In Reply to: OT: Emergency Generator Transfer Switch, B Millar [Profile/Gallery] , Tue, 3 Sep 2013 10:53:19

One of my ski buddies is a master electrician. He is going to wire me up with a connection out on the driveway side of the garage that will connect to the main breaker panel and let me feed the whole house from the generator, not specific circuits. It just makes more sense in our house. I'll buy the switch, sub-panel, outlet, and wire. I'll run wire and he'll install.

I already know my 5700 watt (7200 watt start-up) generator will run all the critical stuff (reefer, oil burner, well pump, a bunch of lights) plus a burner or two on the stove. All we have to do is be conscious of what we're running at any given moment. We've done this by back-feeding for 2-3 years in 4 power outages and it's been fine. I know back-feeding is dangerous, but there's a written procedure for hooking up the generator that everyone in the house is aware of and knows to follow. The first item on the list is "Turn off power from the street!" As long as this is done it's not all that risky.

But a proper switch makes it safer and can shut off the generator connection and turn the street one back on when power comes back.

We are pretty much assured of losing power for at least a day --and up to 7 days-- in any winter. And more than once a winter. Around us almost everyone now has a generator. My neighbor has a propane-fueled one that comes on automatically.

Having power in an outage is very nice. Heat is good to have and can keep your pipes from freezing.

By the way.... buy gas in advance and put fuel stabilizer in the gan can. And if you leave the gas in the generator tank add a little extra stabilizer.

• OT: Emergency Generator Transfer Switch, B Millar , Tue, 3 Sep 2013 10:53:19
  • Thanks for your help guys., B Millar , Wed, 4 Sep 2013 06:54:08
    • Make sure you use UF and not NM 'Romex', MI-Roger , Wed, 4 Sep 2013 18:15:01
      • Oh shoot., B Millar , Thu, 5 Sep 2013 05:30:11
  • Re: OT: Emergency Generator Transfer Switch, Tom G , Tue, 3 Sep 2013 13:56:03
  • Just did this myself....the easy and efficient way, Skip, Tue, 3 Sep 2013 13:35:00
  • Start with an electrician. He'll know the codes., Noel, Tue, 3 Sep 2013 12:49:12 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Re: OT: Emergency Generator Transfer Switch, ELaw , Tue, 3 Sep 2013 11:25:42
    • Anyone ever use a bottled N/G generator?, NOSREDNA, Tue, 3 Sep 2013 19:36:02
      • Propane would be great but not bottled N/G, MI-Roger , Wed, 4 Sep 2013 03:15:11
        • Correct meant propane, NOSREDNA, Wed, 4 Sep 2013 20:36:38
        • Neighbor has this. Goes through a lot of propane, Noel, Wed, 4 Sep 2013 06:54:29

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