Mrlunchbox
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Lifetime Member
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2023 BX2380 loader/mower. Land Pride snow pusher, Kapteyn pallet forks
Generator Transfer Switch Setup, Better Late Than Never.
- Thread starter dlsmith
- Start date
Having seen the effects of using a breaker in this manner I can say this is not a good thing. Circuit breakers are not rated to handle a load from that end. I personally witnessed a genset trying to feed the local power grid when the breaker failed. Burned out an 8K generator. Check your codes.
If power backfed into the grid, the mains breaker was either not tripped off or defective. That is the reason for the interlock. I have a recep attached to the breaker box that has a UPS for my internet modem and switches plugged into it, if it is humming and beeping, no power is coming out of the mains.
I checked with a electrician friend, says he does these setups frequently, and that as long as the interlock is installed correctly, the wiring is the correct size and type and receptacle is an approved type, it meets local codes.
Non-GFCI circuit breakers don't care which side the load is attached to in an AC circuit, as the current flow reverses 120 times a second in a 60Hz system. They only care about when the current exceeds the trip threshold.
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I wish we could put them that close to the house here. Mine is sticking out 4' in the worst way. I have considered moving it another 25' just to have that drive space back. We have a 4' minimum to structure.
I just went by the manufacturers specifications. It’s unbelievable how quite it is. Exhaust fumes are barely noticeable standing right next to the exhaust outlet.
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I also had a manual transfer switch connected as well as the automatic one. If power is out for days or weeks on end, we can manually switch it off, move the manual switch, plug in the little Honda, or the motorhome genny, and turn on whatever breakers you need. Fantastic setup.
Looks like a very capable professional unit. The convenience when It’s suppling your home with backup power is important but the piece of mind when it’s not is awesome.
My house had one of those Generac's already installed when we bought it - that was a BIG plus when we were looking. I don't have a manual transfer though. When we have an extended outage (anything more than an hour or so, actually), I just run it a couple hours every day to fill buckets of water and keep the refrigerator and freezer cold, and we just do without the rest of the day.
I thought I would use the manual set up more. But although we have probably 5 outages a year, only one was for multiple days, and it really didn’t cost that much in fuel. I’ve manually switched it off and plugged in the Honda, made a dedicated cord, then have not used it since.
The best part of a propane fueled genny, the power doesn’t go out on a beautiful sunny day! Now during a cold snowy ice storm, about 2:30AM, surprise! The automatic switch is fantastic.
The best part of a propane fueled genny, the power doesn’t go out on a beautiful sunny day! Now during a cold snowy ice storm, about 2:30AM, surprise! The automatic switch is fantastic.
After having power interruptions too frequently my son in MD and I picked up 2 diesel gensets from a government auction at FT Meade.
They are MEP-003A's - oldies but goodies. Rated at 10kw, they came on new trailers and had been completely refurbed by the military (mine had .75hrs on the clock). It runs the whole house.
I picked up a new manual 400amp xfer switch on Ebay for <$200 (we have 400 amp service). I hung it myself but needed an electrician to wire it.
The problem I have is we are so far from the street / neighbors I can't tell when power comes back on. So in this pic I hooked up a 115v light to the street side and have a wifi camera watching it. Now I don't have to run downstairs every hour to see if power is on
I am working on an Arduino to monitor the whole thing (gen voltage, frequency, amp draw, and street voltage) to automate everything.
They are MEP-003A's - oldies but goodies. Rated at 10kw, they came on new trailers and had been completely refurbed by the military (mine had .75hrs on the clock). It runs the whole house.
I picked up a new manual 400amp xfer switch on Ebay for <$200 (we have 400 amp service). I hung it myself but needed an electrician to wire it.
The problem I have is we are so far from the street / neighbors I can't tell when power comes back on. So in this pic I hooked up a 115v light to the street side and have a wifi camera watching it. Now I don't have to run downstairs every hour to see if power is on
I am working on an Arduino to monitor the whole thing (gen voltage, frequency, amp draw, and street voltage) to automate everything.
That looks good! Awesome generator. That rascal should last for years. Do you keep it under-roof somehow?After having power interruptions too frequently my son in MD and I picked up 2 diesel gensets from a government auction at FT Meade.
They are MEP-003A's - oldies but goodies. Rated at 10kw, they came on new trailers and had been completely refurbed by the military (mine had .75hrs on the clock). It runs the whole house.
I picked up a new manual 400amp xfer switch on Ebay for <$200 (we have 400 amp service). I hung it myself but needed an electrician to wire it.
