Portable Generator

[A05GSHO 297]

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 March 26 by A05GSHO

[800renegaderider 2,178]

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

[A05GSHO 297]

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.

[800renegaderider 2,178]

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 😂.

[A05GSHO 297]

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

[p51mstg 251]

Good choice.  I think interlock is the way to go, much simpler.  I agree on using 50 Amp, because of the size of the generator.  30 wouldn't be enough, imo.

[oldslowsledder 2,227]

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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 March 27 by oldslowsledder

[ICG 54]

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.

[poopooforme 983]

Transfer switch is the way.  As was said.  Shut off the main.  Slide plate up.  Flip genny breaker on and pick what you want the genny to run.  Easy.