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Message
Generator help and questions for a newb
Posted on 4/28/24 at 2:48 pm
Posted on 4/28/24 at 2:48 pm
I suppose I didn't know as much as I thought I did about what to ask for when I consulted with an electrician to put a transfer switch on my house.
Here is what I have: (1) Generac GP6500 portable generator with a four prong NEMA L14-30R female receptacle (in addition to two regular 120v receptacles) and a 30A breaker switch (2) on panel where power comes in to the house, a Generac gernerator interlock installed between the main circuit breaker to the house marked 200A and a dedicated 50A breaker marked "generator" - I think I'm using the correct terminology (3) Adjacent to the main power box, there is a box with a 125/250V 50A 3 prong male locking inlet - I'm trying to be as specific as I can because clearly I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.
Question is this - (1) I think this is compatible, correct? 30A breaker on the machine going into a 50A circuit to the house - again perhaps a stupid question. I read the manual and with regards to the cord, all it said was cord should be rated 250V and 30A or greater - I took that to mean 50A or 30A cord with appropriate adaptors would be ok (2) Assuming it is compatible, I am going to have to place an adaptor either with a female 3 prong locking end to go to the new inlet at the main box and a 4-prong male end to attach to the female end of a 4-prong 30A cord which then plugs into the machine with its 4-prong male end or a 4-prong male adaptor to plug into the machine with 3-prong end to plug into a 50A 4-prong extension cord. Which setup is best or does it matter? Or did I get the wrong thing installed on the house and have to call them back out to change it?
Thanks for any help. I know I can call and ask the electrician, but its easier for me to anonymously look stupid on the internet than profess my ignorance to people I know, lol.
Here is what I have: (1) Generac GP6500 portable generator with a four prong NEMA L14-30R female receptacle (in addition to two regular 120v receptacles) and a 30A breaker switch (2) on panel where power comes in to the house, a Generac gernerator interlock installed between the main circuit breaker to the house marked 200A and a dedicated 50A breaker marked "generator" - I think I'm using the correct terminology (3) Adjacent to the main power box, there is a box with a 125/250V 50A 3 prong male locking inlet - I'm trying to be as specific as I can because clearly I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.
Question is this - (1) I think this is compatible, correct? 30A breaker on the machine going into a 50A circuit to the house - again perhaps a stupid question. I read the manual and with regards to the cord, all it said was cord should be rated 250V and 30A or greater - I took that to mean 50A or 30A cord with appropriate adaptors would be ok (2) Assuming it is compatible, I am going to have to place an adaptor either with a female 3 prong locking end to go to the new inlet at the main box and a 4-prong male end to attach to the female end of a 4-prong 30A cord which then plugs into the machine with its 4-prong male end or a 4-prong male adaptor to plug into the machine with 3-prong end to plug into a 50A 4-prong extension cord. Which setup is best or does it matter? Or did I get the wrong thing installed on the house and have to call them back out to change it?
Thanks for any help. I know I can call and ask the electrician, but its easier for me to anonymously look stupid on the internet than profess my ignorance to people I know, lol.
Posted on 4/28/24 at 7:01 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
You can't run anything more than 30 amps to the receptacle at your panel. Your breaker can handle 50 amps but that receptacle isn't designed to handle that much load.
To hook up that generator to that receptacle, you'll need 4 prong cable plus an adapter such as this LINK. Make sure the cable is designed to handle at least 30 amps at 240 volts (7200 watts) or larger... the longer the cable, the larger it needs to be.
*not a pro so be sure to consult one if you're not 100% sure*
To hook up that generator to that receptacle, you'll need 4 prong cable plus an adapter such as this LINK. Make sure the cable is designed to handle at least 30 amps at 240 volts (7200 watts) or larger... the longer the cable, the larger it needs to be.
*not a pro so be sure to consult one if you're not 100% sure*
Posted on 4/28/24 at 8:37 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
You could cut the 4 prong plug off your cord and install a Reliance LL550C 50 Amp Generator Connector that plugs into this. The cord needs to be rated enough to handle the watts from your generator.
Amazon
I'm not an electrician but have been shocked multiple times
Proceed with caution
Amazon
I'm not an electrician but have been shocked multiple times
Proceed with caution
Posted on 4/28/24 at 8:51 pm to weadjust
I'm fine using an adapter, and there is even a cord that has the 50A three prong plus side ground on the female end (house inlet) and four prong twist-lock 30A on the male end (generator). Just making sure 30A rated 10 ga. is not a fire risk running from 30A source to 50A circuit - logic suggests to me it should not be, but that I'm not sure of. Those 30A cords are 10 ga. and 50A cords are 6 ga. - much more expensive, but more difficult to work with store, etc. Willing to pay if necessary, no need to spend the extra $$ if overkill.
Posted on 4/28/24 at 9:01 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
If your under 7500ish watts you should be fine
Posted on 4/28/24 at 10:23 pm to BigPapiDoesItAgain
Your source (generator) is only putting out 30A maximum and has its own breakers to protect itself.
You can use an adapter to plug the 30A source into the 50A inlet box without any issues. The 50A inlet breaker is sized to protect the wires in the house, not the source (generator). The generator will have its own protection.
Since you have the interlock, there is also not a risk of accidentally powering up the cord/inlet box from the service connection, which could send 50A to the 30A rated cord.
You can use an adapter to plug the 30A source into the 50A inlet box without any issues. The 50A inlet breaker is sized to protect the wires in the house, not the source (generator). The generator will have its own protection.
Since you have the interlock, there is also not a risk of accidentally powering up the cord/inlet box from the service connection, which could send 50A to the 30A rated cord.
Posted on 4/28/24 at 10:28 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
You can use an adapter to plug the 30A source into the 50A inlet box without any issues. The 50A inlet breaker is sized to protect the wires in the house, not the source (generator). The generator will have its own protection.
+1
It's not a big deal to utilize something that is oversized, like running 30A through a 50A receptacle. Where you'll run into problems is if something is undersized, like a cable or breaker. In that case you'd constantly trip the breaker or have to worry about melting that cable.
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