slide interlock up exposing the on position of the generator breaker - turn generator breaker on.At the breaker box turn off all the breakers.Attach extension cord to the home power inlet box with an inward push and a gentle clockwise turn.Attach generator extension cord to the generator with an inward push and gentle clockwise turn.Start generator and ensure normal operating speed.Place generator 15 feet from your home - with the exhaust pointing away from open windows and doors.Time to load test! Write down these instructions and put them in your breaker box. You are responsible for any code violations, permits or awesome good stuff that comes from doing a project like this. In my place of residence home owners are allowed to do their own electrical work if it is up to code. Electrical codes vary from place to place. After much consulting and over sight from a licensed 25 year Master Electrician I believe these instructions to be correct and accurate for my jurisdiction. We can turn on overhead lights, wash clothes and keep our food cold, charge our phones, run the internet and much more.all while keeping our doors and windows closed and no tripping on extension cords!ĭisclaimer: I am not an electrician. The breaker interlock system has come in very handy for us. My wife did an unassisted dry run in under 5 min - which included getting the generator out of the building. In this setup you use a breaker to energize your existing breaker box. It is National Electric Code compliant and is in my opinion the least expensive and most flexible option. They typically only cover a few breakers which was problematic for me. They are less expensive than the automatic transfer switches (Starting around $300) and can be used with a portable generator. Manual transfer sub panel switches are good option. These are awesome - but very expensive and require a full time dedicated standby generator. Automatic transfer switches will sense a power loss, start your standby generator and automatically move your load to the generator. Each has varying degrees of complexity, benefits and expense. There are three main types: automatic, manual transfer sub panel and a breaker interlock. A generator transfer switch is the legal and proper way to power your home with an emergency generator. I decided then and there I would find a better way. ![]() ![]() I had to run a sump pump to keep my basement dry, a refrigerator, freezer for food preservation, a portable AC unit in the living room to protect my infant, we charged phones, and ran the wifi router. It was 100 degrees during the day with periods of heavy rain. In June of 2012 my family experienced a 10 day power outage. (Maybe you have a cool charcoal powered or a multi-fuel generator.) However many fail to think through how exactly they will power the items they want to run when the grid is down. A generator is a core component to many people's emergency preparedness plans.
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