Utility power indicator light

[nizak]

Looking for suggestions on setting up some type of indicator light that would show when utility power is on.

I have a customer who lives in a remote location without any neighbors, street lights, etc. It’s difficult for her to know when utility power has been restored.

She has a portable generator she uses with a load center interlock.



Is it code compliant to just tap off one leg ahead of the main breaker for 120V and put a indicator light next to the load center?

Thanks

 

[xformer]

IMHO, I would just install an led lamp next to panel. Also, since most meters are smart meters, one could also look at the smart meter.

 

[ptonsparky]

Our POCOs would set up yard lights on the meter pole at one time. It has gotten more expensive, but that may be an option.

 

[synchro]

It's not a light, but this audible alarm has been mentioned before on this forum:

https://reliancecontrols.com/produc...ack-utility-power-return-alert-white-thp108-2

 

[hillbilly1]

I had a bell with a switch that I would turn on when I switched to generator, it would go off when utility returned.

 

[ptonsparky]

As I understand the OPs post is that the customer turns Off her Main when the generator is used. Interlocked. She has no power to tap from unless they make a connection prior to the Service disconnect.

Better way would have been to have the Gen run only a small subpanel with the needed loads and leave the Main breaker on. Hindsight.

 

[winnie]

Any tap 'ahead of the main' needs to be itself suitable as service equipment; with suitable OCPD and the like. It certainly can be done.

I've used (only once) and like the reliance controls sensor described in post 4. Essentially it is a 'non-contact' voltage sensor built into a box with a loud buzzer. You wrap the sense wire around the outside of one of the mains cables; there is no galvanic connection to the mains conductor, just induction through the insulation.

-Jon