Wiring Generator To A Dedicated Panel

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idealsolar

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Brentwood, Ca
The question was posed to me by a customer who had obviously been talking to others or the internet and who wanted to save the expense of upgrading his Mains. I had never considered this myself but from the dedicated panel he would like to have outlets installed next too or near his essential appliances so that he could just move the plug over when on generator power and move them back when the power is restored. Your thoughts please.
 
idealsolar said:
The question was posed to me by a customer who had obviously been talking to others or the internet and who wanted to save the expense of upgrading his Mains. I had never considered this myself but from the dedicated panel he would like to have outlets installed next too or near his essential appliances so that he could just move the plug over when on generator power and move them back when the power is restored. Your thoughts please.
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RU kidding? Never heard of such thing, What cheaper, essentially you are talking another complete or mostly complete added wireing of home. What would you charge to install a 100A service, wireing of home, breakers (don't forget AFCI,GFCI), x number of feet 12awg, 14awg,10awg, devices, lighting fixtures, etc. Along with gen package and ATS. Vs same Gen package and ATS, rewire for mains and separate neutral and grounds?
 
Agree with the others.

Perfectly legal to install a 'parallel' system as long as you follow all relevant codes. Your customer would spend $$$$$ and save the $$ of a transfer switch.

Probably cheaper to buy a used RV and move into it for the duration of the power outage :)

Jon
 
Probably the dumbest thing I ever heard. How would additional wiring, duplicate receptacles and a separate generator panel be cheaper than the normal options for connecting an emergency generator?

If he has an old panel where an interlock won't work, there are always those panels with breakers and switches that you swing your essential circuits over to and back to the existing panel.

-Hal
 
I'm old so maybe my mind is playing tricks on me.o_O

I'm going to tear up my house for new wiring so I can now roll out my fridge, freezer, range, among others, and switch plugs around.

Please tell me I have misinterpreted the OP.
 
Ok so here in the situation. He has an older 'all in one' main, full, and has circuits he considers essential. then he has 2 sub-panels also with essential circuits in each. There would be allot of work to get all essential circuits into a manual transfer switch and creating space in the mains for a back feed breaker.
LOL to the comment about rolling out appliances, some people have more time than money. Around here an all in one with permits will run $3600 and with the fires may take weeks to get scheduled.
 
What generator source is he looking to have, a permanent gen with ATS, or run a portable with plug in? With what you are saying he wants and all the "issues" he has with not wanting to run new service wire maybe consider a meter interlock. He keeps most everything he has exactly as is. He just selectively chooses circuit to be powered by turning on or off individual circuits.
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Fred B said:
What generator source is he looking to have, a permanent gen with ATS, or run a portable with plug in? With what you are saying he wants and all the "issues" he has with not wanting to run new service wire maybe consider a meter interlock. He keeps most everything he has exactly as is. He just selectively chooses circuit to be powered by turning on or off individual circuits.
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As far as I know these are not allowed in PG&E area or maybe all of California.
 
I've installed scores of 100a SquareD QO subpanels that contain standard QO breakers to feed the circuits the HO wants to have on a genny.

Install two 2-pole breakers with a QO2DTI on them. One breaker is back-fed from the main panel, the other breaker is back-fed from the genny.

I don't think I've charged more than $2k for the total install (14-30 inlet & wiring included).
 
idealsolar said:
As far as I know these are not allowed in PG&E area or maybe all of California.
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That's interesting. Our local POCO sent a memo around after the remnants of Laura wandered up our area and said this is the device they prefer their customers use if they are employing roll-up generators.
 
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