Generator Generator transfer switch wiring diagram

[RobS]

The double male danger is in the exposed terminals. They would be hot if the other end is plugged into a live outlet. Female terminals won't nail you if they are hot.

 

[rback33]

Oh Duh. Never thought about that. Thanks Rob! Not likely to be an issue since the cord is unplugged when not in use, but things do happen! Thanks for the reminder!

 

[gemini5362]

Robs beat me to it. double ended male plugs are always dangerous for the reason that he stated.

I do like some of the ideas in this thread. I am going to be wiring a sub panel in my garage. After reading this I might do some work on my house wiring. If I put a transfer switch into the Sub Panel and then put an enclosed male plug in a small panel that you would open up and plug an extension cord from your generator into. That should be a safe way to hook up to the generator. If I run some of the wiring to the lights in my bedrooms, bath kitchen etc and to a few limited receptacles I believe that in the event of an electric power outage I could slide the manual transfer switch off of Line power and then plug in the generator. That would solve the problem of having to turn off circuit breakers when I use the generator. If I leave certain lights such as hall lights etc off of the subpanel then I would know when the power came back on and since the other items are on a transfer switch I would not have to worry about problems with power coming on while I am using the generator. Does anyone see any problems with this ?

 

[RobS]

Robs beat me to it. double ended male plugs are always dangerous for the reason that he stated.

I do like some of the ideas in this thread. I am going to be wiring a sub panel in my garage. After reading this I might do some work on my house wiring. If I put a transfer switch into the Sub Panel and then put an enclosed male plug in a small panel that you would open up and plug an extension cord from your generator into. That should be a safe way to hook up to the generator. If I run some of the wiring to the lights in my bedrooms, bath kitchen etc and to a few limited receptacles I believe that in the event of an electric power outage I could slide the manual transfer switch off of Line power and then plug in the generator. That would solve the problem of having to turn off circuit breakers when I use the generator. If I leave certain lights such as hall lights etc off of the subpanel then I would know when the power came back on and since the other items are on a transfer switch I would not have to worry about problems with power coming on while I am using the generator. Does anyone see any problems with this ?

That's pretty much the way I wired mine. The transfer switch I got came with it's own enclosure and a male recep built in. It has a pigtail/conduit that runs into your existing panel. I ran a cord from the transfer switch to an outside generator recep, also male and my genny hooks up with a male/female extension cord. I have seen, and would have preferred to hardwire the outside recep directly into the transfer switch but didn't find one like that where I shopped. The way the transfer switch works, it can never back feed the male recep so there is no problem with the exposed terminals. It's pretty simple and I'm confident the wife or older son can make it work if I am away. That was another consideration for me that lead to the transfer switch.

 

[rback33]

It's pretty simple and I'm confident the wife or older son can make it work if I am away. That was another consideration for me that lead to the transfer switch.

I am not too worried about this aspect. 1) I don't think my wife could start our genny anyway. It pulls hard. Thank heavens it always starts on the second pull. 2) I can make 1 call to any of my buddies and they would be right there to fire it all up.

 

[RobS]

I am not too worried about this aspect. 1) I don't think my wife could start our genny anyway. It pulls hard. Thank heavens it always starts on the second pull. 2) I can make 1 call to any of my buddies and they would be right there to fire it all up.

Two words... Electric Start!

 

[RalphVa]

The transfer switch on my panel just has 2 circuit breakers tied together with a metal "H". When the supply from the main is turned off, the switch from the generator is turned on. They just work opposite each other by the "H" link.

Most generators will likely have their own circuit breaker switches right on the unit. You just have to turn off the main house breaker before flipping these on. I have about 2 different circuits that I have to do this way: 1) flip off circuit breaker to carriage house before turning on switch on juice from generator. 2) unplug basement frig from main wall plug and plug into generator plug and then flip switch from generator.

The owner before me had a "Y2K" panel put in with the "H" setup. When I put in my generator, we'd added the carriage house and have the downstairs frig that the previous owner didn't have.

My little 4400 watt generator runs all the Y2K panel and these added 2 things and still has extra to run a 1500 watt user somewhere: microwave or Tiny Titan heater usually, not at same time.

Ralph

 

[Barneyhunts]

You might also have a look at this site... This is the most cost effective method I have come across. If you want to see an example, go to your local Home Depot, Loews or a local electrical supply house and look at their whole house electrical panels. They usually have an interlocked generator-ready panel on display/on the shelf... This company makes UL approved retrofit kits for existing panels. The FAQ section on their website has diagrams and more info on how it works.

