mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Interesting. I guess better than extension cords through an open door or window
Generator Transfer Switch
- Thread starter D45
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wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Inside though . At least not through a window or door, which would be very appealing in cold weather
nadogail
Well-known member
To me it looks like a through the wall extension cord, I guess it might be suitable for a very small cottage where everybody lived, ate. worked and slept in the same room.
Wow, are you going to buy a bunch of extension cords and run them all over the house every time the power if out? Personally I would not bother as it is not convenient.
Do the setup where you back feed a double breaker with a lockout kit on your main panel. Easy and you have limited power for the whole house. you might have to shut off a few breakers for equipment with a huge current draw, but you have lights and power for appliances every where.
Do the setup where you back feed a double breaker with a lockout kit on your main panel. Easy and you have limited power for the whole house. you might have to shut off a few breakers for equipment with a huge current draw, but you have lights and power for appliances every where.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Its a good trip hazard... hard pass
racecougar
Well-known member
Excellent idea! I'll have to copy that when I wire up my transfer switch kit.
dcg9381
Well-known member
It's just through the wall power distribution.. 30A connector generator size to 6 outlets. Better than a cord for situations where a cord is not ideal. Someone will have to reply about the NEC on this, it's not a "transfer switch" and technically power from the generator and the grid at the same time, not that you'd use it that way.
racecougar
Well-known member
Typically 10ga, but yes, you would want to upsize on a long run.
racecougar
Well-known member
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
fitter30
Well-known member
Here's my setup use a 6500watt lp generator have a lp cast iron stove gas logs for temporary heat, can run the fridge, electric water heater, some lights, well pump and a 5k window ac in a bedroom not at the same time. Hook the generator outside with a quick connect hose and a short cord to a weatherproof 4 wire male plug. Have a 500 gallon lp tank and only use it for the cook stove and cast stove.
Attachments
AP514
Well-known member
To OP
if you use #8 on that PLUG you might have trouble connecting the wire....It might be too thick.
if you use #8 on that PLUG you might have trouble connecting the wire....It might be too thick.
Briggs and stratton 25-Foot 12-Gauge Cord, Rated up to 4800 watts
Some are 30 foot 10 gauge rated to 7500w
www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com
Some are 30 foot 10 gauge rated to 7500w
Ferguson Home | Shop All Generators
Find the right generator for the job with these top brands!
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wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Noltz
Well-known member
This was my case. My LC has 28 slots, but the cover states "maximum 40 circuits". I popped in tandems in to give me the space for the generator feed with interlock, EV charging, and a extra circuit for the garage.
Google has some ideas on those numbers. Sump pumps vary with size but your average one is about 6 amps. Fridge and freezers are 5-7 amps. Gas furnace is just 5 amps or so running. All loads have an inrush requirement of up to 3x their running amps. a 3500W generator would keep these items running. A 2k generator could probably keep the furnace and refrigerators running but the startup draw of a sump would be too much.
I think these are excellent ideas for keeping it very simple. The trick though is to make sure you can plug your furnace in. There's been some debate on if it's legal to put a cord on a furnace and plug it into an outlet. IANAE and the chat always revolves around "it depends". Some say they've never had an inspector blink an eye. Others can quote codes that can be interpreted as prohibiting it. These generator switches wire inline with your furnace and provide a way to feed the generator while it remains hardwired. These kits are also great if your generator has a bonded neutral which many are because you can order it with or without switched neutrals.Reliance Control Corporation WKPBN30 Portable Generator Through-The-Wall PWR Transfer Kit, EMW3790037
... <trimmed for space>
Anyone ever use one of these?
Thoughts on this kit?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Might have a 30a 120v RV receptacle. TT-30, IIRC?
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Some really, REALLY old generators did (circa 1960s)
How big is your generator? With only 5500 watts I don’t run any of the 240v stuff. Gas fireplace for heat and gas stove top for cooking. Heat pump is a no. Would love to have a bigger setup that runs off the natural gas but not in the cards right now.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
NEC 400.12 Uses not permitted
(2) Where run through holes in walls
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Many, MANY moons ago you might see a 3 prong 240V generator. Like in the 1960s !
Innovate1
Well-known member
Not sure why people are saying these are ancient. Coleman made them in the late 1990s. Old but not 1960s.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Yeah 4-wire 120/240v NEMA plugs were mandated for stoves and dryers in 1996...
Lightning rod
Well-known member
the GenerLink products might be of interest to you
510ebl
Well-known member
OP, if you cannot install the interlock, a proper transfer switch would be prudent. Reliance makes a 30A 6position and a 50A 10 position that seem popular.
I bought the 50A 10 position (model 510C), used 9 positions and left the spare capped in my panel “just in case”, wired with 8ga to a 30A generator inlet from the same company. My wire run was about 42 feet, therefore the 8ga. And it didn’t cost much more. Also the inlet was rated up to 8ga, you will want to verify this before purchasing.
All this to a 30A 4 prong outlet on my generator, which can only provide 7000 running watts and has a 30A breaker. I use a 25 foot cord from the generator manufacturer (not the cheapest way to go, but not bad on sale) with molded ends.
I say all this to say that all of the parts to install this are over-the-counter items and can be shipped to you from any number of suppliers.
For me, this works. If I had to do it again, I would install the interlock. I would have looked into the generlink (above post) if I knew about them at the time and if they were allowed in my area.
I bought the 50A 10 position (model 510C), used 9 positions and left the spare capped in my panel “just in case”, wired with 8ga to a 30A generator inlet from the same company. My wire run was about 42 feet, therefore the 8ga. And it didn’t cost much more. Also the inlet was rated up to 8ga, you will want to verify this before purchasing.
All this to a 30A 4 prong outlet on my generator, which can only provide 7000 running watts and has a 30A breaker. I use a 25 foot cord from the generator manufacturer (not the cheapest way to go, but not bad on sale) with molded ends.
I say all this to say that all of the parts to install this are over-the-counter items and can be shipped to you from any number of suppliers.
For me, this works. If I had to do it again, I would install the interlock. I would have looked into the generlink (above post) if I knew about them at the time and if they were allowed in my area.