Generator Hook-Up

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jwood72

Member
Location
Tavares, Florida
I have someone that has an equipment yard. He wants to have a back up gen option to power a piece of equipment. Right now the normal power is going from the panel to a post where a PVC j-box is. From the j-box the power is then ran to the piece of equipment. He wants to install a male receptacle above the j-box and connect the equipment to the receptacle. Inside the j-box the normal power feed would terminate to a female plug that would be pluged into the receptacle to feed the equipment. If normal power was lost, he could then unplug it and plug in a portable generator. Is there any code issues to this application? or does he need to install a manual transfer switch instead?
 
It seems to me that this would be the use of flexible cord as a substitute for permanent wiring, a violation of 400.8(1). I think this installation does require a manual transfer switch.
 
jwood72 said:
That is what I suggested, but the one wanting it done cheap didn't beleive me.
Click to expand...

And when confronted with people like that I always have to ask myself why they even called me in the first place - seems they already know how to do whatever it is they want done. I usually end up trying to inform them I am busy and can't promise when I can get it done. Sometimes it works and they get someone else or do it themselves. Usually wanting to do it my way is expensive enough they lose interest in having me do it anyway.
 
jwood72 said:
That is what I suggested, but the one wanting it done cheap didn't beleive me.
Click to expand...
Didn't believe you or was just pushing back some to see if you were serious? Sometimes sticking to your guns can win the customer over, if you do it in a nice way-

"Do you really want some cobbled up plug, unplug, re-plug set up? Really? Of course not. Who wants that? Nobody. Well not me anyway. I don't think you do either. With a transfer switch....."
 
jwood72 said:
I have someone that has an equipment yard. He wants to have a back up gen option to power a piece of equipment. Right now the normal power is going from the panel to a post where a PVC j-box is. From the j-box the power is then ran to the piece of equipment. He wants to install a male receptacle above the j-box and connect the equipment to the receptacle. Inside the j-box the normal power feed would terminate to a female plug that would be pluged into the receptacle to feed the equipment. If normal power was lost, he could then unplug it and plug in a portable generator. Is there any code issues to this application? or does he need to install a manual transfer switch instead?
Click to expand...

If he is going to have cords and plugs regardless of whether or not it complies with art 400, why not just a receptacle for the equipment and when generator is needed plug the equipment directly into a receptacle on the generator?


If there will not be cord and plug to the equipment, then transfer switch is pretty much only option that is safe and reliable.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top