Generator InterLock Kit

This looks like a very simple solution -safe-reasonably low cost -minimum extra equipment. Do you know of anyone who has used it?
Thanks

 

[Barneyhunts]

While this isn't the least expensive, it looks like the easiest to have installed and an absolute no brainer to switch to backup power supply. It's an atuomatic switch installed at the meter base, and comes with the cord to plug to your generator. It's a very safe option that requires no wiring changes to your panel. My electric company sells these and installs them for free.
GenerLink.com - About GenerLink - The easy way to connect a home generator

This is a simple, though, costly solution. It also sounds to me as though you have to have a power outage to use it, ie, you couldn't switch over to generator to test it for example. I wonder how many people use this? It is offered by my power co. also.
Thanks

 

[widmn]

Doesn't the transfer switch just "idiot proof" what could really be a simple solution?
That being:
1. Turn the power off at the main breaker entering the house. Plug the generator in and turn it on.
2. Here's the key... After the emergency outage, Remember to turn the generator off and disconnect it BEFORE turning the main switch back on.

Forgetting to do step 2 could blow everything in your house and electrocute someone.

 

[Ford850]

Doesn't the transfer switch just "idiot proof" what could really be a simple solution?
That being:
1. Turn the power off at the main breaker entering the house. Plug the generator in and turn it on.
2. Here's the key... After the emergency outage, Remember to turn the generator off and disconnect it BEFORE turning the main switch back on.

Forgetting to do step 2 could blow everything in your house and electrocute someone.

That sums it up. It's all about risk. How much insurance do you have in case you electrocute a lineman? In my case, I am out of town occasionally and I'm looking for a fool proof solution that my wife can do in the middle of the night when it's 2 degrees outside.

 

[RobS]

That sums it up. It's all about risk. How much insurance do you have in case you electrocute a lineman? In my case, I am out of town occasionally and I'm looking for a fool proof solution that my wife can do in the middle of the night when it's 2 degrees outside.

I think you're in the same boat as me Ford, and the transfer switch really is a safe, easy way to do it. Now you need to decide if you want an automatic or manual transfer switch and a permanent or portable genny. The easiest to use solution is a permanently installed generator with auto start and an automatic transfer switch. Unfortunately, this is also the most expensive alternative. Scaling down from there you eventually get to where I ended up which is a portable genny with electric start and a manual transfer switch. There are more steps involved in bringing it up to power, but it's still relatively easy and very safe.

 

[JB4310]

That sums it up. It's all about risk. How much insurance do you have in case you electrocute a lineman? In my case, I am out of town occasionally and I'm looking for a fool proof solution that my wife can do in the middle of the night when it's 2 degrees outside.

I think you summed it up in regards to widmn's comment, you said fool proof, i was gonna say fail safe but idiot proof works to, My system is still a work in progress, I just got a 10 kw pto genny that I wanted to be able to use any circuit in the house (selectively) with, as opposed to just the fridge and boiler with the 3 kw portable. The only choice for me is a 200 amp 2 pole switch, which switches between 2 sources utility or gen (no chance of back feed) I still may do this regardless of the amount of work involved to install such a switch. I can not use the interlock device because my panel is "remote" and doesn't have the main in it, other wise I would choose that as the simplest and equally safe way to go, Cost shouldn't be considered when safety is involved, in the perfect world but is in the real world.

For now I have made up a "suicide cord" which IMO is a fitting name, in case I need to repower in an emergency, in the interim before my system is complete. One can not make an argument against safety, but just a couple of points, the risks of doing the "old fashioned" way can be mitigated when only one mechanically adept person is responsible for all phases of the operation, but once anyone else is involved, like you guys are talking about wives or other family members, then a fail safe system is required for obvious reasons.

No one would care if we were only putting our self's at risk, but once you involve innocent people like the linemen, that's where most people draw the line, that said, I'm sure they handle every wire like a loaded gun and are highly suspect that that line could be energized by any source, be it grid or generator.

I think those male to male (as unnatural as that sounds) cord sets are a serious problem when left accessible to others that may be unfamiliar with their inherent risks, especially the smaller 120 volt sets that look like a standard extension cord, being a contractor, I'm in other's houses every day and have seen them lying around peoples basements where children are present, I have 3 kids and made mine inaccessible and heavily taped one end with a female end over it also. My heavy 240 set I made is only 3 ft long so I can always see both ends and I painted it bright safety orange so I pay extra attention to it myself, that along with lockable outlet box and main breaker box will help reduce, but I know not completely eliminate the danger until I can finish it properly.

 

[Barneyhunts]

Doesn't the transfer switch just "idiot proof" what could really be a simple solution?
That being:
1. Turn the power off at the main breaker entering the house. Plug the generator in and turn it on.
2. Here's the key... After the emergency outage, Remember to turn the generator off and disconnect it BEFORE turning the main switch back on.

