Favorite style of Generator-grid switching for residential

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electricmanscott said:
I just installed a Gen Tran 40 ckt 200 amp man breaker panel. It was really a Siemens panel with an interlock kit.

It was about $400.00 bucks! Yowee That was pricey. :cool:
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Hey is that the Generac panel?? My friend that I use for generators called me today and said he just got some brochures in on a new 40 circuit 200A generac panel that has a fully automatic transfer switch built in. He priced me one @ $275 and said generac will give you a $50 rebate check for each one you buy. Not all 40 spaces were served by the generator.


btw he also said it was listed for siemens breakers, "but homelines'll fit it." :D
 
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brantmacga said:
Hey is that the Generac panel?? My friend that I use for generators called me today and said he just got some brochures in on a new 40 circuit 200A generac panel that has a fully automatic transfer switch built in. He priced me one @ $275 and said generac will give you a $50 rebate check for each one you buy. Not all 40 spaces were served by the generator.


btw he also said it was listed for siemens breakers, "but homelines'll fit it." :D
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It might have been Generac.

I did read the same thing about the Homeline breakers with the panel I installed.

Give us some info on the panel you are talikng about. The price sounds too good to be true.
 
I'm going by his office either tomorrow or friday to get a brochure. I will report back w/ my findings.
 
GenReady Switch

GenReady Switch

The panel you are referring to is called the GenReady switch manufactured by Generac. This is a 200 amp 36 circuit panel with a split 125 amp bus allowing 18 circuits available for emergency back up power. The panel is fully automatic and should be available early 08. The cost will be around 250 without the transfer appliance and 500 with the switch installed. This will not include distribution breakers. The purpose of the panel without the switch is to allow contractors and builders to install the panel on new construction and give the end user the option to add a generator in the future.
 
electricmanscott said:
I could be wrong but I think that breaker interlock is not legal. It looks like you have to remove it in order to take the panel cover off. Someone could then power the generator without throwing the breaker.
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I tried one of those on time. It took a long time to line everything and drill all of the holes just to find out they sent me the wrong one. They were nice about sending another one, but wanted me to pay for it and postage back for the old one. Its still sitting on my desk!
Stick with the ones made for the panel by the manufacturer
 
okay i got the info guys. it is the genready by generac. you have 18 protected circuits, 10 non-protected (you lose a couple of spaces w/ the 125A breakers (included) installed to feed the bottom. has 200A main breaker installed. the panel w/o the transfer switch factory installed is $200, and you get a $25 rebate from generac. W/ the transfer switch installed it is $375 and the rebate is still $25. If you sell it w/ an air-cooled generator you get a $50 rebate, w/ a liquid cooled you get a $100 rebate. you can install up to a 30kw generator w/ this model. it is a fully automatic transfer switch; its a small automatic interlock installed in the panel.
 
interlock

interlock

electricmanscott said:
I could be wrong but I think that breaker interlock is not legal. It looks like you have to remove it in order to take the panel cover off. Someone could then power the generator without throwing the breaker.
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They are legal in California, (but not even required), you cannot permanently connect generator. Requires using something like an L1430 cord from generator to L1430 inlet box with cover, wired to main. Check with BOB (iwire) about grounding. It is IMO more idiot proof, and more versitile. ( can use any circuits in main with a 4000 watt generator, even a cook top or small dryer. May want to open some breakers when using high watt appliances, but the generator has it's own OCPD and will be backfeeding the main through a 30A breaker)
Please spare me the safety lecture, the legislature wrote it this way, so people would not freeze to death while waiting for a "competent" electrician. (during a power outage?)

"TURN OFF MAIN BREAKER. NEVER INSTALL A GENERATOR WITHOUT SOME FORM OF INTERLOCK DEVICE"

(NEVER DO THIS)
If you want to get technical (legal) about it; you can wire the cord to the backfeed breaker. Or plug into the dryer outlet. You ever thawed out a stiff? Got electrocuted?

California HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 119075-119090
119075. (a) The Legislature intends to prevent electricity
generated by permanent or portable electric generators from
backfeeding into a utility electrical distribution system by the
enactment of this chapter.
(b) Any portable electrical generator that is capable of being
connected temporarily to a customer's electrical system, that is
normally supplied by an electrical corporation or state or local
public agency, shall be connected only after opening the customer's
main switch so as to isolate the customer's electrical system from
that of the electrical corporation or state or local agency.
(c) Any electrical generator, other than a generator designed to
run in parallel with the system of the serving utility and approved
by that utility, that is capable of being permanently connected to a
customer's electrical system shall be connected only by means of a
double throw switch so as to isolate the customer's electrical system
from that of the electrical corporation or state or local agency.

119080. (a) Every manufacturer of a portable or permanent
electrical generator that is capable of being connected either
permanently or temporarily to a commercial, industrial, or
residential structure's electrical system, shall include a warning
statement in the generator's instruction manual and a legible warning
label on the generator that states the requirement of Section 119075
and explains the electrical hazards of backfeed into a utility's
distribution system. The same warning information shall be included
in all advertisements offering portable electric generators.
(b) No person or public agency shall sell, rent to another person
or public agency, or offer for sale or rent to another person or
public agency a portable electrical generator unless the legible
warning label is on a visible surface of the generator.

119085. (a) Every public utility or utility district shall notify
all electrical service customers of the electrical backfeed hazards
of portable and permanent electric generators.
(b) Any owner, renter, or lessee who possesses and operates an
electric generator, when the generator is connected to a commercial,
industrial, or residential structure's electrical system that is
connected to the service of a public utility or utility district,
shall notify the utility of the location of the generator.

119090. (a) Any person who violates Sections 119075 to 119085,
inclusive, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a fine of not
more than five hundred dollars ($500) or not more than six months'
imprisonment.
(b) For purposes of this section, "person" shall not include
public agencies, officers or employees of public agencies, or public
utilities.
 
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We install 10-20 generators per year-All generac. For the 7 and 13KW models we use the transfer switch with integral 8 or 12 circuit subpanel. For anything larger we do a subpanel w/ a transfer switch or for whole house systems a xfer switch w main breaker. If the customer has NG available we always recommend that, or if NG is not available we recommend a gas company that install LP tanks. We try to talk our customers out of using a portable generator with a manual switch-How many homeowners want to go out and start the generator often enough to keep the engine in good shape, or change the oil on it. Also, when do people typically lose power? Not on warm sunny days around here.
 
frogneck77 said:
How many homeowners want to go out and start the generator often enough to keep the engine in good shape, or change the oil on it.
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Is that important?
 
dwcaveney said:
Please spare me the safety lecture, the legislature wrote it this way, so people would not freeze to death while waiting for a "competent" electrician. (during a power outage?)
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Yeah well then ok...if the legislature wrote it...please, give me a break :rolleyes:

As for the rest of your post...HUH?
 
What don't you understand?

What don't you understand?

Living requires some risk. Risks are evaluated and rated by people who are in the position to do that work. I'm not one of those people, are you?

You stated that interlock devices are not legal. You are incorrect and 20 post to your statement have verified that.
Why don't you drop the subject and accept the fact that a person can make a mistake. It's not a felony to be wrong. If you want to change the law, talk to your elected official.

I have no hard feelings toward you and wish you success in your business.

:wink:
 
dwcaveney said:
1 You stated that interlock devices are not legal. You are incorrect and 20 post to your statement have verified that.


2 Why don't you drop the subject and accept the fact that a person can make a mistake. It's not a felony to be wrong. If you want to change the law, talk to your elected official.

3 I have no hard feelings toward you and wish you success in your business.
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1--I most certainly did NOT say that. I questioned the legality of the interlock device in question. I suggest you pay attention before calling somebody out.

2--I did drop the subject. If you did like I suggested and paid attention you would see that YOU brought up an old thread and I last posted in it on January 9

3--Wow. I'll sleep better tonight.
 
I've installed a few EmerGen panels. 30 amp. The techie HO's like them because they have two watt meters on them and look cool. They seem to work just fine to run a couple of circuits in emergencies. I also offer to change the oil and start them up once a year for 150 bucks. I put stabalizer in the gas tanks. Service call takes less than an hour. I drain the old gas and use it in my lawn mower.
 
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