As an electrician, I can't help but comment that you need a bushing on that box to protect the wire as it enters the box. It will also keep the wire from being pushed back into the wall. Dont drill the hole right behind where the actual device goes because that limits your options on how to bend the wire around in the box. Great video!
@@jamess1787 It actually looks like 6/3 cable (since the ground is bare and the copper portion of the current carrying conductors look slightly larger than #8. The Ground wire is a #10 and is proper for this cable as it was manufactured to pair with the current carrying conductors. IMO
Did it appear to you also that the interlock kit seems like the top right breaker could be slid over . I think the hole alignment is off on this install
You most certainly can two back feed through a dryer plug outlet but the first thing you do is you shut your main breaker off in your breaker box then you can do it and then you don't backfeed to the outside and the outside won't feed into your generator so you can do it
You “can” but it violates the electrical code and for good reason, it’s dangerous and relies on someone remembering to shut off the main switch. Ask any lineman, they don’t want their life dependent on someone remembering to turn off a switch.
You can also see if that smell in your house is natural gas by lighting a match. Works great and keeps the undertaker in business. My point is, you can do it (I have) but it isn't safe, violates electrical codes, and puts you in a position of getting sued or going to jail if someone is injured or worse because of your "hack".
@@SteelheadTed if you throw in a lockout switch you still got to go to the panel box anyhow so what's the difference still depending on a human and if you're that stupid not to know what to do don't touch it
Installed one of these interlock kits for my 10k watt Firman generator. We get frequent power outages in the winter and are on a well that has a 220v pump, no power = no water. Cheap and effective solution.
Tip if you want to try to see if it is better or not: for thick wires drill cable holes on the corners of the wiring box, never in the center of the wiring box and you will benefit of having more space to bend the wires around when you do the connections.
Our house has an interlock and we power it with a 9kw generator, which is enough to run about 90% of the house. One helpful tip is to go through your panel in advance and mark each circuit that you want to run off the generator when the power goes out. I used different colors of permanent marker and just made a dot next to each breaker: red dots for mandatory circuits (fridges, freezers, and key lights) and green dots for optional circuits (everything else except the oven, dryer, and shop sub-panel). That way you don’t have to think about it in an emergency, just get the generator fired up then start flipping on breakers, red first then green.
I have a similar system except I have solar panels with a Power Wall. They is hooked up to a secondary panel with my critical loads. So on a loss of power critical loads are automatically powered and a automatic disconnect isolating these loads from my main panel and the grid. If I choose to supply non critical load or my solar panels can’t keep up with my critical loads I have a NG generator backup that supplies my main panel.
As others have posted…. You need to add a strain relief and bushing for the Romex at the box, do not push unprotected wiring back into the brick, and you need to add a gasket or apply silicon to the back of electrical box to protect against moisture.
Just be advised that some furnaces won't ignite due to the electrically noisy generator output or grounding scheme. Lennox furnaces are notoriously incompatible with portable generators. Don''t depend on the generator for furnace operation in winter without verification.
Another helpful tip, install a power back alarm to let you know when the grid power is back, especially if you don’t live within sight of neighbors or streetlights.
Funny, on the 6th day after Ida we were in out camper running on a generator where we had been staying when a neighbor text me and said ‘your generator is still running’. I said ‘good’. He said ‘power has been on for a couple hours’. Oops.
To solve this problem, I installed a single pole illuminated switch “on” that is wired before main power hits panel. When power goes off flip switch, when power comes on but main breaker is in off position, switch will illuminate showing power is on. Works great.
Here are the generator safety tips: 1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards. 2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house. 3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules. 4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords. Hope this helps.
@@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast thanks! I bot a used travel trailer with a Honda E2200X (?) Generator and yet to fire it up. I need to get familiar for just in case.
@@jeant5372 everything is good to go, already installed everything, just didn’t run the generator yet to try it out. I want to make all new labels for my panel box, then put a green dot next to the breakers that have to be on.
Bought a Generac LP5500 after Hurricane Sandy tore up the east coast several years ago. Do a 20 minute test run each month. The generator has been extremely helpful several times keeping us warm, lit and comfortable during those heavy winter storm power outages l
Be sure that the part retrofitted to the main panel as an interlock is approved for the area you are in, because here in Canada ( Quebec province at least ) these interlocks aren't legal, also they are not considered as true power isolation devices because they do NOT open the neutral wire from the power provider side of the circuit. Real interlock systems fully isolate ALL the wires coming from the power provider, neutral wire included. Remember that everything goes well in life, right to the moment something bad happens. Then the judge tells you, no one shall ignore the law.
Too right. Both poles should always be isolated. Judging from this video, the US seems to allow some pretty bad habits. Having had a reversed fed neutral wire shock (I was doing a factory panel changeover where it turned out someone had borrowed a neutral), I can tell you they hit the body just as much as a live wire shock does.
I am using this same setup,this does gives the homeowner much more flexibility to choose what combination to run based on the wattage that is coming in. Most of the newer portable generators 10,000 and above have 50 amp plug in on unit. I have a 12,000 watt rated one and having a 50 amp plug option vs a 30 amp is no comparison. I used Romex 6/3 wiring for 50 amp circuit and a box that is also 50 amp & also had to buy 50 amp breaker and a interlock switch for panel. I have a well pump so when down no water, can run one 220 at a time along with lights and fridge & and outlets. Cant run heat pump but by far having this for backup is a must to keep the home fires burning!
Here are the generator safety tips: 1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards. 2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house. 3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules. 4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords. Hope this helps.
@@calvinholser2535 just feed the excess wire back through the hole. Come on. My helper knows you have to have a connector in the box and the sheath has to be in the connector. Its hard to have a weatherproof box with a hole in the back.
Just a suggestion for future projects, , , when you drill a hole for a Tapcon type screw, take a moment and blow the dust out of the hole for better strength. I just use a cheap ear syringe if I'm off-site from my compressor.
You mentioned changing out the 50 that was there in the box with a 30. Would having a 50 in the breaker be an issue even if your plug is a 30? What is the reason for wanting them to match/ be consistent?
Those wires are in rough shape. Not having an insulated bushing here is a potential hazard, not sure about your codes in the US but here in Canada that would fail an inspection based on the lack of bushing.
My dad wired into his house with a generator. He messed up the wiring diagram. ended up putting 240v on half of the house wiring and 0 on the other half. He's spent about $1,000 replacing spark fault interrupter circuits, still not sure why he put them in every single room in his house. The only lesson I have for you here is to pay attention to wiring diagram, and if you can, test something with a voltmeter before you ever connect to anything you really care about
Always make sure you follow the generator safety rules whenever you use your generator. Remember, safety first! Here are the generator safety tips: 1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards. 2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide detector if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house. 3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules. 4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords. Hope this helps.
According to the national electric code arc fault circuit breakers are required on all circuits in house with a few exceptions! That's most likely why he would have installed them! They have been extremely helpful in preventing fires in homes with these installed! For the average homes I wire, breaker costs run between $800 to $1100, they aren't cheap!
You are creating a fire hazard by shoving the un-insulated portion of wire into your wall. You need to put a romex connector onto the sheathed portion of wire and connect to the box. Outside of that all looks good but fairly serious mistake.
I appreciate the inspiration! I have been wanting to install a generator outlet for several years. I tried to hire an electrician but nobody was interested. I finally did it myself after watching your post, it took about two hours from start to finish. Disclaimer, I had an old 30 amp breaker for an electric range I wasn't using so the main wiring was pretty simple. I just disconnected the range wiring and reconnected the 30 amp generator outlet to that breaker (plus the ground and neutral wires). I made my own interlock bracket (disclaimer: I have knowledge and access to machining tools (i.e., Bridgeport, bandsaw, etc...) at work) and everything worked perfectly. Thanks for the encouragement to get this off my to-do list!
If you go to sell your house, since the face plate you made is not UL approved you will either have to remove this generator switchover control or deal with the home inspector and possibly the county inspector.
And don’t forget about the generator safety rules too. It is important to follow the manual instructions carefully whenever you use your generator. Here are the generator safety tips: 1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards. 2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house. 3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules. 4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords. Hope this helps.
You will want one circuit to always see the power line coming into the house so you can have a radio setup to start when power is restored so you have an easy time knowing power is back.
As a union journeyman wireman, I think If someone has little to no experience with electrical work they should not be doing this task. It takes very very little electrical current to stop a human heart and electrical mistakes can burn your house down. Be careful folks.
I agree. I'm a commercial construction super, and I even see the electricians eff things up. I would not do this job myself even with 25 years on commercial ground up construction under my belt.
I was really shocked by how much effort it took me to get a reliable system in place. Main steps: 1. Install an inlet on the outside of the house and wire it into a breaker installed in the the top left breaker on your panel. Use suitable heavy gauge, 4-conductor wire. E.g., for a 30amp setup, you'll want at least 10/4. 2. If you don't have an in-panel master cutoff switch for the whole house (I didn't), get one and install it. A little intimidating at first given the huge electrical cables, but dead easy. 3. Install an interlock kit in the panel. 4. Optional but good idea, especially since you already have the panel open: install a whole-house surge protector. Not really needed if you use an inverter generator, but not a bad idea to have anyway. 5. Call the wiring inspector, get the above inspected, and put the inspection sticker on your panel door 6. Choose a good generator. With a construction-type genset in the field, you can get away with Chinese crap. But for home use, you want something that you absolutely KNOW will work when the s&%t hits the fan. I recommend a Honda 120/240 setup. An inverter set, or one of their -SX models, will have THD well within the limits of what you need for delicate electronic gear in the house. See below for why you might want to choose one with electric start. I wouldn't recommend getting an overly large genset for what you need; generators don't "turn down" well and an oversized on will use gobs of fuel. Get one with enough surge headroom to be able start critical systems like your sump pump (again, Hondas generally have tons of headroom). 7. If you are using a simple manual interconnect, or a transfer switch that leaves Neutral connected to the grid in either position, un-bond Neutral from Ground in your genset. Many construction-type generators will have this bond; if so, consult your manual for how to un-bond it. Easy. 7. Strongly consider converting the genset to run on natural gas. NG should be available through the most prolonged blackout, and you'll never need to run to the gasoline station. Slightly fiddly but not hard. 7a. if you did as above, unless you already have a NG connection to run your barbecue, you'll have to sling black pipe and install one. You should seriously consider hiring a pro to do this because gas leaks = no bueno. I did it myself though, so you can too. Call the gas inspector and get the new piping inspected. Put his sticker on it. 7b. If you go the NG route, you will almost certainly need electric start. Pull-start works fine for gasoline but it needs to develop a solid vacuum over a few seconds to start when using NG. 8. You may want to engineer some kind of simple roof to keep the rain and snow off your generator. So much the better if it shields the electrical outlets out of the elements as well. I went to West Marine and got some parts for a Bimini top and made a decent roof for it. 9. Meticulously keep the oil in the genset fresh. Even if it hasn't been run, change oil every 6 months. It's only a quart or so in most generators. 10. If there's any doubt, put a new spark plug and air cleaner element in there. 11. If you're going to operate the genset next to your house, you may want to extend the exhaust. If so, do it with a non-rigid connection such as a silicone hose. An extension may increase back pressure a bit, which will reduce the genset's efficiency a little bit, but to keep exhaust fumes away from your house it's probably worth it. 12. If you are going to use electric start, you really want to connect a Battery Tender to the battery to keep it at 100% at all times. A nice way to do this is, run your Battery Tender wire out to the inlet box you installed in #1 above. It will have a standard SAE 2-pin connector on the end. The inlet box will probably have a couple of knockouts, so you can just run the connector out there. Then it's dead simple to connect your battery and keep it charged up. All in all, it's a lot of steps but having truly bombproof, reliable backup system. It's not fun to be OCD about everything in life, but on a house backup generator setup it's a wise way to roll.
Here are the generator safety tips: 1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards. 2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house. 3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules. 4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords. Hope this helps.
@@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast those are great tips, thank you. I always refuel my pressure washer while it’s running because once it runs out of gas it won’t start again for hours , I know it’s wrong and very dangerous but I wanna get the task I’m doing done , now that I see it in writing it hits home , a lot smarter to finish the task the next day then to end up in Shriners
Look at youtube you would think I live in Canada. 75% of the videos I come across are from Canada, is youtube trying to silence c0nservative voices? Sure seems that way. No offense to this guy, but its so hard to find a video that isn't from Canada.
So you can backfeed through a dryer line as long as you have your main breaker off during power outage also assuming the breaker to the dryer is suitable for the power generated? I've only got a 3kw generator I think it's actually 2500 continuous and my dryer breaker is 30 amp. I have gas now for the dryer so I don't even use that old dryer hookup, was thinking of just using that with the interlock.
Generator interlock kits cannot be installed by the homeowner. They must be installed by a licensed electrician. The reason, an improperly installed standby system can kill a lineman, the homeowner or someone else. Don't be stupid, hire an electrician. In addition in at least my area the utility can pull your meter for having an improperly installed generator connection. Posting these types of videos is going to get code changed to disallow direct panel connections because somebody is going to do it wrong and hurt someone. You didn't address sizing the generator breaker, sizing the generator, sizing the generator inlet receptacle or even sizing the generator inlet receptacle conductors. Most panels don't have the two pole breaker next to the main empty, those circuits have to get moved it could be up to four circuits and they could share neutrals what should the homeowner do then? ...... BECAUSE IT LOOKS SIMPLE AND IS EASY TO INSTALL DOESNT MAKE IT DONE SAFE OR CORRECTLY!!!
You, like nearly all the other “DIY” guys on UA-cam, missed an unbelievably critical thing in this tutorial… Since your neutral and ground are bonded at the panel, you must be running a floating neutral generator. Nearly all portable generators come with a bonded neutral, so the motor cover needs pulled and the neutral needs disconnected from ground. Otherwise, you risk energizing the frame of your generator.
Thank you for such helpful info. This arrangement would work well for me. Can electricians in Ontario Canada install this for me? Not sure about Canadian codes. Thank you again!
Great video! First time seeing your channel. I'm not seeing much difference between using the dryer recep and installing a whole new recep? Other than more money, work, & another hole in my house. If I'm wrong somebody please tell me. I'm new to this, first time homeowner for 8 months now and new firman tri fuel 10k generator. My utility room is in the basement and has a small window above the dryer. The screen already has a hole so...boom. I also have a capped off has line right there also in case I need to run it off natural gas. It cost me $800 to have that dryer recep put in(finished basement and the panel is on the opposite side of the basement). I can't afford another one right now. Single income family of 6. Hoping for some feedback. Thank you have a blessed day.