Forgetting to do step 2 could blow everything in your house and electrocute someone.

Yep! I think you're right, its purpose is to protect equipment & people.

 

[Travelover]

I've been doing some research on adding a transfer switch to my house and thought I'd post this in case it has not been posted before.

I found the most economical solution is a transfer switch sold as a Gen Tran or Pro Tran (by Reliance). The prices are lower on the Gen Tran site. In order to wire this switch in, you don't need to disconnect power from the meter, you wire it in like you are adding another circuit. For a 5000 watt generator the whole deal is $150 including shipping. The cord to the generator is extra.

Here is the Gen Tran site:

Gentran Corporation: Generator Transfer switches for home & business

Reliance site with installation video and installation manual links:

http://www.reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?20216A

I'm sure this isn't for everyone, but I think it is a pretty economical solution, considering that stamped sheet metal circuit breaker interlocks are the same price (below).

Generator InterLock Kit

 

[RonMar]

I've been doing some research on adding a transfer switch to my house and thought I'd post this in case it has not been posted before.

I found the most economical solution is a transfer switch sold as a Gen Tran or Pro Tran (by Reliance). The prices are lower on the Gen Tran site. In order to wire this switch in, you don't need to disconnect power from the meter, you wire it in like you are adding another circuit. For a 5000 watt generator the whole deal is $150 including shipping. The cord to the generator is extra.

Here is the Gen Tran site:

Gentran Corporation: Generator Transfer switches for home & business

Reliance site with installation video and installation manual links:

http://www.reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?20216A

I'm sure this isn't for everyone, but I think it is a pretty economical solution, considering that stamped sheet metal circuit breaker interlocks are the same price (below).

Generator InterLock Kit

That is the cheapest price I have seen for the Gentran panels. Both methods work, but the interlock is easier to install(less wire shuffeling) and more versatile IMO. The Gentran panels you linked to limit you to applying power to just those 6 circuits wired thru the add-on panel, while the interlock setup allows you to power anything on your house panel within the limits of your generator. The interlock does take a little more operator skill as you need to shut off loads that the generator may not be able to handle. Some colored stickers on the panel face beside the breakers that must be shut off make this a simple affair even when using a flashlight to get the backup power on line.

 

[RobS]

That Gentran 30A 10 circuit model looks exactly like the unit I installed. Mine came from Home Depot, EmerGen brand I think. Tom, are you sure you can wire this in without disconnecting the power? Or are you only talking about bringing the genny online once the power goes out? To install mine, I certainly had to disconnect the power.

 

[Travelover]

That Gentran 30A 10 circuit model looks exactly like the unit I installed. Mine came from Home Depot, EmerGen brand I think. Tom, are you sure you can wire this in without disconnecting the power? Or are you only talking about bringing the genny online once the power goes out? To install mine, I certainly had to disconnect the power.

Rob, you need to turn off the main breaker, but you don't have to disconnect power from the house / meter to install it or to use it.. The second link has an installation and usage video, if you want to see the nitty gritty.

 

[Travelover]

That is the cheapest price I have seen for the Gentran panels. Both methods work, but the interlock is easier to install(less wire shuffeling) and more versatile IMO. The Gentran panels you linked to limit you to applying power to just those 6 circuits wired thru the add-on panel, while the interlock setup allows you to power anything on your house panel within the limits of your generator. The interlock does take a little more operator skill as you need to shut off loads that the generator may not be able to handle. Some colored stickers on the panel face beside the breakers that must be shut off make this a simple affair even when using a flashlight to get the backup power on line.

Ron, I agree, if there was an interlock available for my breaker box, I would have considered it, though as I said, charging $150 for this little metal stamping takes a lot of brass. I even considered making my own interlock, but figured if a legal issue ever came up, it would still be a home made device.

I think this transfer switch will be simple for my wife to operate, which is a concern for me.

 

[AndyMA]

My power company does a pretty good job, so I don't need the generator enough to bother with a transfer switch. I just shut down my main breaker and anything else that I don't need so I can keep the load below what my generator can provide. I have a cord that I can hook to the generator and back feed through a welder outlet in my garage. Guess I better add that the garage is NOT attached to the house!!! I leave the garage door cracked a few feet but keep the generator out of the weather.

Just have to keep an eye on the neighbors house to see when power is restored.

Ken

DON'T DO THIS!!! Not only is it illegal. It is very dangerous. All somebody has to do is flip the main back on accidentially (or have it fail) and the guys fixing the lines can be killed. You'll loose everything.

Obviously it works, but is is just plain wrong!!!

Andy ( EE in Power Engineering)