Jump to content

Portable Generator


Recommended Posts

Just had a 60 hour outage up here in northeast Wisconsin so I bought a 12,000 Watt portable generator.  My question is should I go with a 6 circuit or 10 circuit transfer switch?

Edited by A05GSHO
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, 800renegaderider said:

Aren’t transfer switches for stand by generators not portable ones? I use a interlock switch for our portable generator. 

Didn't know that.  Going to look it to that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Gold Member
57 minutes ago, A05GSHO said:

Didn't know that.  Going to look it to that.

I’m no professional but that’s what our electrician suggested after explaining I had a 7500w generator and wanted a whole house hook up outside. It’s pretty simple set up just shut the main off slide the plate up and switch the generator breaker on and you can run whatever you want on the house through the generator from your main panel. It was fairly inexpensive to have done also but this was two years ago so maybe not so much now 😂.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, 800renegaderider said:

I’m no professional but that’s what our electrician suggested after explaining I had a 7500w generator and wanted a whole house hook up outside. It’s pretty simple set up just shut the main off slide the plate up and switch the generator breaker on and you can run whatever you want on the house through the generator from your main panel. It was fairly inexpensive to have done also but this was two years ago so maybe not so much now 😂.

I got a 12,000 watt coming that has both a 30amp plug and a 50amp.  Looking in to a interlock switch it's the way to go.  Just put a 50amp breaker in, 50amp receptacle outside.  Wire that to the 50 amp breaker and I should be good to go.

 

I like it THANKS

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's my set up using a 6000 watt generator with 8500 surge.

 

I installed a sub-panel next to main box and re-routed anything I felt necessary

for comfortable living. No Stove ( use microwave, BBQ or wood stove top) or

hot water tank. At 60 gallons the hot water will last at least a day if you conserve.

 

 

Panel1.thumb.jpg.17cefacf03850a22b9f73e38cef4134a.jpg

 

 

Installation is straight forward if you have decent electrical knowledge and are careful.

Panel has a 30 amp interlock switch, sufficient for size of our generator. It has saved our bacon many 

times up here, lots of wind storms and fallen trees

 

 

 

Panel2.thumb.jpg.7a63a30fc5b5cfee1d6af4add3eee458.jpg

 

 

From the sub panel I ran an 8/3 wire to garage, just inside door with a 30 amp plug. Fire up

genny, plug in, flip switch and Bob's your Uncle

Edited by oldslowsledder
  • Like 2
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your going to backfeed power through a circuit breaker,  the system has NO safety system to prevent power feeding back to the street.

Mine is simple + safe.  BIG box 📦 with guillotine switch that kills leg from street , and  connects  generator to house main panel.  

PIA is going outside + start up diesel generator in shed. 

Wish it  was 100% automatic start up + automatic transfer switches, but I can't justify running a 30kw generator for weeks after a storm just  to  run the furnace and refrigerator.

Simple 5kw military generator burns very  little fuel to keep the house from freezing.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

I installed a 11,000 KW generac in my dads place 6 years ago.

Came with a 200 amp transfer switch.

Very easy to install and works great.

When the power goes out, he has power again within 30 seconds.

As long as he has propane, he has power.

012.JPG

IMG_0237.JPG

IMG_0223.JPG

021.JPG

IMG_0224.JPG

Edited by Greasemonkey
Link to comment
Share on other sites

For my place, I decided to go with a portable unit.

I disconnect the main breaker in the house and back feed from my garage.

Only the well pump is 220 volts in the house otherwise everything else is 120 volts.

004.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Be VERY careful with mickey mouse setups for connecting a generator. You can get a decent transfer switch installed for about $5 - 600. 

 

My son-in-law, nephew and brother-in-law are lineman with the local electric utility. I would hate to see one of them get killed on the job because someone in the house flipped the wrong switch. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Catalina said:

Be VERY careful with mickey mouse setups for connecting a generator. You can get a decent transfer switch installed for about $5 - 600. 

 

My son-in-law, nephew and brother-in-law are lineman with the local electric utility. I would hate to see one of them get killed on the job because someone in the house flipped the wrong switch. 

I realize the risks involved.

I have step by step instructions for the wife on how to do the transfer.

Now whether she follows them or not is a whole another situation.O.o

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

We have a 7500 watt gasoline portable wired semi-permanent in the shed attached to our garage. Manual start. I wired it to a 100 amp transfer switch in the basement by the entrance panel. You MUST have a transfer switch to protect utility crews!

Our generator will start the 1,5hp deep well pump and run all our appliances including 2 window A/C units at once. It will not run our auto lift and we don't try to use the clothes dryer when we're on generator. Minor inconveniences.

People ask why we need a generator if we have a propane boiler? Ya gotta run the circulators to push the hot water!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Trying to pay the bills, lol



×
×
  • Create New...