In order to ensure that family members can operate this, you may want to include a step-by-step set of instructions as to what circuits shouldn't be energized or not coupled with red or green color dots adjacent to the breakers.
You didn’t seal the box to the brick. You just made a box full of water and leak water into your wall and electric box. Shocking. Go fix that. Seal it properly for code.
I marked the breakers ahead of time the only ones I want to turn on! Also I set down at my computer and printed out step-by-step instructions on what to do what each of the breakers goes to that I want to turn on and about how much power they use. Most people don't understand what the generator doesn't make power! It changes the power in the fuel into electricity. The more electricity you use the more fuel it uses! Most generators have the best fuel to electricity conversion at about half the rated power for the generator. Try not to use more half the rated power as much as you can. Running it at the top rated power is hard on the generator and burns a lot more fuel! I have learned much of this because of many Hurricanes, and not able to get more fuel because the places that sold fuel didn't have power to sell the fuel. GOOD LUCK! STAY SAFE!
Without interlock installed can use it that outlet as a regular outside plug. And yes I certified electrician installed mine but I bought a welder that has that connection. I would like to know before I call another electrician
It all depends of the length of run what gage of wire you need. But the entire circuit must be designed within the capacity of the circuit breaker. Just recently I replaced an electric hot water heater. It was wired with wire and breaker for 20A so without replacing both the wire and breaker I couldn’t use a standard 30A electric hot water heater. Thankfully they still make a few 20A versions.
@@crockpot5194 his inlet box is rated for 30 amps. The proper size for 30 amps is 10 gauge, but looks like he ran 6 gauge so that he can just change the box and breaker to a 50 amp in the future if he ever wants to upgrade to a larger generator.
He did not silicon around the exterior box, this is a code violation and will not pass a home inspection... rain water can fall into the hole into the brick and cause issues...
you telling people the wire in the beginning of the video that you can use any wire coming out that was already there is and you can use any wire is kinda funny and a big fire concern some body out there is going to hook it up to a small wire that can only hold minimal amps and burn the house down haha and no wire holder on the box is a bad thing to you have to really think on what your putting up on youtube
I've been wondering if you can couple something like this with solar panels. Would the generator provide the correct power frequency to allow a tie-in inverter to provide power and would that cause too much back-feed into the generator? Could you use a diode or something to prevent that back-feed to the generator?
for adding solar the correct way its basically a generator interlock with added steps. you need a transfer panel to transfer the loads off the main circuit breaker onto a separate breaker that is supplied by your solar setups inverter without a tie to ground like your main panel has. you would never want to have more than one power generator source working at once without the proper panels, switches and lockouts in place. Like he states in the video this lockout prevents power feeding back into the grid, or from the grid to the generator, the same principals apply with solar and gas generation working in tandem. with a lot of solar stuff its worth consulting an electrician. the main reason for this is solar systems arent really ground tie friendly since that creates a ground loop, and that can devastate a solar system. the dc system of solar has its own ground when connected with batteries, when you bring in the ground rod that is attached to your house it at best has some funky flutters in power, at worst burns out all your solar. can you technically hookup a solar backup system in the same manner as a gas generator, yes in fact you can have your inverter hook up to a similar interlock like this. but if something goes wrong its more expensive to replace the solar equipment and batteries than a generator. everything also depends on local regulations, for the most part isolated solar circuts are treated in a way where if you wire it like a DC system like in a car or RV. when connected to something that is connected to a grid things get more complex. if you want to run solar and a gas generator to power more stuff at once, get an electrician to setup your box so the solar is powering all the essentials like lights and fridge, sump pump etc on its transfer panel. and the generator runs its devices, say Air conditioning on another sub panel or if possible on its interlock of the main panel. check out davidpoz, or Will Prowse while they aren't necessarily experts, both of them are decent at explaining solar systems.
@@antibodyarmy Thanks for the response, but you didn't really answer the question I was asking. If someone has a grid-tie system with a generator rather than batteries, when the power goes out, can the system be configured so that the solar produces power based on the frequencies that the generator produces? This has nothing to do with the method of disconnection from the grid. We're past that obvious point (this can be done through a manual switchover, as shown in this video, or through a smart inverter system). When someone setups up a grid-tie system with battery backup, it can be configured so that the panels generate power based on the battery-supplied frequency. The question is, can the same thing work with a generator?
@@dienekes4364 Should be able to. A generator depending on what type, should put out 60 hertz (+ - 5 hertz). Grid power is 60 hertz on the button. The frequency tolerance is 5% so 57-63hz is the range. You want to start with about 62hz at no load because it will drop a bit as the engine is loaded up. Voltage is the same deal. If your generator has a voltage adjustment then set it for 125 volts at no load. It will drop some as the generator load is increased.
Excellent video however my electrical panel is a Wadsworth panel and no one makes an interlock for that panel because is so old but during a power outage I have to turn off the main breaker and turn on my generator 2 pole breaker that back feeds my panel...when the power is restored I turn off my generator and generator breaker and turn back on the main breaker 👍🏿
So tired of people showing videos about how to install the inlet outside the house that’s the easiest part the most important part is what gauge of wire do you use into your panel and how do you wire your panels so the power could come in I mean that is the most important part can we please get a video about that the rest of the shit is easy
Your PB30 box should have a connector for the wire coming through the back, and by code you are require to have that jacket sheating showing at least 1/4" in the box... you don't just "push them back in wall". The zip ties work as a hold down which is also a code requirement. Other than the terrible advice of pushing wires back into the wall looks like a compliant install👍
He is referring to the sheathing of the cable not the insulation on each individual conductor. Normally the hole would be offset from the generator plug in the box to allow the cable to enter using a connector and folding the conductors in the box to allow a stress free connection.
The box requires a connector. The outer sheating is required to have at least 1/4" in box. These are code requirements. If the knockout isn't in the best spot you make another one....
The main breaker is off which stops the electricity from entering the breaker box. The interlock plate forces you to power down and switch off the generator breaker before opening the house up to the main line power.
Your panel neutral is still connected to the outside. If there is a issue like power comes back on the neutral your generator will go boom or you have a short on your house with the generator power could be sent back via neutral to the plant and you could kill a power company line person. In other words you could backfeed neutral....
Not possible to back feed a neutral how you explain, especially when its bonded off to ground.. Many large back up generators are configured in basically the same fashion, the transfer switch interrupts only the hot conductors but the neutrals from generator and utility remain connected together along with the load neutral at all times.
Bought a firman 9400 but the breaker keeps tripping on the generator when I turn my breaker panel I dont understand why... everything is wired correctly
I caution all the viewers here to make sure you are using the correct wire size and breakers for your application. Those drop in your ear speakers that plug into your phone have wires that can carry 120v, but use them to power up anything more than a test meter at that voltage and expect the wires to rapidly heat to the point of melting the insulation off and catching fire. Also, the wires need to be captured in the box or installed in piping/tubing to prevent accidentally pulling them out and exposing bare wire to people or flammable material like wood in the wall.
Hi. I have G12KBN generator that has 30 and 50 amp outlets. 12,000 peak watts/ 9,500 rated watts (gasoline). Do i need to run 50 amp or 30 amp 240v to my house ?
