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Message
Hooking Up Generator to House
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:03 am
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:03 am
I'm going to be purchasing a 50A portable generator for the house. I want to have a plug-in installed on the house with an interlock kit on the 2x panels in the garage to act as the transfer switch.
An electrician stopped by and told me that the service power feeds each of my panels individually and I would need a plug-in for each panel and 2x generators. This threw me for a loop as I thought the panels were tied together and fed by a single feed.
I was hoping to have 1x plug in and turn off all the breakers and flip on what I needed. I would need to toggle between heavy draw items like the well pump and pool pump, etc.
To do what he said, was $2000 for parts/install. This seem right?
Is it typical that each panel in a house is fed individually?
An electrician stopped by and told me that the service power feeds each of my panels individually and I would need a plug-in for each panel and 2x generators. This threw me for a loop as I thought the panels were tied together and fed by a single feed.
I was hoping to have 1x plug in and turn off all the breakers and flip on what I needed. I would need to toggle between heavy draw items like the well pump and pool pump, etc.
To do what he said, was $2000 for parts/install. This seem right?
Is it typical that each panel in a house is fed individually?
7
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:18 am to jp4lsu
this doesnt sound right, you should have one, and only one, main service disconnect breaker to trip to kill all power coming into the house going to everything. you should also turn off all the 220v breakers before connecting generator power to your homes electrical grid.
what i did was buy a big heavy 12g 50ft extension cord then i cut it in half and added 3 more male plug ends. that way i can just plug them into both feeds from generator and plug them into any outlet in the house in order to power the whole house.
the only key is you will need to find one outlet that is for each side of the power in the panel so that everything will work in the whole house.
you cannot run anything other then 110v, so its just for refrigerators, lights, fans, and any big appliances like washing machines and central a/c need to be left off and not used. we do run a small window a/c but it requires we shut it off to run the microwave so it doesnt trip the breaker on generator.
i used to just have a 220v breaker connected to the cord to plug in as needed but i got tired of taking the breaker panel cover off to do that.
my breaker panel is in the garage near where i set up the generator so thats how i have it set up
what i did was buy a big heavy 12g 50ft extension cord then i cut it in half and added 3 more male plug ends. that way i can just plug them into both feeds from generator and plug them into any outlet in the house in order to power the whole house.
the only key is you will need to find one outlet that is for each side of the power in the panel so that everything will work in the whole house.
you cannot run anything other then 110v, so its just for refrigerators, lights, fans, and any big appliances like washing machines and central a/c need to be left off and not used. we do run a small window a/c but it requires we shut it off to run the microwave so it doesnt trip the breaker on generator.
i used to just have a 220v breaker connected to the cord to plug in as needed but i got tired of taking the breaker panel cover off to do that.
my breaker panel is in the garage near where i set up the generator so thats how i have it set up
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 9:23 am
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:22 am to jp4lsu
It seems strange that you would have 2 separate service power feeds. Do you pay 2 separate bills?
I have a 50 amp breaker installed for the back-feed outlet and an interlock system. I actually finally got my natural gas hose in and tested the whole system for the first time yesterday. The install of the back-feed outlet, interlock, and breaker was like 1200 bucks. I had to move some breakers around and to a subpanel to make it work though (sub-panel already existed next to the main panel).
I have a 50 amp breaker installed for the back-feed outlet and an interlock system. I actually finally got my natural gas hose in and tested the whole system for the first time yesterday. The install of the back-feed outlet, interlock, and breaker was like 1200 bucks. I had to move some breakers around and to a subpanel to make it work though (sub-panel already existed next to the main panel).
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:28 am to keakar
So on each of the 2x panels in the garage, there is a a 200A breaker at the bottom of each panel. This leads me to think the electrician is correct.
I guess I could flip the 200A breaker on one panel and see of there is still power going to the other panel to confirm.
Correct on the 220v. I would turn all that off. I would need the water well, which the 50A can run. I would have to maybe turn some stuff off when I need to fill my pressure tank.
I guess I could flip the 200A breaker on one panel and see of there is still power going to the other panel to confirm.
Correct on the 220v. I would turn all that off. I would need the water well, which the 50A can run. I would have to maybe turn some stuff off when I need to fill my pressure tank.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:31 am to Jon A thon
Jon A thon, looking at your price of your install, I guess my guy isn't that far off, since he would be installing 2x plug-ins and 2x interlocks and 2 pairs of 50A breakers.
I have an inground propane tank and I would like to get a stub connect for the generator where it enters the house....you have any ball park on what that would cost?
