Generac Load Manager

[Kubota L5030]

I hope someone can tell me how to use my backup power system. My house came wired with a backup power system consisting of an outside 50amp recepticle/plug and 2 Generac Load Manager "boxes" inside. I have a 5000w generator and a cord that connects to the house. When I plug the generator into the house recepticle, nothing registers on the Generac Load Manager watt meters. When I flip the switches on the Load Manager boxes from "line" to "gen", nothing happens. Even without the generator connected, flipping the Load Manager switches from "line" to "gen" has no effect on appliances, etc.

I do not have a separate manual switch for the main house power other than the main breakers in the circuit panels. Do I need to shut the main breakers off in both panels to make the generator power feed through the Load Manager boxes?

 

[RobS]

I can't comment on your specific installation, but with my load center I just hook up the genny to the outside recep, fire it up and then switch the load center circuits from line to gen. That's it. No need to pull the main or anything. The load center should completely isolate the genny from the main service. Is there a switch on your generator to power the correct output? Mine has a switch to go between the 110 outlets and the 220 that I use for the house.

Also, on my load center the meters only register power being used. Are you sure the circuits being powered are drawing anything?

 

[Willl]

Which appliances are hooked through the Load Manager ?

 

[Kubota L5030]

I can't comment on your specific installation, but with my load center I just hook up the genny to the outside recep, fire it up and then switch the load center circuits from line to gen. That's it. No need to pull the main or anything. The load center should completely isolate the genny from the main service. Is there a switch on your generator to power the correct output? Mine has a switch to go between the 110 outlets and the 220 that I use for the house.

Also, on my load center the meters only register power being used. Are you sure the circuits being powered are drawing anything?

Thanks RobS, your setup works like I thought mine should. I don't have a switch on my generator (not that I know of) to go from 110 to 220, but the thought did cross my mind. I checked to see that the cord running out of the generator had power and it was putting out 220v.

I am not sure which circuits are powered by the load center because its not marked. Don't you love quality workmanship! I turned off most of the house breakers with the generator running to see if it would start drawing power and got nothing.

 

[RobS]

One thing you could to is turn on some lights and such, fire it up and purposely disconnect your mains. With all the load center switches to line, you'll have nothing (hopefully). Flip them to gen and you should get lights or whatever, on the powered circuits. Let your water run until the well normally kicks on, that's almost always a generator circuit.

If you still don't get anywhere, it might be time to call someone to have a look at how it's wired. If you're comfortable pulling your panel covers, you should be able to tell which circuits are tied in.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Here is a link to the manual for the Load Manager:

http://www.generac-portables.com/data/pdf_files/gen/1276_1en3w.pdf

 

[tommu56]

Kubota L5030

1st thing I would do is label the switches with the load description.
2nd start gen then normal loads on in the house
3rd switch one switch and write down the load from the meter.
continue with all switches.
add all these up to see if generator can handle all the load.

tommu

 

[Kubota L5030]

Here is a link to the manual for the Load Manager:

http://www.generac-portables.com/data/pdf_files/gen/1276_1en3w.pdf

CinderSchnauzer,
How did you find the manual? You must be an expert googler! I searched tbn, generac, and several other generator sites looking for that. Thank you. Confirms that my setup should be working like RobS'. Maybe I didn't have any of the backup circuits actually kick on when I was running the genny and testing. You'd think out of sixteen, one would be drawing power.

 

[tommu56]

Kubota L5030

Did you throw any of the switches to from normal to generator?

it is a manual transfer switch

tuen every thing in your home on and flip switch to off to see what it controls generator dosent have to be on/

tommu

 

[Reg]

Not quite the topic I thought it would be, but are there any (semi) intelligent load managers ?
I'm thinking about the rules of adding up all the resistive loads, then adding the motor loads separately and multiplying those by some factor for starting current.

Do the fridge, freezer, furnace blower, air conditioners ALL start at the same time ?
I doubt it, but there is a finite probability that they could.

I can imagine a design for a panel with some control electronics that detects start-up current on each circuit and denies starting current to all lower priority circuits.
They would continue to run if already running, but would not be able to start if not already running.
Yeah, this is not completely thought through, but if there is something like it already on the market I'd rather buy it than invent it (-: