Are you sure it is disconnected, best to verify with a meter.A transfer switch is useful, I just pull the MAIN breaker to avoid any back feed down the lines for safety!
Breakers can fail closed or open circuit.
Are you sure it is disconnected, best to verify with a meter.A transfer switch is useful, I just pull the MAIN breaker to avoid any back feed down the lines for safety!
Are you sure it is disconnected, best to verify with a meter.
Breakers can fail closed or open circuit.
Your main breaker is bolted to the 240V mains on one side and the panel on the other. Lot of work to do that. An interlock is once and done.I completely remove the main from the breaker housing BP.
Is that safe?
I see a gap of several inches to prevent back feed.
Please let me know if I'm Afu!
Say what?I completely remove the main from the breaker housing BP.
Is that safe?
I see a gap of several inches to prevent back feed.
Please let me know if I'm Afu!
OK, yes, this will work. Cheap, too. But as you said, kids, don't try this at home. I see lots of houses where they have an outdoor plug for a generator wired to a backfed breaker too, but in addition to endangering the linesman who is out there trying to get your power back on this has it's own set of problems. If they forget to turn off the generator breaker after power comes back on that outdoor plug is now hot, and just waiting for some curious kid (or dimwitted adult) to come along and get themselves zapped.That setup works well, and is commonly referred to as "backfeeding" through a breaker. I don't even have the fancy receptacle. If I ever need my generator (still in the box at 5 years old) I'll simply run a cord from the generator directly to a breaker in my garage subpanel. (But I was an electrician off and on for a couple of decades. Don't try this at home.)
Just be absolutely sure to turn your main breaker OFF before plugging in and turning on your generator. If you don't, you'll be sending power down the power lines and quite possibly risking injury to those working to do repairs down the line.
So....
1) Turn the main breaker OFF.
2) Plug in the generator.
3) Make sure the breaker labeled generator is ON.
4) Crank that puppy up and enjoy electricity once again.
Do you have any experience with these? It seems very simple and economical compared to other options.
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I use an interlock similar to this, my panel is a 200A Westinghouse. You can buy these or make one yourself.
No way to have both utility and generator feeding the panel, avoids 'crossing the streams'.
View attachment 285123
Sounds nice. Could you post some photos of your set-up ?