Thanks for the information. We were looking at a generator from Northern Tools. This is exactly what I was describing to my wife to backfeed the breaker box. Not extension cords.
@@DJNITROALLY Good luck. A NEMA certified switch runs over $500. Then you better get an electrician to install it because you must transfer the Main coming from the pole or from your main 100A or 200A breaker, to the auto transfer switch, then from the transfer switch back to your panel, and you will still have to wire in your generator. Requires drilling, wiring, and a whole lot more work.
I dont get it.... he spends lots of time showing drilling and other nonsense but misses explaining in detail the connections to the Main panel (at about @9':00", what is he talking about?) and also the wires connecting to the box outside.
There are 4 wires, black, red, white, and bare copper. 2 hits (black and red) one neutral (white) and a ground. Look at the panel and wire it just like all the rest of the breakers, the outlet literally has color markers to show you where to put the wires. Hope that helps!
Dryers are 20 amp and most generators are 30 amp. If you place a larger load on the dryer outlet you will heat the wires in the wall and catch the house on fire. If your insurance company finds the plug welded into the outlet they will not cover your loss.
@@crusherfang9368 Having worked in home construction all the outlets I saw were 20 amp. Can you provide a make and model of the dryer your speaking of?
In Australia i have seen a REALLY good set up, the genset was a diesel generator about 20kva rather big with a battery backup system if the generator either failed or ran out of fuel, that way the house still had lighting. But in Australia we are NOT allowed to touch our 240v wiring in our homes. Not only does it void your homeowners insurance but you can also be held fully accountable if something goes wrong and causes a fire or backfeeds into the grid and kills someone. Happened in my state a farmer used a generator to power his gear and ended up electrocuting a linesman as it was all dead their end (planned maintenance) they tested the line all good but less than half way working on the lines is when the farmer fired up the generator and well yeah farmer got sued.
Australians have safetied themselves out of freedom as made obvious in the aftermath of covid… I’d rather live a little dangerously than under a totalitarian government. It’s too bad. I feel for the true patriots that are left down there.
One time I did it by turning off the main and plugging and extension cord from my generator directly to a home outlet, and it works, is that also a right way?
Go bigger now 50 amp with 12k watts generator 😁😁 AC can run My setup: Duromax 13000EH model-12500 watts Reliance 50 amp inlet Wire gauge 6/4 50 amp breaker and adding whole house surge protector. And interlock No more worry about outage and brownouts
I’ve actually written on my breaker box in marker which ones to turn on and which way is on. I did this cause sometimes my mom is alone at my house and I wanted very clear instructions right on the box.
Seems like a lot of work and expense when for about $12 or less you could buy and install a hasp on the loadcenter's door and padlock it when you're backfeeding from a generator.
What if I have 30 Amp breaker for my AC on the upper right corner where I want to put the new 30 Amp generator breaker? And I have a spare block to put a breaker on bottom left corner. How would I rewire the AC breaker to the bottom left hand corner if the two hot wires arent long enough to reach bottom part of the panel from their current position in the the top right? I believe its a square D 100 or 150 AM panel. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
![How Many Watts Does Your Generator Need![POWER YOUR HOME]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WxNFiLour3E/mqdefault.jpg)
Awesome video. Thank you for sharing. Very concise
As an electrician, I can't help but comment that you need a bushing on that box to protect the wire as it enters the box. It will also keep the wire from being pushed back into the wall. Dont drill the hole right behind where the actual device goes because that limits your options on how to bend the wire around in the box. Great video!
Quick question for you.
Do you think that ground-wire is adequately sized for the circuit? Looks like a 16AWG wire with like 2 8AWG conductors?
@@jamess1787 It actually looks like 6/3 cable (since the ground is bare and the copper portion of the current carrying conductors look slightly larger than #8. The Ground wire is a #10 and is proper for this cable as it was manufactured to pair with the current carrying conductors. IMO
Thanks
Did it appear to you also that the interlock kit seems like the top right breaker could be slid over . I think the hole alignment is off on this install
@@Giggles_69 it looks like the zip tie should hold both top breakers securely. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question though.
sadly, I cannot SAVE this video to my favorites.
You most certainly can two back feed through a dryer plug outlet but the first thing you do is you shut your main breaker off in your breaker box then you can do it and then you don't backfeed to the outside and the outside won't feed into your generator so you can do it
You “can” but it violates the electrical code and for good reason, it’s dangerous and relies on someone remembering to shut off the main switch. Ask any lineman, they don’t want their life dependent on someone remembering to turn off a switch.
You can also see if that smell in your house is natural gas by lighting a match. Works great and keeps the undertaker in business. My point is, you can do it (I have) but it isn't safe, violates electrical codes, and puts you in a position of getting sued or going to jail if someone is injured or worse because of your "hack".
@@SteelheadTed if you throw in a lockout switch you still got to go to the panel box anyhow so what's the difference still depending on a human and if you're that stupid not to know what to do don't touch it
@@ernestholbrook1898 the difference is no one’s life should depend on a homeowners memory to flip a switch.
Now show me how to Unsafely power my home with a generator.
Installed one of these interlock kits for my 10k watt Firman generator. We get frequent power outages in the winter and are on a well that has a 220v pump, no power = no water. Cheap and effective solution.
Tip if you want to try to see if it is better or not: for thick wires drill cable holes on the corners of the wiring box, never in the center of the wiring box and you will benefit of having more space to bend the wires around when you do the connections.
Why not piy a bigger generator to power the whole house?
Our house has an interlock and we power it with a 9kw generator, which is enough to run about 90% of the house.
One helpful tip is to go through your panel in advance and mark each circuit that you want to run off the generator when the power goes out. I used different colors of permanent marker and just made a dot next to each breaker: red dots for mandatory circuits (fridges, freezers, and key lights) and green dots for optional circuits (everything else except the oven, dryer, and shop sub-panel).
That way you don’t have to think about it in an emergency, just get the generator fired up then start flipping on breakers, red first then green.
Is that on a 30Amp leg?
I have a similar system except I have solar panels with a Power Wall. They is hooked up to a secondary panel with my critical loads. So on a loss of power critical loads are automatically powered and a automatic disconnect isolating these loads from my main panel and the grid. If I choose to supply non critical load or my solar panels can’t keep up with my critical loads I have a NG generator backup that supplies my main panel.
The red and green dots are a great idea, I’m going to steal this idea!
Green is for Go man, and red is for stop. I’d mark them opposite, but the concept is sound.
@@jimj9040 that does make sense but when I first started I didn’t have a green marker 😆
As others have posted…. You need to add a strain relief and bushing for the Romex at the box, do not push unprotected wiring back into the brick, and you need to add a gasket or apply silicon to the back of electrical box to protect against moisture.
Hack job
Definitely not silicon but firechalk
Definitely need a flux capacitor
@@duffmann2021 He didn't even test for 1.21 gigawatts! Amateur 😂
Just be advised that some furnaces won't ignite due to the electrically noisy generator output or grounding scheme.
Lennox furnaces are notoriously incompatible with portable generators.
Don''t depend on the generator for furnace operation in winter without verification.
I just put a muffler on mine, nice and quiet now, no issues
@@kray421 Did you use the real fur ones? Or the synthetic, faux-fur type?
Another helpful tip, install a power back alarm to let you know when the grid power is back, especially if you don’t live within sight of neighbors or streetlights.
I've thought about that issue. How exactly would you wire up such an alarm?
