PTO Elec. Generator

[Trev]

<font color=blue>one other thing, get an electrician to install your transfer switch</font color=blue>

One thought I had was if I had this generator on a trailer, and we had an extended outtage, I could drive it over to the neighbors house to give them some power for a while to keep their pipes from freezing and warm them up a bit, then bring it back home, or to another neighbors. How much would it cost these neighbors to have the transfer switch installed so they could benefit from a plan like this?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[techman]

Gerard:

Let me throw in my 2 cents. I had the same setup as you did (except the generator/circuit is in the shed). I got worried that when I was out of town the wife would try running the generator herself and forget to kill the main. I priced transfer switches, and since I wanted to feed the whole panel I would need a separate disconnect on the incoming line and a 200 amp transfer switch. Total cost was around $ 1500 for the disconnect and a 200amp xfer.

I ended up making my own "transfer" interlock, loosly patterned after a Square D unit. It does meet code as a transfer switch (maybe not the homemade version, but intent is the same).

I have attached a pix. A piece of aluminium stock and some screws and spacers did it. About one afternoon to do the whole job.

As you can see, you must have the main OFF before you can slide the bar to allow the generator feed breaker to be turned ON.

One other note is the SERVICE light in the top. I used a neon light assembly with an additional 50 K resistor along with a 2" ceramic standoff on the panel. A ball pen spring on the end contacts one of the main lugs of the service before the main CB. This lets me know when the utility has power up again, since where I am located I can't see any indication if power is back on.

The setup works great and I have a nice set of instructions nect to the panel for the wife so she can get the power up if I'm away.

paul

 

[alco141]

techman,
that is a great looking setup and a lot cheaper than the $300 transfer panel. what kind of tools did you need to make it?
did it take you long?

alex

 

[techman]

Alex:

The interlock bar is a piece of 1/8" aluminium. I cut it out with a band saw, but a jig saw or hack saw would work as well. The slots were milled and filed, but a drill and file would do as well. The screws have short spacers on them that fit the slots in the bar and let it slide.

About half of the time was making and adjusting a cardboard sample to get the dimensions and shape right. I had to use what panel space was free, which basically defined the overall shape. Using the cardboard template, cutting it out and mounting it was quick. The remaining chunk of time was relocating the breakers/circuits so that the generator breaker would be up top next to the main. All-in-all it was less than 6 hours one saturday afternoon.

paul

 

[gerard]

Now that's some neat thinking techman!!! Great idea. Especially the light before the main disconnect. I thought of that AFTER I had them run the circuit and AFTER they plugged the meter back in /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif Wanted to just put in an outlet so I could plugged in a radio for the same purpose. Oh well, maybe next time. As it stands all I do is go down with everything running and the light on, throw the generator circuit off, throw main on. If I have light then line power's back, if not the main goes back off, generator back on. Not as easy as walking down and looking for a light but still not too bad.

 

[gmason]

This is similiar to the way I ran mine. I added a 60amp breaker to one of my two 200amp service panels. I ran a 20' 8ga 4wire line to the end of my garage to run my ac225 welder. Each of my service panels have a main disconnect at the top to disconnet the main power. So to run my 6500w generator to my house I simply turn off the 2 mains and route my generator 240v to my 60amp breaker and activate one of my panels. I can move a few of the breakers over to the side that is "hot" to run, say the basement lights when needed. This enables me to run virutally the whole house(not all at the same time).
Ok, this is not rocket science and I didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn last night/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif, but it seems to work for us and it's safe for the lineman repairing the line and I don't have to buy and install a transfer switch. Breakers are a easy way to go.

gary