generator set up for home?

[Wuaname]

Living in S Fl, we keep a generator in the garage. I've seen some people online, wiring their generator to their circuit breaker box, then connecting certain appliances only to the generator through the breakers.. I am not an electrician, so would hire someone to probably do it, or at least finish it if I can do the initial work, but it sounds like a good idea.... For example, generator is hooked to circuit breaker, and the refrigerator and 1/2 or all (I haven't checked on how much I can connect to it yet) the lights can be switched to the generator in case of emergency VS. having 5-7 extension cords running from the generator at a time of emergency ...

Anyone have pictures of this set up?

EDIT "transfer switch" is what it's called, I believe

 

[jimp]

You don't want to back feed so you need a real transfer switch or at least something like this to prevent you from having the main closed when the generator breaker is closed.

http://www.interlockkit.com/

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The interlock.com brand of interlocks are crazy expensive. If you have a newer name brand panel and it has a main breaker in it (which you must have to use any of the interlock kits) then you are best to find the correct OEM part number for your panel and get one made by the manufacturer of the panel.

The Interlock.com ones are $150, where as the Siemens, Square D and GE ones tend to be readily available on the internet/Ebay/Amazon for way under $100.

The advantage of an interlock is that it allows you to power anything in the panel that the genny is capable of powering. You have to have a well labeled panel however, and probably should put colored stickers on the breakers that power essentials such as the fridge, a scattering of lights and furnace blower, etc, so they are quickly identified.

The subpanel, generator feed, transfer setup makes the installation much more "idiot proof" as you have all of your essential circuits on the subpanel, but this does limit you. Reliance makes this setup.

Charles

 

[sourdough]

I have had a unit similar to the Interlockkit installed in my main meter panel for 7 years and it is foolproof. As jimp stated, no backfeeding is possible with this setup when installed correctly. I have a 5600w Craftsman portable genset (Briggs & Stratton) that powers my refrigerator, 2 freezers, septic tank pump, and my forced-air propane furnace, with some power to spare for lights and microwave oven (power-sharing is important). Stove/range and water heater are propane.

Mr. jimp is spot on for an inexpensive and reliable solution, compared to an expensive transfer switch setup.

 

[scoob8000]

Look into a manual generator transfer switch.

A bit more expensive than the interlockit setup, but gives you a little more flexibility and safety.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQN4T2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Basically you pick the circuits you want to be able to run on generator and move them from the main panel to this box (which basically becomes a subpanel). You install a double pole breaker to feed the transfer switch during normal conditions but your also freeing up the breakers for those circuits you moved.

Another plus is the ammeters so you can see what kind of draw you are putting on your generator.

These units may start around $200-$300 but are 100% foolproof.

I don't even want to think about any possible backfeed scenario that injures or kills a utility worker because of a faulty breaker on someones portable generator.

 

[Ben Buck]

Just had our electrician install an interlock on the panel, I had earlier bought a transfer switch with only 6 breakers, this was not going to work.

All wired up, fired the 8000 watt generator, with all the breakers on, the whole house was operational.

If the wiring is done right, one should be good to go

Interlock cost $149.00, a new generator 30 amp breaker, 10-3 wiring (40 feet) outside connection box and cord, labor, I have about $450.00 invested.

$799.00 in the generator, but I'm happy, we live out in the sticks.

 

[pattenp]

I can somewhat see safety being better because the manual switch limits the total circuits on the gen, but on the other hand the interlock gives you more flexibility by allowing any circuit to be powered by the gen.

Look into a manual generator transfer switch.

A bit more expensive than the interlockit setup, but gives you a little more flexibility and safety.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQN4T2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Basically you pick the circuits you want to be able to run on generator and move them from the main panel to this box (which basically becomes a subpanel). You install a double pole breaker to feed the transfer switch during normal conditions but your also freeing up the breakers for those circuits you moved.

Another plus is the ammeters so you can see what kind of draw you are putting on your generator.

These units may start around $200-$300 but are 100% foolproof.

I don't even want to think about any possible backfeed scenario that injures or kills a utility worker because of a faulty breaker on someones portable generator.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I can somewhat see safety being better because the manual switch limits the total circuits on the gen, but on the other hand the interlock gives you more flexibility by allowing any circuit to be powered by the gen.

Indeed, I like the idea of being able to heat a tank of water, then switch it off and use one of the burners on the electric stove, then run a space heater for a while. You could not do this with a panel such as the Reliance panel. Where the reliance panel is good is if you will have someone using it who doesn't understand electrical loads (GF, Wife, etc) but can be taught to hook up and operate a generator.

A proper interlock installation is as safe as a transfer switch. Installed correctly, there is no chance of backfeeding the POCO, and no chance of making the genny inlet connector hot when a cord is not hooked to it (think little kids poking their fingers in places they don't belong).

Charles

 

[theoldwizard1]

Look into a manual generator transfer switch.

A bit more expensive than the interlockit setup, but gives you a little more flexibility and safety.
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Another plus is the ammeters so you can see what kind of draw you are putting on your generator.

These units may start around $200-$300 but are 100% foolproof.

I can somewhat see safety being better because the manual switch limits the total circuits on the gen, but on the other hand the interlock gives you more flexibility by allowing any circuit to be powered by the gen.

Safer ? I don't see how. Everything in both case is protected by a breaker.

Foolproof ? It is still possible to overload the generator. You have 6 circuits protected by 15A breakers. If 4 of those circuit were drawing 10A you would trip the breaker on the generator.


I vote for the flexibility of choosing any circuits in my load center as I need it with an interlock system.

 

[pattenp]

That's why I said "somewhat" on the safety aspect of the transfer switch. I'm sure there can be some debate of the safety of the transfer switch vs. the interlock. My personal choice was the interlock. I know not to throw every breaker on with using my 7500W gen.

Safer ? I don't see how. Everything in both case is protected by a breaker.

Foolproof ? It is still possible to overload the generator. You have 6 circuits protected by 15A breakers. If 4 of those circuit were drawing 10A you would trip the breaker on the generator.


I vote for the flexibility of choosing any circuits in my load center as I need it with an interlock system.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Just get one of these interlock kits. It's isolates the main coming in and your generator breaker so the two can never be on at the same time. When we lose power I just shut the main, push the plate up, and turn on the generator breaker.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Once the main is off, generator breaker on, I simply plug the generator into this receptacle and I power my entire house.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

This is the generator I use. It's a 10hp Diesel. It has the yanmar clone in it. I have maybe 75ish hours on it now. Got it brand new with less than an hour. Starts in the freezing cold without a glow plug or having to use decompression lever. The sound box kills a bit of noise, but it's far from silent. To be honest I just liked the appereance and fact it was a diesel. I wasn't expecting much, but I have been impressed. Yanmar parts are a direct fit as replacements. I have enough yanmar oem stuff on hand to rebuild the entire engine from rods, rings, gaskets, to new starter and avr.