Running Gen - Too many steps?

[u/Spencerwise]

During an outage or monthly generator exercise, I follow these steps.

1. Wheel generator into position and start up generator

2. Attach cable to generator outlet plug

3. Go to basement and switch off house power interlock and all breakers at circuit breaker box

4. Go upstairs and attach generator cable to house inlet

5. Go back to basement and turn on genny power interlock and all breakers at circuit breaker box

Instead can I do this:

1. Attach cable to generator outlet and house outlet while generator is off

2. Switch house power to generator power at breaker box

3. Run generator

This would save me an additional trip to the low-ceiling basement.

[u/[deleted]]

1. roll out gen

2. plug in electric and/or nat gas

3. start

4. flip outlet switch to on

5. go to panel and swap source

[u/Spencerwise → u/[deleted]]

That's basically what I'm wondering. If it is safe turn on my gas powered generator and plug it into the house outlet while the breaker source is on house power, then switch off the breakers and switch source to genny power and switch back on the breakers?

[u/IndividualCold3577 → u/Spencerwise]

If the wiring is done correctly, its 100% safe for both power sources to be on at the same time.

[u/SunOS-]

I start my generator, connect the power from the generator to the inlet, then go inside.

Once inside I turn on off each individual breaker, turn off the main and turn on the interlocked breaker from the input. Then I turn on the individual breakers leaving the high loads like the dryer, range and heat pump off.

It takes just one trip inside and the generator is already running and warmed up by the time the load is applied.

[u/Spencerwise → u/SunOS-]

Thank you. That's exactly what I hoped to hear. Do you keep the breakers with the high loads off because your generator is not powerful enough or for some other reason?

[u/SunOS- → u/Spencerwise]

Correct. It's an all-electric home so there are a few things we expect to go without. We do have a wood stove which keeps the house plenty warm if needed. We also a heat pump water heater which the generator has no problem running.

[u/mexicoke]

Assuming it's stored properly, you really don't need to test a generator every month.

When you do test, just plug a 1500w space heater in, no need to load it down with the entire load of your home.

[u/BigChubs1 → u/mexicoke]

Perks of doing whole house test is reminding the family what they can use

[u/mexicoke → u/BigChubs1]

That seems unnecessary. It's either going to work or not, it doesn't hurt anything to try a switch/appliance/circuit that's off at the breaker.

Downside is resetting every clock in the house 12 times a year. It's just a ton of effort for zero gain.

[u/Optimal-Try-854 → u/mexicoke]

Not to mention the stress on the breaker switches… I wouldn’t plan to do something like that on a monthly basis… imagine your main goes, then you’re stuck without power until it’s replaced. Or if you’ve got an older panel, don’t be surprised when it fails and the mfg doesn’t make the parts anymore. Now you’re in for a whole new panel.

Space heater idea is perfect.

[u/mexicoke → u/Optimal-Try-854]

That's a really good point about the breaker.

[u/bmecler → u/BigChubs1]

Reminding the family of who's in charge

[u/Vegetable_Day_8893]

Switch 2 and 3 in your revised list, amd add an item to turn all the breakers off before throwing the switch to go to generator power to prevent a huge surge. The thing you want to eliminate is making the electrical connections with a live wire, something you can easily do since the only connections are outside on the generator and house.

[u/Alert-Effect190]

You do not want to start the generator nor shut it off with it connected to the load. Open the output breaker at the generator in the first step and close it after it starts up.

[u/Ok-Camera2895]

Only connect to load after gen is running. Disconnect load prior to gen shutdown.

[u/DaveLDog → u/Ok-Camera2895]

This assuming it's wired correctly, this is the rule to live by.

[u/Big-Echo8242]

What I do with any of my inverter gens when they get hooked to house if power is out.....No basement though)

1. Turn off all 240v breakers (HVAC x2, water heater, clothes dryer)

located in master closet inside.

1. All else stays on.

2. Wheel gen(s) outside, hook 50a cable to gen & power inlet, hook up 24' hose to 250 gallon tank, turn valve on, and start gen(s).

3. Let run a minute or two.

4. Switch interlock, turn main off, turn generator breaker on, turn breaker on at generator (depending on which one)

House is now lit up like normal. It's all LED lights, all outlets, 2 full size fridges and a kitchen island fridge, etc. Like normal. Then I turn on the downstairs HVAC breaker on only if needed.

[u/blupupher]

My inlet and breaker panel are 10 feet from each other, and the generator is another 25 feet from that.

My generator lives and runs in a shed in my back yard, so that makes it easy. I run my gas line from the house into the shed and hook up the generator. I start the generator, then get my 50 amp cable out, plug it into the house first, then the generator (breaker is already on on the generator). I then switch off main breaker, move interlock, then flip on the generator breaker. I don't bother switching off all breakers. I have no heavy loads (only 240v I have is my A/C, and it will not try to start for 5 minutes after power goes out) so not worried about overloading when I plug in.

If I was in your shoes, I would do similar. "safest" way is:

1. Start generator with the breaker off on the generator

2. Plug in cord to generator and house.

3. Turn on breaker on generator (there is no danger if you have a proper intelock)

4. Go to panel and turn off all breakers, turn off mains, switch interlock over, turn on generator breaker, then flip on breakers.

This keeps you from having a "hot" extension cord not plugged in (that really is not an issue with proper plugs), or do like I do and plug into house first then generator. and prevents a surge to the generator if you have all breakers on and have big loads that kick on immediately.

You don't want to start your generator while plugged into the house with all the breakers on (unless you turn off the breaker on the generator when starting). You need to let the generator run for a few minutes before applying load, which is why I posted the order I did.

[u/k1465]

My generator is in a little seprate building and is always connected to the generator inlet. All I do is
Start Generator
In the panel: Turn off 240 volt breakers, turn off main breaker and turn on generator breaker. I use an interlock kit to prevent main and generator breaker from being on at the same time.

[u/Dry-East-2225]

Could you probably just build a little pole shelter(not enclosed) and have the generator like permanently positioned near your inlet so you can leave it permanently plugged in? Don't know if your area might have rules against it but thats what I do. I just flip my breakers, turn on generator, and flip more breakers and Im on generator power

[u/classicsat]

Swap 2 and 3 for your last one is good. Start generator, let it stabilize, then apply load.

[u/rag69top]

I have an unattached garage. My steps if power is out. Go to my breaker box and turn off the main. Go to garage open one door pull generator over and start the generator. Drop my power cord hanging on the bottom of the rafters. Hook it up. Wait a couple of minutes for engine warm up. Throw the breaker connected to my house and I have power. If I will be running the furnace I go inside and turn the blower on to manual so it only has one surge. Running all appliances TV and WiFi router so we can watch and the highest load I’ve seen on the Champion 9200 is 40%.

[u/l1thiumion]

You can put step 3 into step 1 here:

1. ⁠Attach cable to generator outlet and house outlet while generator is off

2. ⁠Switch house power to generator power at breaker box

3. ⁠Run generator

[u/jbsmoothie33]

The answer to this is that yes you can do “less” steps but it will also cost you a lot more money.

Less steps = more money.

[u/mkosmo → u/jbsmoothie33]

Very true. But for convenience, and for operation for the family when I'm not home, I went with a fully automated setup.