You are correct… that’s the only negative about an Interlock setup. But still a very small “negative”
Funny, on the 6th day after Ida we were in out camper running on a generator where we had been staying when a neighbor text me and said ‘your generator is still running’. I said ‘good’. He said ‘power has been on for a couple hours’. Oops.
To solve this problem, I installed a single pole illuminated switch “on” that is wired before main power hits panel. When power goes off flip switch, when power comes on but main breaker is in off position, switch will illuminate showing power is on. Works great.
@@IUSSHistory Make sure you have a comfy chair while you watch for that - and don't fall asleep!
Very nice job. I also added an amp/ volt meter to both legs to keep an eye on the amp draw and to keep the legs balanced.
Here are the generator safety tips:
1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards.
2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house.
3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules.
4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords.
Hope this helps.
@@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast thanks! I bot a used travel trailer with a Honda E2200X (?) Generator and yet to fire it up. I need to get familiar for just in case.
I just ordered a kit because of this video, I’ll let you know how everything turns out in 3-14 business days!
@@jeant5372 everything is good to go, already installed everything, just didn’t run the generator yet to try it out. I want to make all new labels for my panel box, then put a green dot next to the breakers that have to be on.
Good to hear this good luck with it all. Update as you go thanks
Clear, common sense instructions. Good job and thank you.
Dont forget to turn ur sub pump breaker back on while running off the generator or else u will have a big mess.
Bought a Generac LP5500 after Hurricane Sandy tore up the east coast several years ago. Do a 20 minute test run each month. The generator has been extremely helpful several times keeping us warm, lit and comfortable during those heavy winter storm power outages l
Be sure that the part retrofitted to the main panel as an interlock is approved for the area you are in, because here in Canada ( Quebec province at least ) these interlocks aren't legal, also they are not considered as true power isolation devices because they do NOT open the neutral wire from the power provider side of the circuit. Real interlock systems fully isolate ALL the wires coming from the power provider, neutral wire included. Remember that everything goes well in life, right to the moment something bad happens. Then the judge tells you, no one shall ignore the law.
Too right. Both poles should always be isolated. Judging from this video, the US seems to allow some pretty bad habits. Having had a reversed fed neutral wire shock (I was doing a factory panel changeover where it turned out someone had borrowed a neutral), I can tell you they hit the body just as much as a live wire shock does.
@@bertiesworld Neutral shocks are as bad as line shocks, that is why the neutral have to be isolated too.
Glad i don't live in Canada.
Well done video! Good sound and editing. So nice to see someone do a diy video but not make viewers suffer through each and every screw!
Do I have to ground the generator separately if I’m using an interlock kit and my home breaker panel is already grounded
I am using this same setup,this does gives the homeowner much more flexibility to choose what combination to run based on the wattage that is coming in. Most of the newer portable generators 10,000 and above have 50 amp plug in on unit. I have a 12,000 watt rated one and having a 50 amp plug option vs a 30 amp is no comparison. I used Romex 6/3 wiring for 50 amp circuit and a box that is also 50 amp & also had to buy 50 amp breaker and a interlock switch for panel. I have a well pump so when down no water, can run one 220 at a time along with lights and fridge & and outlets. Cant run heat pump but by far having this for backup is a must to keep the home fires burning!
Excellent work. Definitely the safe and inexpensive way to power a house with a portable generator.
No silicone around hole back of box?
Here are the generator safety tips:
1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards.
2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house.
3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules.
4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords.
Hope this helps.
@@calvinholser2535 just feed the excess wire back through the hole. Come on. My helper knows you have to have a connector in the box and the sheath has to be in the connector. Its hard to have a weatherproof box with a hole in the back.
Just a suggestion for future projects, , , when you drill a hole for a Tapcon type screw, take a moment and blow the dust out of the hole for better strength. I just use a cheap ear syringe if I'm off-site from my compressor.
You mentioned changing out the 50 that was there in the box with a 30. Would having a 50 in the breaker be an issue even if your plug is a 30? What is the reason for wanting them to match/ be consistent?
The rating of the breaker has to be compatible with the entire circuit so it will protect the weakest link.
Good question, good answer!
Those wires are in rough shape. Not having an insulated bushing here is a potential hazard, not sure about your codes in the US but here in Canada that would fail an inspection based on the lack of bushing.
My dad wired into his house with a generator. He messed up the wiring diagram. ended up putting 240v on half of the house wiring and 0 on the other half. He's spent about $1,000 replacing spark fault interrupter circuits, still not sure why he put them in every single room in his house.
The only lesson I have for you here is to pay attention to wiring diagram, and if you can, test something with a voltmeter before you ever connect to anything you really care about
Always make sure you follow the generator safety rules whenever you use your generator. Remember, safety first! Here are the generator safety tips:
1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards.
2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide detector if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house.
3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules.
4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords.
Hope this helps.
According to the national electric code arc fault circuit breakers are required on all circuits in house with a few exceptions! That's most likely why he would have installed them! They have been extremely helpful in preventing fires in homes with these installed! For the average homes I wire, breaker costs run between $800 to $1100, they aren't cheap!
@@reryro1472 I meant carbon monoxide detector. I just forgot to type it.
Thumbs Up From the Dooley's Homestead of Michigan
You are creating a fire hazard by shoving the un-insulated portion of wire into your wall. You need to put a romex connector onto the sheathed portion of wire and connect to the box. Outside of that all looks good but fairly serious mistake.
Excellent job. 2 Chron 7:14 Fervent prayer needed for world wide revival, time is running out. Bless you and yours.
I appreciate the inspiration! I have been wanting to install a generator outlet for several years. I tried to hire an electrician but nobody was interested. I finally did it myself after watching your post, it took about two hours from start to finish. Disclaimer, I had an old 30 amp breaker for an electric range I wasn't using so the main wiring was pretty simple. I just disconnected the range wiring and reconnected the 30 amp generator outlet to that breaker (plus the ground and neutral wires). I made my own interlock bracket (disclaimer: I have knowledge and access to machining tools (i.e., Bridgeport, bandsaw, etc...) at work) and everything worked perfectly. Thanks for the encouragement to get this off my to-do list!
!11!!
If you go to sell your house, since the face plate you made is not UL approved you will either have to remove this generator switchover control or deal with the home inspector and possibly the county inspector.
@@kinglee3990 Thanks for your input. When I go to sell I'll replace the interlock bracket a commercial one. For now, it works and everyone is safe.
Did you consider replacing the actual breaker? I have seen corrosion on older panels. It was a good idea to repurpose the breaker position.
Always handing out handy info. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻
And don’t forget about the generator safety rules too. It is important to follow the manual instructions carefully whenever you use your generator. Here are the generator safety tips:
1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards.
2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house.
3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules.
4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords.
Hope this helps.
You will want one circuit to always see the power line coming into the house so you can have a radio setup to start when power is restored so you have an easy time knowing power is back.
Andrew H, there is a product called “power back alarm” from Reliance controls that will let you know when the grid comes back up.
I just my electric meter as if its on then power is back. Also at night the street lights are handy lol.
I connected an exterior light on the power side of the panel that is on when power is back on and off when the power is down.
I look out my window to the utility pole across the street for the red light on the side of the transformer and I know power is back on.
