Pix for HorneTD: was DIY Transfer Switch

I went #5, an outside panel sounds potentialy dangerous and you cannot monitor the metersand why go outside in the rain.

For DIY prewired and labeled unless your an electrician and have a day. or more.

I know you want the best and have the cash but for 200$ my generac kit included the panel, 2 watt meters, all prewired, exterior box, sockets and extra plugs and cable to the gen. separate it would have been 400++.

I understand you want more than 12 circuits but if you consider what is realy needed and surge loads your gen really cant handle more than 4-6, although with monitoring it is what ever you want. Compare cost and instalation ease of 12 prewired complete with instal to a custom setup. A custom large set up will probably 4-6x more and not DIY . My 6 circuit complete instaled ready to run was 350$.

The best method is the one you decide on. My suggestion is that what ever you decide on you make it as pleasing as easy on the eye as posible looking toward selling your home.

Is your generator capable of powering the whole home? If not then why are you considering powering the whole panel?

1. outdoor stuff costs more, but might be easier to install.
2. do you have the room for this Both of these will require the meter to be pulled. Which around here means a permit and inspections.
3. I would not, you already have a panel installed.
4. depends on cost and space needed.
5. might consider this, no permit needed, all work inside service rated equipment not needed

It is not capable of powering the whole home if I want all bells and whistles, electric range, hot tub, electric heater in the kid's room, christmas lights etc.

It is capable of powering the whole house in economy mode, meaning without AC and with limited/alternating use of the range and hot tub.

So, I want a whole house switch to be able to decide which circuits to use and what not to use, given the limitations of the generator.

I have a furnace, lots of fluorescent lighting, computers on UPSes, network routers, TVs etc, all of which use little energy but need to be powered and are spread on numerous circuits. Also 2 refrigerators and one freezer, same story.

good point.

That's, really the question for knowledgeable people such as yourself and HorneTD. That's why I posted pictures.

Yep, I would dread this for certain reasons.

Yea, but I am also running out of spaces on the panel. Just an extra consideration. The proposed panel has many more slots (36 vs. 28)

I do not understand this remark. The lockout that I had in mind is a little plastic thingy with a combination lock, that goes over the main breaker.

Thanks for your insightful comments SQLit.

A transfer switch could be mounted right next to your meter. Install looks pretty easy. Only issue I see is the feed wires to your panel. Just how far is it to your breaker panel? You may have to pull new wires if your local inspectors won't allow splices.

It's ashamed that you have all those branch circuits coming out the top of your breaker box. If you didn't or they could be moved locating the switch right above your inside box would be the easiest and cheapest. Just shorten the conduit, stick in the switch, and add three short pieces of 2/0 wire and you are done. Good location logistically to. You start the genset, go to main panel and chose which breakers to leave on and throw the transfer.

You know better than that, or you wouldn't be here looking for answers.

Less flexible since you will have hard wire in your load choices.

Same as 5 ???

DIY ? talk to your local inspectors, if you ask they usually love to give advice, just don't mention #4!!!

Dave Whose slab is ready for the Genset, gotta find a crane company - bye

Unless The transfer switch contains the Service Over Current Protection it has to be located immediately adjacent to the Over Current Protective Device (OCPD) enclosure if it is located on the line or supply side of that protection. For most inspectors that means the two enclosures must be close nippled or nearly so.

You can certainly install an enclosed breaker or fused disconnect ahead of the transfer switch. Then it does not matter were the transfer switch is located, how long it's output feeder conductors are, or whether it is listed as "Suitable for Use as Service Equipment."

The utility has no say in the matter unless they function as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for the enforcement of the National Electric Code or it's local equivalent. The utility works under the rules contained in the National Electrical Safety Code. The enforcement of that code, if any, is usually in the hands of the Public Service Commission, Public Utilities Commission, or it's equivalent in your state. In the District of Columbia, for instance, it is called the Peoples Council. The utilities authority over the installation stops at the demarcation point which is were their wires stop and yours begin. The PUC/PSC sets the demarcation point. In many States the demarcation point for an overhead service is the splices between the service drop from the pole and the service entry conductors into the home. For an underground service it may be at a hand hole located at the property line, at the point the lateral is attached to the utility distribution, or at a splice box just inside the building. The demarcation point does not necessarily correspond to the meter location but the meters are usually controlled by the utility.

A cost effective alternative is to use an outdoor main breaker panel as your Service Equipment and add the generator interlock to that panel. Since the existing panel in your basement will be supplied from the new outdoor panel you will avoid any need to rewire the existing panel.

Those outdoor panels are available with feed through lugs off of the main buss bars that will feed the entire ampacity of the panel's main breaker to the panel they supply. Since that panel will be located outdoors the inlet for the generator cord can be close nippled to the panel's enclosure.

-- Tom H

Tom, can you please explain in a little more detail what configuration do you mean here. Thanks!

The link below is to a document that goes over the installation of the interlock kits in outdoor square D load centers.

-- Tom H

Thanks HorneTD. Thanks to your links etc, I found this "generator interlock kit":

Is that so? Can I use this kit?

thanks!

Ignoramus26155 wrote: > [I want to find the best solution to transferring power from utility > to the generator. I have an ITE/Gould panel, which is compatible with > Homeline, supposedly. >

That kit can only be used in Square D equipment. It cannot be installed in your ITE / Gould panel. That is why I suggested the installation of an outdoor SquareD panel with feed through lugs between the meter and the existing ITE / Gould panel. The power would come into the new SquareD panel from either the meter or the generator and it would get to the ITE / Gould panel from the feed through lugs in the SquareD panel. Loads like your air conditioners can be resupplied from breakers in the new SquareD panel thus freeing breaker spaces in the ITE / Gould panel for interior loads. This will avoid extensive rewiring of the ITE / Gould panel.

Please be advised that unless those SquareD Homeline breakers are labeled with a listing mark or packed with an insert from an electrical testing laboratory that permits there use in the ITE / Gould panel then you will be taking a risk in using them in your ITE / Gould panel. Only the breakers marked on the panels labeling or recognized for use with that panel by an electrical testing laboratory can be installed in it. Using other breakers that appear to fit can lead to failure or burn down of the panel. Once the buss bar attachment points become arc burned they will never take any breaker in that slot. Use the breakers that are tested for use with that panel.

-- Tom H