Also, generator did you get?
I have an inground propane tank and I would like to get a stub connect for the generator where it enters the house....you have any ball park on what that would cost?
Also, generator did you get?
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:37 am to jp4lsu
2 separate power feeds doesnt sound right...also price seems off, had one installed for $625 about a month ago.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 9:42 am to jp4lsu
could you move some connections around so that all the ones you really need are on one panel and you only need to power that one?
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 9:43 am
Posted on 11/10/21 at 10:02 am to jp4lsu
So, if you only have one meter.....seems to me that powering one panel may also provide power to the other seeing as they have to branch off from a common line at the meter. But at the same time, that throws a wrench in the system when dealing with the disconnect because you have to ensure power from the main is isolated before hooking up the generator. So I guess disconnects would have to be placed on both panels, thereby breaking the circuit that connects them. Just seems strange to me. I'm no expert and have only researched my own situation, but I would think one is just a sub panel off the other, but then it probably wouldn't have 2x 200 amp main breakers.
I already had a natural gas line that came out on my patio for a BBQ pit from the previous owner. I just made sure to swap it all out to 3/4" piping for max flow. Was very easy to do myself. Just shut off the gas at the main, and made up the connections and tested with soapy water. I would assume that you can shut off the propane at the main tank, then tee off at where the line enters the house and put in a quick connect with a shut off valve to isolate that line when not in use. Probably $25 for all the parts needed.
I already had a natural gas line that came out on my patio for a BBQ pit from the previous owner. I just made sure to swap it all out to 3/4" piping for max flow. Was very easy to do myself. Just shut off the gas at the main, and made up the connections and tested with soapy water. I would assume that you can shut off the propane at the main tank, then tee off at where the line enters the house and put in a quick connect with a shut off valve to isolate that line when not in use. Probably $25 for all the parts needed.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 10:32 am to jp4lsu
Its possible the lugs on the meter are double tapped, thus providing power to the two separate panels.
In this case you would need a service entrance rated transfer switch to power both panels.
In this case you would need a service entrance rated transfer switch to power both panels.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 10:36 am to jp4lsu
quote:
So on each of the 2x panels in the garage, there is a a 200A breaker at the bottom of each panel.
wait so you have 400 amps power to your house??????
that must be a big damn house and yes if thats what you have then you need more then one portable generator for that or you need to isolate a section of the house that has your refrigerator and then figure out which of the 2 panels thats on. then do as i said for that panel and you will have what you need for basic power needs and if need be, a second portable generator to connect just for the second panel.
all that said i think you need to have a serious talk with an electrician to figure out the best way to go with this because you need to be sure its safe and mistake proof. it also needs to be easy enough to trun on and off for even your wife or kids to turn on or off if you arent there.
but it sounds to me like you need a whole house generator for your home rather then trying to do something with just a portable generator, but it is possible if planned out correctly
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 10:40 am
Posted on 11/10/21 at 12:41 pm to Hermit Crab
Hermit, good point and I had discussed that with him. They would charge $300 to move my pool pump breaker to the other panel. If I do that do a couple moves like that, I'll be right back to $2000. But if I only had 1 generator I wouldn't be flip flopping between plugs when I need to run the pool or well.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 12:45 pm to Jon A thon
Thanks Jon A thon....I need to see what size my supply line is going into the house.
Is your supply coming into the house 3/4"
I need to confirm what mine is....so I need 3/4" supply line to run a generator?
My tank is in-ground, that won't be cheap if I have to swap that out.
Is your supply coming into the house 3/4"
I need to confirm what mine is....so I need 3/4" supply line to run a generator?
My tank is in-ground, that won't be cheap if I have to swap that out.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 12:50 pm to keakar
Keakar, I confirmed that each panel as a 200amp breaker at the bottom of each panel.
My house is not that big, 3450 sqft. So my well adds to that, septic pump, I had a couple 240v outlets added when we built.
I'm still thinking about moving a few things to one panel so I could make do with a plug on one panel....but they charge a good bit to that as well.
I would love to get a whole house generator. Probably would need 24kw to do it. But with the 2 panels, that too is an extra cost for an auto transfer switch for 400A. I'm seeing $2500 for that alone, plus $6000 on the generator and Install fee is no telling.
My house is not that big, 3450 sqft. So my well adds to that, septic pump, I had a couple 240v outlets added when we built.
I'm still thinking about moving a few things to one panel so I could make do with a plug on one panel....but they charge a good bit to that as well.