I subscribed to the utility company for text message alert when the power is back on in my area. I also live close to street lights 😉
As a union journeyman wireman, I think If someone has little to no experience with electrical work they should not be doing this task. It takes very very little electrical current to stop a human heart and electrical mistakes can burn your house down. Be careful folks.
I agree. I'm a commercial construction super, and I even see the electricians eff things up. I would not do this job myself even with 25 years on commercial ground up construction under my belt.
I was really shocked by how much effort it took me to get a reliable system in place. Main steps:
1. Install an inlet on the outside of the house and wire it into a breaker installed in the the top left breaker on your panel. Use suitable heavy gauge, 4-conductor wire. E.g., for a 30amp setup, you'll want at least 10/4.
2. If you don't have an in-panel master cutoff switch for the whole house (I didn't), get one and install it. A little intimidating at first given the huge electrical cables, but dead easy.
3. Install an interlock kit in the panel.
4. Optional but good idea, especially since you already have the panel open: install a whole-house surge protector. Not really needed if you use an inverter generator, but not a bad idea to have anyway.
5. Call the wiring inspector, get the above inspected, and put the inspection sticker on your panel door
6. Choose a good generator. With a construction-type genset in the field, you can get away with Chinese crap. But for home use, you want something that you absolutely KNOW will work when the s&%t hits the fan. I recommend a Honda 120/240 setup. An inverter set, or one of their -SX models, will have THD well within the limits of what you need for delicate electronic gear in the house. See below for why you might want to choose one with electric start. I wouldn't recommend getting an overly large genset for what you need; generators don't "turn down" well and an oversized on will use gobs of fuel. Get one with enough surge headroom to be able start critical systems like your sump pump (again, Hondas generally have tons of headroom).
7. If you are using a simple manual interconnect, or a transfer switch that leaves Neutral connected to the grid in either position, un-bond Neutral from Ground in your genset. Many construction-type generators will have this bond; if so, consult your manual for how to un-bond it. Easy.
7. Strongly consider converting the genset to run on natural gas. NG should be available through the most prolonged blackout, and you'll never need to run to the gasoline station. Slightly fiddly but not hard.
7a. if you did as above, unless you already have a NG connection to run your barbecue, you'll have to sling black pipe and install one. You should seriously consider hiring a pro to do this because gas leaks = no bueno. I did it myself though, so you can too. Call the gas inspector and get the new piping inspected. Put his sticker on it.
7b. If you go the NG route, you will almost certainly need electric start. Pull-start works fine for gasoline but it needs to develop a solid vacuum over a few seconds to start when using NG.
8. You may want to engineer some kind of simple roof to keep the rain and snow off your generator. So much the better if it shields the electrical outlets out of the elements as well. I went to West Marine and got some parts for a Bimini top and made a decent roof for it.
9. Meticulously keep the oil in the genset fresh. Even if it hasn't been run, change oil every 6 months. It's only a quart or so in most generators.
10. If there's any doubt, put a new spark plug and air cleaner element in there.
11. If you're going to operate the genset next to your house, you may want to extend the exhaust. If so, do it with a non-rigid connection such as a silicone hose. An extension may increase back pressure a bit, which will reduce the genset's efficiency a little bit, but to keep exhaust fumes away from your house it's probably worth it.
12. If you are going to use electric start, you really want to connect a Battery Tender to the battery to keep it at 100% at all times. A nice way to do this is, run your Battery Tender wire out to the inlet box you installed in #1 above. It will have a standard SAE 2-pin connector on the end. The inlet box will probably have a couple of knockouts, so you can just run the connector out there. Then it's dead simple to connect your battery and keep it charged up.
All in all, it's a lot of steps but having truly bombproof, reliable backup system. It's not fun to be OCD about everything in life, but on a house backup generator setup it's a wise way to roll.
Looks like a reverse RV plug. Nice how to Todd.
Exactly what it is
Here are the generator safety tips:
1) Please do not allow an unqualified person or your children to operate the portable generator. That is important against the generator safety rules. We also need to be keeping an eye on our children too. You need to make sure that your children are not playing near the portable generator especially when it’s running so they won’t get electrocuted. Generators pose electrical risks and they can be hot during an operation. Please keep your children away from the portable generator at all times. It is important to keep our children safe especially our little ones. Be aware of all the hazards.
2) Some people use their portable generators indoors which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s important to have a carbon monoxide if you have a gas generator. Never ever use your generator indoors even if your doors and windows are open and even in the garage is not safe to use a portable generator. Not even at your porch and your deck. It is never safe to use your generator indoors and in enclosed areas of your home. Your generator needs to be 15-20 feet away from your house.
3) 🔥generators cause fire hazards too. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. You need to let your generator cool off before refueling it and before storing your generator. Never overload your generator too. Never ever back feed your generator. You should never plug your generator into a wall outlet. Also never store propane tanks indoors. Please keep flammable things away from the generator as well and please don’t smoke cigarettes near the generator. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the generator safety rules.
4) generator operation; make sure your hands are dry before touching the generator. Never use your generator in wet conditions. Don’t let your generator get wet. You need a generator tent if you need to use your generator during wet weather. Please don’t wear loose clothes when operating the generator. Turn on your generator before plugging in appliances. Use the right cord for your generator. Please do not use worn out cords.
Hope this helps.
@@The_Happy_Aviation_Enthusiast those are great tips, thank you. I always refuel my pressure washer while it’s running because once it runs out of gas it won’t start again for hours , I know it’s wrong and very dangerous but I wanna get the task I’m doing done , now that I see it in writing it hits home , a lot smarter to finish the task the next day then to end up in Shriners
This seems like a much better option than a transfer box. So glad I came across this!
Awesome how to video. And good disclaimers!!
Look at youtube you would think I live in Canada. 75% of the videos I come across are from Canada, is youtube trying to silence c0nservative voices? Sure seems that way. No offense to this guy, but its so hard to find a video that isn't from Canada.
So you can backfeed through a dryer line as long as you have your main breaker off during power outage also assuming the breaker to the dryer is suitable for the power generated? I've only got a 3kw generator I think it's actually 2500 continuous and my dryer breaker is 30 amp. I have gas now for the dryer so I don't even use that old dryer hookup, was thinking of just using that with the interlock.
Generator interlock kits cannot be installed by the homeowner. They must be installed by a licensed electrician. The reason, an improperly installed standby system can kill a lineman, the homeowner or someone else. Don't be stupid, hire an electrician. In addition in at least my area the utility can pull your meter for having an improperly installed generator connection. Posting these types of videos is going to get code changed to disallow direct panel connections because somebody is going to do it wrong and hurt someone. You didn't address sizing the generator breaker, sizing the generator, sizing the generator inlet receptacle or even sizing the generator inlet receptacle conductors. Most panels don't have the two pole breaker next to the main empty, those circuits have to get moved it could be up to four circuits and they could share neutrals what should the homeowner do then? ...... BECAUSE IT LOOKS SIMPLE AND IS EASY TO INSTALL DOESNT MAKE IT DONE SAFE OR CORRECTLY!!!
You, like nearly all the other “DIY” guys on UA-cam, missed an unbelievably critical thing in this tutorial…
Since your neutral and ground are bonded at the panel, you must be running a floating neutral generator. Nearly all portable generators come with a bonded neutral, so the motor cover needs pulled and the neutral needs disconnected from ground. Otherwise, you risk energizing the frame of your generator.
