Hooking up a home backup portable generator

[johnyg]

another thing to do is a way to chain down the gen. you dont want to lose it . i also made a shelter for mine so it can run in the rain. i take the panels for the window and bolt them to a folding frame that bolts to the house. not allot of extra stuff to store. you also dont need to run fridge and freezer all day,just a few hours a day will do it. i can also run hot water heater for 20 minutes for a hot shower. my neighbours teased me about all this but i was the only one with cold beer ,a/c and hot shower !!!!

 

[theoldwizard1]

my neighbours teased me about all this but i was the only one with cold beer ,a/c and hot shower !!!!

Priorities !

 

[theoldwizard1]

I use a Champion 3500 watt 120v generator, and I ordered a snorkel kit to run it on natural gas. It's hooked up with a large 10/3 L5-30 extension cord and backfed in to the panel with an interlock. I can run it indefinitely with the natural gas without refilling. This setup lets me keep the sump pump going, fridge and chest freezer on, and heat in the winter. The only thing I can't run is the hot water heater and dryer.

Total cost was $350 for the generator, $100 for the snorkel, $650 to have a gas quick connect line installed (I really wanted it for the grill; they also installed gas line for a new cooktop and hooked up a new furnace), $75 for the interlock, $100 for the extension cord, and $50 for the connection box/wiring.

Great feedback especially on the pricing !

 

[mrobins297aaa]

A generator interlock is the most flexible, lowest cost solution. Period !!

I couldn't agree more.

I have a Generac 7500w with a interlock on my panel.
I have a plug just outside my garage, I roll the generator outside about 5' and plug it in.

I have a 4 wire #8 cable run back to my panel about 90' away.

I started out by marking all the circuits with orange dots on the breakers but after using it for a while I just turn off the circuits I know it will not run, 240v oven, AC and Dryer........the only 240v circuit I'm running is my 20 amp well pump.
It also runs our computers and computerized pellet stove with no problems.

I did all the work myself and I have about $1700 into it including the cost of the generator.

 

[pattenp]

Ditto, I got same setup. I like the dots to identify breakers for gen power. I'm going to steal your dot idea.

 

[HeelSpur]

I put a small panel box on the exterior of the house and ran some wires through a chase under the kitchen cabinets to different areas. Put outlets next to each fridge and one next to pressure switch for the well pump.
I just crank the generator up, make the connection to the box, flip the breakers, and unplug the fridge's from grid to generator. Same with pump.
Works for me and it doesn't cost a fortune.

 

[7echo]

When Matthew hit we had no power for 8 days. Ran the Cabelas branded Champion 3800/4750 a lot of hours. We go without power for a day or longer 2 or 3 times a year on average.

The extension cords all over the house are a hassle and hazard.

I am going to set mine up like mrrobins297aaa. I have a car port to keep the generator under and can run it there with no fume issues and out of the weather.

I worked in a small engine shop a long time ago and it was unreal how many people wanted their generator fixed a couple of days before a storm was heading in. They used it for like 2 days a year and and a half back and never ran it since. I run mine monthly.

During the Matthew event I would top it off with gas before going to bed. It would run out in the early morning and when I got up I would check the oil(changed it twice during Matthew, in the middle of the outage and at the end), gas it up, and get it running.

We top off all vehicles before the storm hits. So in addition to some 5 gallon cans we have about 65 gallons in safe, mobile, back up storage. Just have to transfer it to the 5 gallon cans to put it in the generator if needed. During Matthew we used gas from 2 vehicles.

The biggest thing I have not sorted out yet is AC. After Matthew it was nice and cool for maybe 4 days, then it got hot again. Matthew was in October and I need to figure out if I am going to put in a window unit or a mini-split to cool the bedroom.

This is a good thread and timely!

 

[johnyg]

i have a window unit for the bedroom,stored in garage when not in use.my small gen will run all night with a/c and tv only. how did you siphon your cars??i could only get athin hose in and took forever.

 

[7echo]

i have a window unit for the bedroom,stored in garage when not in use.my small gen will run all night with a/c and tv only. how did you siphon your cars??i could only get a thin hose in and took forever.

I used my fluid evacuator...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFJM14/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It is slow but that is OK. I might look into other options though.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Probably not the safest way to get fuel out of a car, but if you own a fuel pressure tester, just
attach it to the test port and there is usually a "vent" button that let the pressure out a side port. Just get a long piece of clear tubing and maybe even a small spring hose clamp to make sure the pressure ends stays on the ******.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I put a small panel box on the exterior of the house and ran some wires through a chase under the kitchen cabinets to different areas. Put outlets next to each fridge and one next to pressure switch for the well pump.
I just crank the generator up, make the connection to the box, flip the breakers, and unplug the fridge's from grid to generator. Same with pump.
Works for me and it doesn't cost a fortune.

What you created is a basic manual transfer switch! The only difference is that you went a bit further and installed extra receptacles at the locations you wanted to run items when on generator power instead of wiring the sub-panel box right into your main panel and using the existing receptacles to run on either Line or generator power.

Do you have some pictures of what you did? I bet it came out nice.

Jim

 

[Randy in Maine]

These are getting pretty common up here and they like to hook in those water cooled Honda 7000 watt units....

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I have a 6500 watt run, 7000 watt surge rated gasoline Briggs and Stratton that as been flawless.
It lives in my shed. I installed two gable vents, a 12" gable mount attic fan and an L14/30R outlet on the outside of the shed, fed with a short cord on the inside with a L14/30P plug on the end. I plug the attic fan into the genny, run a 75' 8/4 SOOW cord from the inlet box on the house to the outlet box on the shed, plug in both ends, start the generator & lock the shed shut. Then I go to my manual transfer switch and flip the 10 switches. It runs everything in the house except the basement A/C, the basement outlets, the stove, and dishwasher. It might even run the washer & dryer, but I've never tried them.

