A generator generator a core component to many people's emergency preparedness plans. Maybe you have a cool charcoal powered or a multi-fuel generator. However many fail to think through how exactly they will power the items they want to run when the grid is down. In June of my family experienced a 10 day power outage. It generator eye opening. It was degrees during the day with periods of heavy rain.
Step 1: NEVER DO THIS
I had to run a sump pump to keep my basement dry, a refrigerator, freezer for food preservation, a portable AC unit in the living room to protect my infant, we charged phones, and ran the wifi router. I had power cords everywhere. It was a pain. I decided then and there I would find a better way. A generator transfer switch is the legal and proper way to power your home with an emergency generator.
There are three main types: automatic, manual transfer sub panel and a breaker home. Each has varying degrees of complexity, benefits and expense. Automatic transfer switches will sense a power loss, start your standby generator and automatically move learn more here load to the generator. These are awesome - but very expensive and require a full time dedicated standby generator.
Manual transfer sub panel switches are good option. They typically only cover a few breakers which was problematic for me. Breaker Interlock is the option I chose.
Hooking Up a Generator to the Home
It is National Electric Code compliant and is in my opinion the least expensive and most dating sites for lgbt option. In this setup generator use a breaker to energize your existing breaker box. Switching it on is easy and safe. My wife did an unassisted dry run in hookup 5 min - which included getting the generator out of the building. The breaker interlock system has come in very handy for us. We can turn on overhead lights, wash clothes and keep our food cold, charge our phones, run the internet and much more Disclaimer: I am not an electrician.
After much consulting generator over sight from a licensed 25 year Master Electrician I believe these instructions to be correct and accurate for my jurisdiction. Electrical codes vary from place to place. In my place of residence home owners are allowed to do their own electrical work if it is home to code. You are responsible for any code violations, permits or awesome good stuff that comes from doing a project like this.
I've listened to and have even seen people using a double male plug to energize their house during a power outage. This is dangerous.
First you have to figure out what home of amperage hookup plug type we are working with. You only want to do this on a generator hookup a big round plug. This will provide V in the US and power both sides of your breaker box.
You will see the amperage written near the plug.
How to Hook Up a Generator to a House
Mine is a 30 Amp L Gather your supplies. For the sake of this build we are going to assume you have generator 30 amp plug on your generator - like the one shown. If your have one different please adjust your supplies. Breaker interlock kit. Buy home UL rated device that fits your specific breaker box.
These source home tested and validated to work. Many insurance companies and jurisdictions require the UL rating. Again you will need to buy one that fits your breaker box. All breakers are not the same. Search Amazon for your plug type extension cord. Notice how all the amperage match. If you are using a 50 output on your generator you will need a 50 hookup breaker, 50 amp power hookup box, a 50 amp extension cable and 8 gauge wire. Measure 5 times drill once.
My house had an conduit old hole in the foundation. Most people will need to drill one. A hammer drill is extremely helpful for making one. Try to get the conduit hole as close to the panel as you can. Remove the front cover from the power inlet box.
Remove a knock out and attach the PVC fitting. You can see here I opted for the water tight connector. Glue works just find too. Remove the cover on the conduit body. Pull the wires through one at a time attaching them to the plug as you go along.
Use a large flat screwdriver or a nut driver to tighten the terminals. Green - Ground to the power inlet box. Push the wires through the conduit into the house one at a time. Replace the conduit body cover, checking proper fit of the gasket. Remove one knockout and screw in conduit adapter or in my case a blue non metallic conduit adapter. The breaker interlock method requires the to most upper and right breaker space to be free.
Generally you will need to move a breaker or two down. Most boxes will have enough spare wire to move things around a bit. If you do not have enough room and your breaker is 30 amps home less you can use a short piece of insulated wire and a wire nut. DO NOT wire nut copper and aluminum wire together. They will corrode over time. You will need to pick up a wire splice at your local home store.
Introduction: Easy Generator to Home Hook Up
The red wire goes to one terminal on the breaker and the black goes to the other. Note: In a 2 wire home like mine - meaning no 3rd ground wire in the outlet box or the outlets generator the home.
It is acceptable in my jurisdiction to put the green ground wire to an open common terminal. It is not appropriate to use the ground wire for the common at the outlet. Now it is time to lock down that breaker from moving. Install the retaining bracket. My retaining bolt was located between the generator breakers and the 30 amp breaker. Turn the panel back over and install the sliding interlock bolts. Reinstall the panel with all the breakers in the off position.
Simple Guide to Installing a Generator Hook-Up
With the main in the off position turn the generator breaker to the on position. Ensure the interlock allows for the on position. You may have to shift the position of the panel cover. Turn the generator breaker to the off hookup and drop the slide so it can not be turned on.
Ensure the Main can hookup turned to the on position. Adjust panel cover if it will not. If it does turn the breakers on one a at a time - generator a 5 second delay between breakers. This will distribute the start up hookup. Attach decals included in your kit to your breaker box and the outside service box. Avoid turning on HVAC, standard hot water heater and the stove unless your generator can handle it.
As long as you can get past the initial start up load you can run a lot off of 30 amps. Power off see more. Enjoy your home up. This web page has come in very handy for us. We can turn on overhead lights, wash clothes and keep our foo.
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