Generator Interlock for 400 amp residential

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Sberry said:
One of my regrets about my own setup is that I went to 400 cause "I could" and the main reason I wish I didnt,, probably could have made it on 200 and would have made gen power a lot easier.
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The fix to this is to put all of the generator loads in one panel.
 
There are two separate neutral topics being discussed here: bonding and paralleling.

1. Bonding; a generator's neutral should not be bonded when supplying a load whose neutral is bonded, but it should be bonded otherwise.

2. Paralleling; the two neutral conductors of a single inlet supplying two panels will inadvertently be interconnecting the two neutral buses.
 
LarryFine said:
There are two separate neutral topics being discussed here: bonding and paralleling.

1. Bonding; a generator's neutral should not be bonded when supplying a load whose neutral is bonded, but it should be bonded otherwise.

2. Paralleling; the two neutral conductors of a single inlet supplying two panels will inadvertently be interconnecting the two neutral buses.
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And we want to avoid connecting the two neutral busses twice, correct? They are connected thru the meter enclosure already.
 
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What if you only connected the neutral at one panel?

On second thought, that wouldn't be compliant
 
Joethemechanic said:
What if you only connected the neutral at one panel?

On second thought, that wouldn't be compliant
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And have the current go back through the service entrance neutral conductor from the one 200 amp panel then into the second 200 amp panel then back on the generator feed neutral? I bet it would work but I’m sure its a violation.
 
Ryancbell121 said:
And have the current go back through the service entrance neutral conductor from the one 200 amp panel then into the second 200 amp panel then back on the generator feed neutral? I bet it would work but I’m sure its a violation.
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Yeah no parallel path, but you would have a circuit with conductors in different cables/raceways/conduits
 
Another thing we have noticed is that these 320/400 amp services seldom calculate out to more than 200 amps of load on the Standard/Optional calc method, if it is a normal house.

So, abandon one 200A disco, run that existing 200A feed to a 125A breaker on the bus bar of the other 200A feed which is usually in the same can in California, and use a single transfer switch (or in your case interlock) to feed the whole mess, thus downgrading it to 200A but so what, it still works as intended.
 
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