Portable Generator Hookup Suggestions

[NolaTigaBait]

I'm looking to upgrade my neighbors panel to a 200 amp panel....he has an indoor panel right behing the meter...he wants me to wire him in some way to easily feed his house with a portable generator...any suggestions on how to do this?....safely

 

[ultramegabob]

generac makes a generator panel that you set next to the breaker panel you just plug a cord from the generator into it.

heres one by gen-tran...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94360

 

[hillbilly1]

Square D makes a kit for their products that converts a main breaker loadcenter to a mechanically interlocked transfer switch, takes some drilling of the cover, and the generator feed breaker has to be in the top two slots of the panel. has a sliding attachment that prevents the main and the generator breaker from being on at the same time. I think it was about $50 at some Lowes stores.

 

[ultramegabob]

i was just surfing around and found this....

http://www.interlockkit.com/intro2.htm

 

[ptonsparky]

i was just surfing around and found this....

http://www.interlockkit.com/intro2.htm

Pricey, as anyone tried them yet?

I use quite a bit of the generator accessories from Northerntool.com.

 

[NolaTigaBait]

yeah, i just realized northern tool sent a catalog...was looking through it and found alot of useful info...they have an outdoor enclosure with a male l14-30 recep. ready to go...and they sell pre-made cords...just need to get one of those manual transfer switches..thanks for the help

 

[hillbilly1]

Pricey, as anyone tried them yet?

I use quite a bit of the generator accessories from Northerntool.com.

Lowes is much cheaper on the Square D kit, looks like the same exact one. paid about $50 for one there, The only store that I've been able to find them at though is the one near their corporate headquarters in Wilkesboro, NC.

 

[Bob NH]

Pricey, as anyone tried them yet?

I have one installed on a QO panel. It works fine.

They are also available for Homeline panels.

They come with a template for drilling the front panel.

 

[LarryFine]

You can also use a Square D QO2DTI handle interlock to make your own generator sub-panel. It's the little interlock rocker that mounts onto one of a pair of breakers.

A few years ago, I did a 100a service fuse-to-breaker change-out, and used one to make his entire panel powerable by the genny or utility. Click the pic to see more:

 

[NolaTigaBait]

does anyone know if they make a transfer switch for a main breaker panel...mine is a 200 qo main breaker and i'd like to feed an enclose outside for my generator...does this item exist?

 

[SEO]

Look at hillbilly 1's posts. Depending on the age of your QO panel the linkage kit in his post may work. It has to be listed for your panel.