Thank you for such helpful info. This arrangement would work well for me. Can electricians in Ontario Canada install this for me? Not sure about Canadian codes. Thank you again!
Bought a firman 9400 but the breaker keeps tripping on the generator when I turn my breaker panel I dont understand why everything is wired correctly
Bought a firman 9400 but the breaker keeps tripping on the generator when I turn my breaker panel I dont understand why everything is wired correctly
Great video! First time seeing your channel. I'm not seeing much difference between using the dryer recep and installing a whole new recep? Other than more money, work, & another hole in my house. If I'm wrong somebody please tell me. I'm new to this, first time homeowner for 8 months now and new firman tri fuel 10k generator. My utility room is in the basement and has a small window above the dryer. The screen already has a hole so...boom. I also have a capped off has line right there also in case I need to run it off natural gas. It cost me $800 to have that dryer recep put in(finished basement and the panel is on the opposite side of the basement). I can't afford another one right now. Single income family of 6. Hoping for some feedback. Thank you have a blessed day.
In order to ensure that family members can operate this, you may want to include a step-by-step set of instructions as to what circuits shouldn't be energized or not coupled with red or green color dots adjacent to the breakers.
A black shirt hides the microphone better.
A circle of silicone around that back hole helps with water proofing.
If you're rinning 30amps that would be 120v, why run a black and red to the breaker?
You didn’t seal the box to the brick. You just made a box full of water and leak water into your wall and electric box. Shocking. Go fix that. Seal it properly for code.
50 amps Generate 17500 I could run the whole house
I have solar also so I’m sure I need more then just this.
I have this exact setup. Do I keep my neutral bonded on the generator or remove the bonded wire?
I marked the breakers ahead of time the only ones I want to turn on! Also I set down at my computer and printed out step-by-step instructions on what to do what each of the breakers goes to that I want to turn on and about how much power they use. Most people don't understand what the generator doesn't make power! It changes the power in the fuel into electricity. The more electricity you use the more fuel it uses! Most generators have the best fuel to electricity conversion at about half the rated power for the generator. Try not to use more half the rated power as much as you can. Running it at the top rated power is hard on the generator and burns a lot more fuel! I have learned much of this because of many Hurricanes, and not able to get more fuel because the places that sold fuel didn't have power to sell the fuel. GOOD LUCK! STAY SAFE!
Without interlock installed can use it that outlet as a regular outside plug. And yes I certified electrician installed mine but I bought a welder that has that connection. I would like to know before I call another electrician
It would be a very good idea to make sure the wire you use is the proper guage to handle the amperage output of your generator.
6 gage is the minimal but I would up it to possibly 4 gage
It all depends of the length of run what gage of wire you need. But the entire circuit must be designed within the capacity of the circuit breaker. Just recently I replaced an electric hot water heater. It was wired with wire and breaker for 20A so without replacing both the wire and breaker I couldn’t use a standard 30A electric hot water heater. Thankfully they still make a few 20A versions.
@@crockpot5194 his inlet box is rated for 30 amps. The proper size for 30 amps is 10 gauge, but looks like he ran 6 gauge so that he can just change the box and breaker to a 50 amp in the future if he ever wants to upgrade to a larger generator.
Panel looked like trash. I wish more electricians would take greater pride in there work. It’s always ram jam I know
Why don't American's have power 'cuts', only power outages?
He did not silicon around the exterior box, this is a code violation and will not pass a home inspection...
rain water can fall into the hole into the brick and cause issues...
A window with a window AC with a rubber strip and extension cords. No electrician needed. F. Miller
you telling people the wire in the beginning of the video
that you can use any wire coming out that was already there is and you can use any wire is kinda funny and a big fire concern some body out there is going to hook it up to a small wire that can only hold minimal amps and burn the house down haha and no wire holder on the box is a bad thing to
you have to really think on what your putting up on youtube
I've been wondering if you can couple something like this with solar panels. Would the generator provide the correct power frequency to allow a tie-in inverter to provide power and would that cause too much back-feed into the generator? Could you use a diode or something to prevent that back-feed to the generator?
for adding solar the correct way its basically a generator interlock with added steps. you need a transfer panel to transfer the loads off the main circuit breaker onto a separate breaker that is supplied by your solar setups inverter without a tie to ground like your main panel has. you would never want to have more than one power generator source working at once without the proper panels, switches and lockouts in place. Like he states in the video this lockout prevents power feeding back into the grid, or from the grid to the generator, the same principals apply with solar and gas generation working in tandem. with a lot of solar stuff its worth consulting an electrician. the main reason for this is solar systems arent really ground tie friendly since that creates a ground loop, and that can devastate a solar system. the dc system of solar has its own ground when connected with batteries, when you bring in the ground rod that is attached to your house it at best has some funky flutters in power, at worst burns out all your solar.
can you technically hookup a solar backup system in the same manner as a gas generator, yes in fact you can have your inverter hook up to a similar interlock like this. but if something goes wrong its more expensive to replace the solar equipment and batteries than a generator. everything also depends on local regulations, for the most part isolated solar circuts are treated in a way where if you wire it like a DC system like in a car or RV. when connected to something that is connected to a grid things get more complex.
if you want to run solar and a gas generator to power more stuff at once, get an electrician to setup your box so the solar is powering all the essentials like lights and fridge, sump pump etc on its transfer panel. and the generator runs its devices, say Air conditioning on another sub panel or if possible on its interlock of the main panel.
check out davidpoz, or Will Prowse while they aren't necessarily experts, both of them are decent at explaining solar systems.
@@antibodyarmy Thanks for the response, but you didn't really answer the question I was asking. If someone has a grid-tie system with a generator rather than batteries, when the power goes out, can the system be configured so that the solar produces power based on the frequencies that the generator produces?
This has nothing to do with the method of disconnection from the grid. We're past that obvious point (this can be done through a manual switchover, as shown in this video, or through a smart inverter system).
When someone setups up a grid-tie system with battery backup, it can be configured so that the panels generate power based on the battery-supplied frequency. The question is, can the same thing work with a generator?
@@dienekes4364 Should be able to. A generator depending on what type, should put out 60 hertz (+ - 5 hertz). Grid power is 60 hertz on the button. The frequency tolerance is 5% so 57-63hz is the range. You want to start with about 62hz at no load because it will drop a bit as the engine is loaded up.
Voltage is the same deal. If your generator has a voltage adjustment then set it for 125 volts at no load. It will drop some as the generator load is increased.
@@ShelbyvsViper Thanks!
Excellent video however my electrical panel is a Wadsworth panel and no one makes an interlock for that panel because is so old but during a power outage I have to turn off the main breaker and turn on my generator 2 pole breaker that back feeds my panel...when the power is restored I turn off my generator and generator breaker and turn back on the main breaker 👍🏿
I’m sure the lineman working outside love hearing this
I read another comment where they made there own interlock.
Or I would pull my meter out while the generator was connected.
Get some sheet metal and a metal cutting blade. Easy enough to make one
Nice, I’m planning to do this. Now I know how. Thanks
So tired of people showing videos about how to install the inlet outside the house that’s the easiest part the most important part is what gauge of wire do you use into your panel and how do you wire your panels so the power could come in I mean that is the most important part can we please get a video about that the rest of the shit is easy
It would fail inspection , no wire connection on box
Your PB30 box should have a connector for the wire coming through the back, and by code you are require to have that jacket sheating showing at least 1/4" in the box... you don't just "push them back in wall". The zip ties work as a hold down which is also a code requirement. Other than the terrible advice of pushing wires back into the wall looks like a compliant install👍
There is about an inch of space between the back of the connector and the wall so there is more than 1/4” of sheathing inside the box.
