goldstar
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I?m installing 10 and 14 KW Generac generators with whole house transfer switches rated at 200 amps. So far the houses where I?m installing have 150 amp services. The generators come shipped with the neutrals ?floating?. The transfer switch (circuit breaker) is rated at 200 amps. The xfer switch comes shipped with the neutrals bonded to the enclosure but with the ability to remove the bonding jumper and have them float.
Here are my questions :
1. Does the transfer switch (circuit breaker) now become the main circuit breaker for the house or should it act as a molded case disconnect switch only ?
2. Do the neutrals stay bonded to the enclosure in the transfer switch ?
3. Should the grounds be separated in the existing main breaker panel ?
4. Should the connection between the transfer switch and the existing breaker panel be changed to SER cable ?
Here?s my thinking :
1. Since the existing SE cable is rated for 150 amps, the 200 amp disconnect should act as a molded case disconnect switch only. If not, the entire service would have to be upgraded to 200 amps
2. The neutrals should float. They?ll be bonded at the main breaker panel and at the meter enclosure. The existing main breaker panel is less than 5? away (in terms of wire distance)
3. I don?t see why the grounds should be separated seeing as how that?s where the original bonding takes place
4. There?s no need to use SER cable seeing as how this is not considered a sub-panel. Relocating the existing SEU cable to the transfer switch cabinet
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks,
Phil
Here are my questions :
1. Does the transfer switch (circuit breaker) now become the main circuit breaker for the house or should it act as a molded case disconnect switch only ?
2. Do the neutrals stay bonded to the enclosure in the transfer switch ?
3. Should the grounds be separated in the existing main breaker panel ?
4. Should the connection between the transfer switch and the existing breaker panel be changed to SER cable ?
Here?s my thinking :
1. Since the existing SE cable is rated for 150 amps, the 200 amp disconnect should act as a molded case disconnect switch only. If not, the entire service would have to be upgraded to 200 amps
2. The neutrals should float. They?ll be bonded at the main breaker panel and at the meter enclosure. The existing main breaker panel is less than 5? away (in terms of wire distance)
3. I don?t see why the grounds should be separated seeing as how that?s where the original bonding takes place
4. There?s no need to use SER cable seeing as how this is not considered a sub-panel. Relocating the existing SEU cable to the transfer switch cabinet
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Thanks,
Phil