The problem I have is we are so far from the street / neighbors I can't tell when power comes back on. So in this pic I hooked up a 115v light to the street side and have a wifi camera watching it. Now I don't have to run downstairs every hour to see if power is on
View attachment 53546
View attachment 53547
It's in my garage, between two bays, by the doors. I have no permanent venting for it. The military has 2 20' SS flexible exhaust pipes they use (it's a 4 cylinder Onan air cooled). Two cylinders are tied together and vent separately. When we need it I just stretch them out on the gravel driveway pointing away from the door.
I sold the trailer it came on (can you say 'bad move'?) It tilted back and was brand new. It would have made a dandy firewood carrier.
My son has his outside still on his trailer. He has run up 500-600 hours on his. I'm around 150, 90 of which was a storm a few months ago.
They are built for the military. . . There is a youtube video of a guy running his at 14kw for over an hour.
That grey box on the left with the PVC conduit coming out of it, I added. There are 2 digital ammeters, one for each leg visible.
Have you talked to your power company about that?
Around here they offer them with the service. I do not know the cost but it installs at the meter.
torch
Well-known member
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B7100HSD, B2789, B2550, B4672, 48" cultivator, homemade FEL and Cab
Up here, you pay for everything yourself. The meter base, the wires, the poles or trench and conduit. Even the inspector. Nothing comes with the service, not even any service!
This is a device you can install that will give you an audible alarm when the power comes back on and you are on generator power.The problem I have is we are so far from the street / neighbors I can't tell when power comes back on. So in this pic I hooked up a 115v light to the street side and have a wifi camera watching it. Now I don't have to run downstairs every hour to see if power is on
What I had my electrician do once the shut off the main breaker slide thing was installed was wire up a light and switch in my basement and a outside light connected to the same basement light. I bought a outside light fixture. And those lights are wired to the on/off switch and the hot in comming power to the breaker. The power goes out. I snap the light switch on. Then do the slide thing shut off the main. Start the generator ect. I can see the outside light from my shop where I work. When light comes on. We got juice back. The electrion said that was the first time anyone had requested that And he would be adding that to his home also. No running out to stare at the meter box to see if the power is on.
About 10 years ago I installed an ASCO automatic transfer switch between the main disconnect and the lines going to the main breaker panel in the cellar. It uses a wire to the generator, a Lister Petter 4-cylinder diesel with 12 volts of electric starting. The generator has a control panel which has more features than I can remember, however, the most important one is how easy it was to set it up to automatically start and stop. I checked it every month by pulling the main disconnect from the power company lines to make sure that it started properly and also to exercise the generator. On time it didn't start, and not knowing how to diagnose the problem I called the company and they walked me through the process. At the end, they said that the switch was defective and to fax them a copy of the purchase. I did that the same day, and within 15 minutes of faxing it, they emailed me a confirmation and tracking number for the new switch less the outer case. They sent it overnight via UPS and the next morning I had it in my hands. It took about an hour to disconnect the cables and remove and replace the switch.
A friend that I know who is in the generator sales and service business in a nearby state told me where to send the defective switch to have it repaired. It costs $250 +- to have it professionally overhauled and returned. Now I keep that one near the transfer switch should its replacement go bad. I think that the transfer switch has an option for exercising the generator however, I never set that up. We have enough power outages that the generator gets plenty of exercise.
Being it is a diesel and when I ordered it I spec'd it with a block heater. When it arrived, I learned that it has automatically activated glow plugs and an intake heater to warm the intake air before cranking. I have only used the block heater once during an extremely cold snap. I have since learned that it isn't necessary to warm the block to start. When I get around to it, I am going to install an outlet that will only be activated when the temperature drops below zero degrees to plug the block heater into. It will also be set up with a time clock that will turn the heater on for 15 minutes per hour during the cold period.
I highly recommend the ASCO transfer switches, however, they are on the expensive side. Ten years ago I paid about $850 for the unit. I just checked the current price and it is $1739 for the identical switch!
A friend that I know who is in the generator sales and service business in a nearby state told me where to send the defective switch to have it repaired. It costs $250 +- to have it professionally overhauled and returned. Now I keep that one near the transfer switch should its replacement go bad. I think that the transfer switch has an option for exercising the generator however, I never set that up. We have enough power outages that the generator gets plenty of exercise.
Being it is a diesel and when I ordered it I spec'd it with a block heater. When it arrived, I learned that it has automatically activated glow plugs and an intake heater to warm the intake air before cranking. I have only used the block heater once during an extremely cold snap. I have since learned that it isn't necessary to warm the block to start. When I get around to it, I am going to install an outlet that will only be activated when the temperature drops below zero degrees to plug the block heater into. It will also be set up with a time clock that will turn the heater on for 15 minutes per hour during the cold period.
I highly recommend the ASCO transfer switches, however, they are on the expensive side. Ten years ago I paid about $850 for the unit. I just checked the current price and it is $1739 for the identical switch!