Generator wiring

[SPDMETL]

Awhile back I had my main breaker panel replaced, and I had the Electrician add a transfer switch for a generator (60A). At present there is a proper sized wire ready to receive feed from a generator. What kind of connection do I want? Most generators have a series of outlets on the front. Options? Thank You, Folks

 

[malibu101]

Google "inlet". Example to a 30 amp- http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQT47S/?tag=atomicindus08-20
You want an inlet that matches your needs so you can run a normal cord from the genset to the inlet.

We are talking a manual transfer switch?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

U dont really give enough info to give a detailed answer....

What size is the wire? What size(KW) and voltage is the generator? What kind of outlets does it have? Also, what kind of transfer switch do u have? Does it switch the neutral? And lastly what kind of generator do u have- ie portable or fixed or better yet what is the make and model??

 

[pattenp]

Normally you use the 125/250V outlet on the gen. It's a round twist lock with 4 prongs, most likely 30 amps. But the amps depend on the size of the gen.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Generators from about 6500 watts up have the L14-30 receptacle on them, which is breakered at 30 amps. I have a Northstar 10 hp diesel generator that is 6500 watts and it has that receptacle. Our HOA has a 10,000 watt Dayton which has that same L14-30 and also has a 50 amp straight prong receptacle like is used on welders (no neutral in the receptacle).

I have been installing inlet connectors and breakers and interlocks on my house, and two of the HOA water wells. One had a cobbed up generator inlet one of the neighbors installed when we bought the generator, He use receptacles, no interlock, and a suicide cord. I replaced all of this with standard inlet connector, interlock and proper cord ends. Will have to do a thread on this when I get a chance.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Pictures really help, along with the brand and part number or model numbers of components.

Charles

 

[Stuart in MN]

Figure out what generator you're going to buy first, then worry about the connector.

 

[Beemer533]

This is similar to what I used for my portable generator input... It is rated at 50A though...


I got mine at Loews (rated for 30A), but there are plenty of other places..

 

[Sonorous]

This is similar to what I used for my portable generator input... It is rated at 50A though...

It's similar in one sense, but VERY different in another. That is colloquially known as the "cali" connector. It is NOT a NEMA connector, and therefore complies with different standards and does not fit within the NEMA 'nomenclature'.

For NEMA, "L" designates locking, the first number designates the configuration (i.e. poles, voltage, neutral/no neutral), while the second number after the hyphen is the amperage. That doesn't translate over to CS plugs, which are CS####, followed by "C" for a connector.

Cali generator plugs are easily distinguished by the grounding on the shell, the protective shroud over the male cordset plugs and little prong on the female to guide it into the male connector (or are they female now...Only California would produce mutually transgendered plugs).

Both of these are 120/240 4 wire plugs (i.e. have neutral, ground, and two legs). But notice the key differences. Crucially, three prongs on cali vs four on the NEMA. ALL Cali plugs are three pronged, but the three wire cali plugs use one prong for grounding instead of the shell. Without getting into more details, it can get very confusing quickly, so just be sure to get the correct connector!

Cali 50a:

Nema 30a:

 

[Sonorous]

I should add that the cali 50a is the standard on commercial, tow-behind diesel generators of pretty well any size (if you need more that that it's usually cam-locks or direct), while as noted above the L14-30 is common on smaller gas/diesel generators. Some 5000 ish watt generators will, annoyingly, have L14-20 instead.

And of course just because it's a 30a plug, doesn't mean it will actually come close to replacing a L14-30 fed by mains voltage. That's because the short instantaneous current from a 30a plug can be well beyond 30 amps, but the generator is literally tapped out at anything approaching that.