I would love to get a whole house generator. Probably would need 24kw to do it. But with the 2 panels, that too is an extra cost for an auto transfer switch for 400A. I'm seeing $2500 for that alone, plus $6000 on the generator and Install fee is no telling.
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 11/10/21 at 1:27 pm to jp4lsu
A picture of your service and panels would help tremendously.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 1:46 pm to jp4lsu
My supply line is 1". It goes up into my attic and necks down to 3/4 inch just before it's routed down my kitchen wall. The outside connection is just tee'd off the kitchen line. You want the biggest you can get. For instance I was able to directly hook my 11kw generator to the gas outlet and it ran fine. I received my 25' flexible hose so that I can move the generator further from the house and it wouldn't run due to the pressure drop in that extra 25'. I had to fiddle with the regulator and I basically have it at it's max right now to get it to run.....but it works. If you are planning to run a big generator, 1/2" probably won't cut it.
But as I finish this thought, propane may be a bit easier since it's at higher pressure than natural gas if I understand correctly. that makes a difference.
But as I finish this thought, propane may be a bit easier since it's at higher pressure than natural gas if I understand correctly. that makes a difference.
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 7:11 pm
Posted on 11/10/21 at 2:12 pm to JusTrollin
quote:
Its possible the lugs on the meter are double tapped, thus providing power to the two separate panels.
In this case you would need a service entrance rated transfer switch to power both panels.
You either have this setup, or one of your panels has pass-through lugs which connects the other panel as another main. I believe pass through lugs are still tripped by the main breaker, so should be easy to determine.
If your meter lugs are going to two individual panels, you can get a transfer switch that goes between the meter and the panels. Or even just another main panel. Run your sub panels into it on 100A breakers, run your main feed into a 200A breaker, then add the gen inlet, interlock, and a 50A breaker.
You’d have to convert the two “main panels” into sub-panels, but that may not be too difficult.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 3:51 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
You either have this setup, or one of your panels has pass-through lugs which connects the other panel as another main. I believe pass through lugs are still tripped by the main breaker, so should be easy to determine.
How could I determine if the 1st panel is passing thru to the 2nd panel?
The electrician was confident that they were powered separately and I would need a plug for each. I'd like to confirm this.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:02 pm to jp4lsu
This is a simple schematic of how feed through lugs would work. Ultimately, you’d be able to turn the main off in one of the panels, and it would kill the other panel as well.
If your panels stay live independent of each other, you must have a two feeds coming off your meter. I’d expect you to have a single service disconnect though since it would be unusual to have two separate main breakers. Could be a dangerous situation.
You still have options, and could even make it where one inlet kit for generator feeds everything. But it will require a little more work and rearranging of your system. It would probably be money better spent though so you could power the home from a single point with a single generator.
If your panels stay live independent of each other, you must have a two feeds coming off your meter. I’d expect you to have a single service disconnect though since it would be unusual to have two separate main breakers. Could be a dangerous situation.
You still have options, and could even make it where one inlet kit for generator feeds everything. But it will require a little more work and rearranging of your system. It would probably be money better spent though so you could power the home from a single point with a single generator.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:24 pm to LSUtigerME
I also have a 400 amp service and two panels, but there are two breakers outside in the panel below my meter that shuts each panel. We had the option of two 200 amp or one 400 amp transfer switch. It ended up cheaper to go with two 200 amp transfer switches. All my ac units inside and out are on the 2nd panel.
For what you are doing, I would try as hard as possible to only power one panel.
For what you are doing, I would try as hard as possible to only power one panel.
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:30 pm to keakar
quote:
this doesnt sound right, you should have one, and only one, main service disconnect breaker to trip to kill all power coming into the house going to everything. you should also turn off all the 220v breakers before connecting generator power to your homes electrical grid.
what i did was buy a big heavy 12g 50ft extension cord then i cut it in half and added 3 more male plug ends. that way i can just plug them into both feeds from generator and plug them into any outlet in the house in order to power the whole house.
the only key is you will need to find one outlet that is for each side of the power in the panel so that everything will work in the whole house.
you cannot run anything other then 110v, so its just for refrigerators, lights, fans, and any big appliances like washing machines and central a/c need to be left off and not used. we do run a small window a/c but it requires we shut it off to run the microwave so it doesnt trip the breaker on generator.
i used to just have a 220v breaker connected to the cord to plug in as needed but i got tired of taking the breaker panel cover off to do that.
my breaker panel is in the garage near where i set up the generator so thats how i have it set up
This is not the answer.
If op can post pictures of the service I can tell him what he needs. $2000 sounds extremely high IMO
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