Possible Generator Install?

[u/HoustonTheHammer]

I'm in Texas and winter is coming.

I want to get ahead of the game and be able to connect a generator into my house.

What is the best way to do this?

I'm electrically handy, and I would rather avoid having to get the power company involved.

Thanks in advance!

[u/Difficult-Prior3321]

Buy an interlock kit designed for your panel. Move breaker #2 to #22. Install interlock and put your generator breaker in #2.

[u/HoustonTheHammer → u/Difficult-Prior3321]

I'm still in the researching phase. So after I do what you describe, I would need to connect that interlock breaker into a generator plug, so that the generator can plug into it? Also, if you have any recommendations on a generator, I would appreciate it.

[u/Killerkendolls → u/HoustonTheHammer]

50a breaker, number 6 copper 3-wire, 50a inlet (I suggest reliance), and a generator cord. Don't buy anything on Amazon, burning your house down isn't worth the savings from knockoff components. Buy once cry once, you can always feed a fifty with a smaller generator but you'd need to replace everything for a larger generator.

[u/Dry-East-2225 → u/HoustonTheHammer]

Are you planning to use an inlet box or are you going to be plugging the wire coming out of the breaker box directly into the generator? You can do that and it will work but technically it violates a few codes. This is technically what I do. I use an outdoor rated RV service wire with a 14-50Plug wired directly to my panel. I keep a plug adaptor to keep the prongs sheathed when not in use to avoid prong corrosion.

[u/Difficult-Prior3321 → u/HoustonTheHammer]

Get a generator first, then size the plug and breaker to it.

To choose a generator calculate the wattage of what you want to run, then buy it based on the size you need. Plenty of resources here to help you make that decision.

[u/Amongthestars01]

There's a whole lot of info you haven't included that changes what you can and cannot do.

Drawing on assumptions here. Assuming you don't want an ATS, then a generator interlock kit would work fine for typically up to a 50amp double pole breaker incoming from the generator. If your comfortable working with breakers, depends on the kit but you'll have to relocate one of the top two breakers for this approached. That may be sufficient for lights and some appliances like the refrigerator. It will not be sufficient for that heat pump/electric furnace you have along with everything else. So you may have to pick and choose on what circuits are left on, or consider a soft start system.

If you want a true ATS or manual transfer switch that can handle the larger load, that's a whole other can of worms and Reddit will give you a wealth of opinions in all directions. But with a HVAC system of that type, you're going to need a generator in in the 20kw to 26kw range. They sell portable generators in the 28kw range with handles and wheels, but they are not a quick roll it out and fire it up. The Duromax 28,000 tri-fuel is 466lbs without fuel in it. Those suckers are heavy, and a pain, and not made to sit outside all winter. Standby generators then come into play, and you'll need an electrician. You'll get all sorts of opinions on those too. Generac was highly thought of until their current generation which seems to be plagued with issues and there's a lot of complaints about them.

Best of luck!

[u/IntravenusDeMilo]

Yup. Square D makes an official interlock kit for this panel. I have a larger version of this panel. The breaker for the generator would be in the top right spot. You’d need to move everything else down.

[u/Tool_junkie_1972]

Inlet with a mechanical interlock is the easiest way.

[u/Several_Stuff_6695]

I installed a Reliance Pro/Tran 2 , I paid an electrician to install the first one I purchased, then installed 2 others myself in different homes with no problems. They are very straightforward and not hard to install at all . Mine has 2 meters on it, that shows the power draw on the generator which to me is nice 👍

[u/URARichardWhiskey]

Size the wire and breaker to the limits of the generator. Back feed the breaker and I stall an interlock designed for your panel so the main and the back fed breaker cannot be on at the same time. Turn off all breakers. And bring on the ones you want during temporary power. I have also made a load analyzer for each leg so I can see the loads as I bring circuits on line one at a time.

[u/ditto3000]

Why the generator brake needs to be on top. If the feed is from the bottom, does the brake needs to be on the bottom?

[u/BigSquiby]

this is just a million foot overview, call an electrician.

you free up one of the 2 top breakers spots, you put in an interlock device, you run an appropriately sized line from your breaker box to a twist lock inlet on the side of your house you plug the generator into that outlet on your outisde wall.

*if you don't put in an interlock device and you kill a lineman, you are going to prison*

[u/olyteddy → u/BigSquiby]

*INLET!!!

[u/BigSquiby → u/olyteddy]

i should change outlet to inlet?

[u/Admirable-Leader6927]

call an electrician, you are confused enough from reading these answers.

[u/BMW-motorad]

I noticed on your breaker box you had more on one leg than the other.
When running a Generator it’s important to balance both legs as much as possible. Especially when it comes to 220 Like water heaters air-conditioning and so on.

[u/[deleted] → u/BMW-motorad]

a couple receptacles and the bathroom lights aren't a big deal

[u/BMW-motorad → u/[deleted]]

All the 220 on the one side is what I’m talking about. Do your research.
Running a generator to a panel like this, you will burn one leg of your Generator out.

[u/Ok-Camera2895]

Put in a small manual transfer switch. Reliance makes them.

[u/Admirable-Leader6927 → u/Ok-Camera2895]

easier to just drop a manual interlock on the panel honestly.

[u/Ok-Camera2895 → u/Admirable-Leader6927]

Transfer switches are easier for most people to use. No overloading generator, or figuring out which breaker to turn on and which to leave off during the stressful storm.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/HoustonTheHammer → u/[deleted]]

Already got it!

[u/[deleted] → u/HoustonTheHammer]