Tommy

 

[slow]

Sounds like a great setup. I like the security, weather protection and noise reduction of it being in a locked shed.

 

[EOC_Jason]

This reminds me I need to drag the generator out and fire it up to let run for a bit...

 

[Falcon67]

These are getting pretty common up here and they like to hook in those water cooled Honda 7000 watt units....

This is what I would use. $650 at HD. After asking AEP if it was an acceptable modification to the incoming feed. We lost power last night thanks to a close strike but they had us back on in about 4 hours.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GenerLink-30-Amp-Meter-Mounted-Transfer-Switch-MA23-N/301961623

 

[Randy in Maine]

I don't have one but my neighbor does across the street. He picked up a water cooled Honda with about 100 hours on it off CL for cheap money ~ $2500. I think you have to have a generator that has a 4 wire hook up and his Honda puts out about 30 amps of 220. He keeps the generator in his garage and when the power goes out he just wheels it over to the side of his house and just plugs it in. It has about a 30 foot big meat cord. He told me that it will run what he needs on the generator but he doesn't exceed the power it puts out (no tablesaw, compressor, oven, clothes dryer, etc). We are on city water so no well pump to power up.

His electrician had hooked it up in about an hour. When the power does come back on, it "kicks out his generator" automatically, and he just wheels the Honda back into his garage.

I thought it was a spretty cost effective not too complicated safe way to do it for most people.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't have one but my neighbor does across the street. He picked up a water cooled Honda with about 100 hours on it off CL for cheap money ~ $2500.

Never heard of a water cooled Honda generator. Got a model number ?

Honda does make some commercial/industrial generators that are used to run refrigeration unit on semi trailers.

 

[ProMetalShop]

Never heard of a water cooled Honda generator. Got a model number ?



Honda does make some commercial/industrial generators that are used to run refrigeration unit on semi trailers.

Yes, I also have one, a Honda twin 6500 water cooled. Bought it back in the early 2000’s when I was doing quite a few hot rod shows, and Carlisle events. It doubles as my home gen also.


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[Randy in Maine]

I think it is this one....(or similar to it)...

 

[ProMetalShop]

I think it is this one....(or similar to it)...

That’s exactly the one I have, but not as clean anymore ! ! It’s a great running generator, and reasonably quiet.


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[matt151617]

I have a 6500 watt run, 7000 watt surge rated gasoline Briggs and Stratton that as been flawless.
It lives in my shed. I installed two gable vents, a 12" gable mount attic fan and an L14/30R outlet on the outside of the shed, fed with a short cord on the inside with a L14/30P plug on the end. I plug the attic fan into the genny, run a 75' 8/4 SOOW cord from the inlet box on the house to the outlet box on the shed, plug in both ends, start the generator & lock the shed shut. Then I go to my manual transfer switch and flip the 10 switches. It runs everything in the house except the basement A/C, the basement outlets, the stove, and dishwasher. It might even run the washer & dryer, but I've never tried them.

Tommy

Not directed at you specifically but please remember to have plenty of ventilation when running an engine, with low gable vents or something else. Remember that the carbon monoxide that accumulates in there can quickly cause you to pass out, even from something as simple as refilling gas.

Of course this is obvious but time and time again you see people getting killed from carbon monoxide poisoning on the news from generators.

 

[coleman10]

https://www.homedepot.com/s/transfer%20switch?NCNI-5

If you have no main in your panel, a simple interlock won't work...

A transfer switch will however work fine, just need to choose a size to match the circuits you want to be able to transfer over.

Timely thread for me. Looking to do the same and this is my solution. No way to do an interlock and already figured on the Reliant 10 circuit switch. The first two breakers can be swapped out for 30 amp breakers if needed and it comes with videos that explain exactly how to do the install, which really isn't that difficult - just do it safely.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

I couldn't agree more.
...
I did all the work myself and I have about $1700 into it including the cost of the generator.

Jumping on this now as I'm ready to buy my 7500W Gen. I was debating between the manual and the interlock thingy and will probably go with the latter. The first quote I got was $850.00. They provide all material, including a 24' cord for the genny.

Not being experienced with electrical work prices... Is that low, high or a "fair" cost of installation?


Thanks,

 

[EOC_Jason]

Are you talking about just an interlock, or are they installing a manual transfer switch box next to your breaker box?

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Are you talking about just an interlock, or are they installing a manual transfer switch box next to your breaker box?

Interlock, generator plug, cord, etc. No manual.

 

[slow]

How far is the generator inlet from the panel. What kind of load center. Generator interlocks can be as cheap as $28 to several hundred. 30 amp cord and inlet are around 100-150 so figure $2 a foot for wire distance between panel and interlock and you can figure the markupt in the job. (Note, you can likely get items cheaper than my numbers just using middle of the road pricing) does that price include any permitting or inspection?

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah, price can vary wildly based on where the inlet is located (because of how much wire to run), and how difficult it would be to get wire to said location.

30A inlet boxes are around $50, 30A double-pole breaker will vary based on your style but usually around $10

Permits, inspection, licence, insurance, etc.. are also factors for him...

Interlock for my BR style panel is like $70 for a couple pieces of metal, can't believe it costs so much for so little. But yeah I've seen some that cost considerably more.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Price seems fair to me...

Thanks