@@SSLFamilyDad : You are missing the point that Idcfg was trying to convey. The connector is required by code.
He is referring to the sheathing of the cable not the insulation on each individual conductor. Normally the hole would be offset from the generator plug in the box to allow the cable to enter using a connector and folding the conductors in the box to allow a stress free connection.
The box requires a connector. The outer sheating is required to have at least 1/4" in box. These are code requirements. If the knockout isn't in the best spot you make another one....
Glad to see a good video show the correct way to do this. To many videos show how to do it the wrong and dangerous way.
Very informative ... nice job
Metal plate for interlock is not a template, it is meant to be installed first then the sliding plate on top of it…
With this setup do you have to go outside on the mais and shut it off or does this bypass that?
So with this type of interlock how does it prevent main line power from feeding into your generator and damaging it once the power gets restored?
When you turn the main back on it forces the generator breaker off
The main breaker is off which stops the electricity from entering the breaker box. The interlock plate forces you to power down and switch off the generator breaker before opening the house up to the main line power.
@@SSLFamilyDad do know if this is to code in Canada?
You were supposed to leave the template behind the sliding plate.🤣
Your panel neutral is still connected to the outside. If there is a issue like power comes back on the neutral your generator will go boom or you have a short on your house with the generator power could be sent back via neutral to the plant and you could kill a power company line person. In other words you could backfeed neutral....
Not possible to back feed a neutral how you explain, especially when its bonded off to ground..
Many large back up generators are configured in basically the same fashion, the transfer switch interrupts only the hot conductors but the neutrals from generator and utility remain connected together along with the load neutral at all times.
Bought a firman 9400 but the breaker keeps tripping on the generator when I turn my breaker panel I dont understand why... everything is wired correctly
Something is shorting somewhere. Discount the generator, doesn’t still trip? Check your cables
That looks like a terrible product, no way I would use it.
Awesome video man! Thank you for also pointing out the disclaimers and warning for backfiring, many videos I have come across dont even mention it.
@gardenlifelove It will only backfire if you advance the timing too much. Also, watch your octane rating...
drilling into the mortar is a really bad idea, drill into the brick
I caution all the viewers here to make sure you are using the correct wire size and breakers for your application.
Those drop in your ear speakers that plug into your phone have wires that can carry 120v, but use them to power up anything more than a test meter at that voltage and expect the wires to rapidly heat to the point of melting the insulation off and catching fire.
Also, the wires need to be captured in the box or installed in piping/tubing to prevent accidentally pulling them out and exposing bare wire to people or flammable material like wood in the wall.
You can always go to a thicker gauge wire but you can limit it with a lower amperage breaker.
GREAT video,loved it Todd!!!!!ALWAYS good know!!!!!
Hi. I have G12KBN generator that has 30 and 50 amp outlets. 12,000 peak watts/ 9,500 rated watts (gasoline). Do i need to run 50 amp or 30 amp 240v to my house ?
I would run a 50amp wire and plug to get the most out of your generator
How much is this item? It never said how much it was in the commercial.
Thanks for the information. We were looking at a generator from Northern Tools. This is exactly what I was describing to my wife to backfeed the breaker box. Not extension cords.
buy ur self a auto changeover switch save u on all the drilling with no back feed at all
@@DJNITROALLY Good luck. A NEMA certified switch runs over $500. Then you better get an electrician to install it because you must transfer the Main coming from the pole or from your main 100A or 200A breaker, to the auto transfer switch, then from the transfer switch back to your panel, and you will still have to wire in your generator. Requires drilling, wiring, and a whole lot more work.
Better yet, adapt your lifestyle to do without any electricity at all.
I dont get it.... he spends lots of time showing drilling and other nonsense but misses explaining in detail the connections to the Main panel (at about @9':00", what is he talking about?) and also the wires connecting to the box outside.
There are 4 wires, black, red, white, and bare copper. 2 hits (black and red) one neutral (white) and a ground. Look at the panel and wire it just like all the rest of the breakers, the outlet literally has color markers to show you where to put the wires. Hope that helps!
Dryers are 20 amp and most generators are 30 amp. If you place a larger load on the dryer outlet you will heat the wires in the wall and catch the house on fire. If your insurance company finds the plug welded into the outlet they will not cover your loss.
@@crusherfang9368 Having worked in home construction all the outlets I saw were 20 amp. Can you provide a make and model of the dryer your speaking of?
@@crusherfang9368 In Mass and CT they were on 20 amp breakers, Thanks for the info
I only got 3 wires red black and ground does it still work
In Australia i have seen a REALLY good set up, the genset was a diesel generator about 20kva rather big with a battery backup system if the generator either failed or ran out of fuel, that way the house still had lighting.
But in Australia we are NOT allowed to touch our 240v wiring in our homes. Not only does it void your homeowners insurance but you can also be held fully accountable if something goes wrong and causes a fire or backfeeds into the grid and kills someone. Happened in my state a farmer used a generator to power his gear and ended up electrocuting a linesman as it was all dead their end (planned maintenance) they tested the line all good but less than half way working on the lines is when the farmer fired up the generator and well yeah farmer got sued.
Australians have safetied themselves out of freedom as made obvious in the aftermath of covid… I’d rather live a little dangerously than under a totalitarian government. It’s too bad. I feel for the true patriots that are left down there.
@@CoeGuthrie Damn straight! We should all have the freedumb to kill unsuspecting linemen. Their fault -- they should always be suspecting.
You and Mark Moss (also on UA-cam) sound alot alike. imo
What does a job like this coast? Generally?
Okkk where do those wires out of the wall come from,??
One time I did it by turning off the main and plugging and extension cord from my generator directly to a home outlet, and it works, is that also a right way?
Kind of, it would work but no 220v items like a well would work and only every other breaker
What are the wires that were coming out from your house from originally? Would this work on a regular outside outlet?
Cannot use a regular outlet, needs to be 4 wires, rated for the inlet box at 240 volts
I just do it the old fashioned way as I go out back and pull the meter off and hook up some wires and start the generator.
What do you mean by "pulling the meter off"?
@@sais9221 Remove it so no power can feed back
Go bigger now 50 amp with 12k watts generator 😁😁 AC can run
My setup:
Duromax 13000EH model-12500 watts
Reliance 50 amp inlet
Wire gauge 6/4
50 amp breaker and adding whole house surge protector.
And interlock
No more worry about outage and brownouts
Thanks for the good information!
Really bad safety interlock on breakers
I’ve actually written on my breaker box in marker which ones to turn on and which way is on. I did this cause sometimes my mom is alone at my house and I wanted very clear instructions right on the box.
Seems like a lot of work and expense when for about $12 or less you could buy and install a hasp on the loadcenter's door and padlock it when you're backfeeding from a generator.
This is not a DIY project!!
What if I have 30 Amp breaker for my AC on the upper right corner where I want to put the new 30 Amp generator breaker? And I have a spare block to put a breaker on bottom left corner. How would I rewire the AC breaker to the bottom left hand corner if the two hot wires arent long enough to reach bottom part of the panel from their current position in the the top right? I believe its a square D 100 or 150 AM panel. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.