The Transfer Switch Is In!

[crokett]

I installed the transfer switch today. I still need to test it on the generator, but the circuits I wired through it still work when it is set for line power. Next step is wheels on the generator.

[LCHIEN]

what kind of genset did you get? Watts, make, gasoline or nat gas or propane?

Never actually looked inside one, how is the transfer switch connected to the breaker box? I've seen just a plug on the transfer switch for the genset input, and do you disconnect the line power from your breaker and reconnect it into the transfer switch. Then run a jumper cable from the switch output to the input terminals on your breaker box?

[crokett]

Generator was free from my in-laws. It is gasoline, 5000W DeVilbiss. I am trying to talk my wife into letting me convert to propane since the tanks effectively last forever but a kit costs 150.00+. The generator is also a 3 wire (ground and neutral bonded) and transfer switch is 4 wire (separate neutral/ground). Since the house neutral/ground is already bonded at the main panel and you can't have the bond in two places I had to rewire the generator so ground/neutral are no longer bonded. If I ever want to use the 110 side to power a tool I will have to make a wrap plug to rebond.

There is a box outside that I plug the generator into. #10 wire (two hots, neutral, ground) then run to the transfer switch.

The transfer switch works by having the line side of the switch hooked to the breaker in the sub. The load to the house is then hooked to the load side in the switch. This is all done in-line. When the drywall repair is done all you will see is the sub and the transfer switch on the wall. When you want to use the generator you switch off the connection to the sub panel and switch on the connection to the generator. It is a separate switch for all 5 circuits (one is 220 - water pump). I suppose you could use it to power two 110s, you would just have to power them on and off together. The switch also has a meter so I can tell how many amps I am pulling.

[Hoover]

Will you be able to move the generator here and there with a propane hookup? If it is line plumbed it is for stationary purposes. What am I missing?

[LCHIEN]

The 20# propane tanks they say have the same energy as 5 gallons of gasoline.
You can store them forever, unlike gasoline.
but the tanks cost about $40, looks like, so it might be expensive if you use one, two or three a day. and getting them refilled under emergency situations might not be easy. Cost a small fortune in space and money to have a weeks worth lying around.
Gasoline might be more available and easily refillable with 5 gal tanks altho still diffcult to get.
If you go for all three - gasoline/propane and nat gas usually nat gas is stll available in hurricane situatoins and you won't need to go out and get it. Just have to have it plumbed to the generator. I think the conversion kits alow all three to be used. Did you consider natural gas?

How about security - keeping it in the garage between storms? What about security when its running? Chaining it to something?

[pierhogunn]

As for storing, Lowes has those 100# tanks for about $100, they have the same footprint as the 20# tank,I believe they are just much taller... so you could in essence build a trolley for 3 of them and have several days worth of fuel on hand and as mobile as your gen-set

I would like to have one of those 15KW Generac standby sets installed at the house and hooked up to the nat-gas line, but I haven't been able to make the cost/utility equation pay off yet enough for my CFO/CEO/SWMBO to okay the jump for purchase and installation.

[crokett]

Will you be able to move the generator here and there with a propane hookup? If it is line plumbed it is for stationary purposes. What am I missing?

I won't be able to move the generator here and there, at least not easily unless I use the 40lb tanks. However, I've had the generator 4 years and used it for portable power exactly once, so if I've gotten by without it this long I think I can in the future. Although part of that is it doesn't have wheels on it. It is commercial-grade - designed to sit on a truck or similar.