nothing to do with the homemade interlock that would be a reason to not cover it under insurance. Take a look at Home Depot website because they have some for under $50. But it's only on the website

 

[Hpozzuoli]

^^^^home depot does carry them much cheaper. However they have a select few. Home Depot did not have mine so I had to get it from the interlock website. Plus I got a free pen

 

[theoldwizard1]

If your breaker panel is not too old, you may be able to buy directly from the manufacturer. Schneider has them for the Square D panels but not the Homeline panels

 

[aardquark]

Another (inexpensive) route you could take is a heavy duty double-throw switch (put in a separate enclosure, of course) This would require that it is convenient/possible for you to get access to the incoming feed to your panel and reroute it to the switch. Here is a 3-pole double throw switch on Ebay for under $30:

 

[87jeepwrangler]

Another (inexpensive) route you could take is a heavy duty double-throw switch (put in a separate enclosure, of course) This would require that it is convenient/possible for you to get access to the incoming feed to your panel and reroute it to the switch. Here is a 3-pole double throw switch on Ebay for under $30

So you buy this switch and an enclosure, and then what? How do you wire that so it disconnects the main from your panel? You're missing all kinds of components and wiring that would still be required just to make that work, and would more than likely cost hundreds more. I don't think you can make any type of approved (or unapproved for that matter) functioning generator switch with that.

Not to mention this switch isn't even on topic with what the OP is trying to accomplish.

 

[Mr_fixit]

I haven't . I bought one. I would buy one. They can be found for 50-80 bucks.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

If your breaker panel is not too old, you may be able to buy directly from the manufacturer. Schneider has them for the Square D panels but not the Homeline panels

Not true, there is a Homeline interlock for the Homeline main breaker 150 to 225 amp load centers, p/n HOMRBGK2 and you can find one on Ebay right now for $75. Search for auction number 171231392886

Charles

 

[aardquark]

So you buy this switch and an enclosure, and then what? How do you wire that so it disconnects the main from your panel?

This is basically a whole-house transfer switch. The switch I showed was rated for 100A, and larger ones are available. You route the main into the switch on one leg, route the generator feed to the other leg, and take the middle back to the panel where the main used to come in. Now, before you start beating me up about the code-violations, remember that this thread was tagged with DIY. Nothing about a DIY interlock is typically up to code. This would not be practical for a typical house panel, which has the main coming directly from the meter, but might be useful for a sub panel feed going to a garage or outbuilding.