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Generator Transfer switch??

BigAl

BigAl

Gone But Not Forgotten
I need one for my new generator . I do not want a automatic one as there will be times the house is vacant and I do not want the power coming on .
I have 12000 watts . Is there a one style/brand that you like over another ??
 
There are several, as I'm sure you know, and each electrician I've spoken with prefers a different brand. :hammer:

I'm going to go with a fully auto switch on a 40k standby generator. I'm even going to do the unthinkable; I'm actually going to hire all the wiring done by an electrician and have it inspected. :eek:
 
Al, I've used several Square D manual transfer switches. Built like a tank, never a problem.

Jim
 
Dargo said:
There are several, as I'm sure you know, and each electrician I've spoken with prefers a different brand. :hammer:
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Now you mention it, Cutler-Hammer makes good stuff too. It's a nice beige, might be prettier in your home than industrial gray! :poke:

Jim
 
Al, this has been an ongoing project of mine for a while. I think that I'm going to bite the bullet soon.

The easiest one that I've found is made by "Gen-link". I think that's how you spell it. I think Northern Tool has started carrying them or your utility company may install it. It fits behind and becomes part of your meter and you plug your generator power cord directly in to it. It acts as a transfer switch and stops backfeeding the power lines. You don't need a load center as you use the the breakers in the box in your home to turn circuits off and on. In theory that gives you the option to run everything in your home although you will have to manage the loads. I believe it usually comes with a 30 amp plug-in receptical although it may come with a 50 amp too. Your 12K generator may be a little on the big side for it and it does have compatibility issues with some generators depending on how they are set up.

It's the easiest one that I've found to use that doesn't limit you to the number of circuits that you can power without going the "whole house" route.
 
bczoom said:
ETF - I believe you're referring to generlink.
http://www.generlink.com/about_generlink.cfm
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200379219_200379219

I considered one myself but:
a) they're pricey
b) I'd be constrained to putting my generator near my meter which is a place I'd rather not put it.
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You're right on both counts.

It is pricey but you don't need a whole lot of additional wiring and load center to make it work. In my particular circumstances, the meter is located away from the house and within about 30 feet of the natural gas line coming into the house, at the back of my shop. So, in my particular case it's a viable option ... if I ever get round to doing it. Like so many things associated with generators, it all depends on your particular circumstances.
 
Al, are you looking to transfer the whole house? Or are you looking to provide power to just certain things that will be in their own sub-panel?
 
Al if your wanting to be a tight ass like me a cheap way to power up certain critical circuts when you are gone is switch off what you don't need when you are gone how ever 12 k should run your whole house unless you have a mansion
 
OhioTC18 said:
Al, are you looking to transfer the whole house? Or are you looking to provide power to just certain things that will be in their own sub-panel?
Click to expand...

I plan to power up the whole house . Everything is LPG gas except 1- 220 volt oven that I do not need to use .
We lose power a lot in Idaho on the Ranch ,so I want to do this right .
 
BigAl said:
I plan to power up the whole house .
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OK, that makes it easier, in a way. A few manufacturers make a box that replaces your meter box with a meter box/transfer combination. The Generator can be wired into that and then you flip the switch manually when needed. There are some indoor units that do the same thing.
 
bczoom said:
Or electric heat.

I have a 15KW (22.5 KW peak) and it won't start my heat pump.
Click to expand...
yes i forgot the rest of the world uses every thing except fuel oil to heat with electric heat does use a lot of power here once you pay fuel sir chargse it equates to to about 80 cents per kwh i stay away from electric if i can
 
dds said:
Al if your wanting to be a tight ass like me a cheap way to power up certain critical circuts when you are gone is switch off what you don't need when you are gone how ever 12 k should run your whole house unless you have a mansion
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Hmm, I don't have a mansion, but two different electricians sized me at a 40k to 50k standby unit if I want to run my whole house. I have a 10k portable and it does well running things plugged into extension cords, but it wouldn't have a hope of starting any of my A/C units let alone all 4 of them.
 
Dargo said:
Hmm, I don't have a mansion, but two different electricians sized me at a 40k to 50k standby unit if I want to run my whole house. I have a 10k portable and it does well running things plugged into extension cords, but it wouldn't have a hope of starting any of my A/C units let alone all 4 of them.
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I hate to break it to you Dargo, but if you have 4 A/C units . . . you have a mansion. ;)
 
PBinWA said:
I hate to break it to you Dargo, but if you have 4 A/C units . . . you have a mansion. ;)
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But I ain't gots no big columns out front and I am the gardener! Besides, one of the A/C units is for the guest house and I don't have A/C in either barn yet! Besides, I even had a college professor tell me that I was stupid. I can't name him because Bob will know exactly who I am talking about and I will get in trouble posting that in 1984 he proclaimed himself as "wealthy" since he had some sort of tenure and made $30k a year then.
 
Nope , I don't own a mansion . This house is our smallest one of about 1300 sq. ft . I have almost the whole house on LPG where I can . No AC so thats a huge load we will not need .

If it works out I may set up another separate system up on the Barn/ Shop/Apartment of the same size .
 
A big one, like this. And when you do throw it, you can scream "It's alive!"
 

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That is pretty much what I have without the lock. An alternative would be an outdoor rated 200 amp disconnect on the incoming power. Piggy back another breaker in the same box for the generator feed to the house. You can throw a lock on the box.
 
Dargo said:
But I ain't gots no big columns out front and I am the gardener! Besides, one of the A/C units is for the guest house and I don't have A/C in either barn yet! Besides, I even had a college professor tell me that I was stupid. I can't name him because Bob will know exactly who I am talking about and I will get in trouble posting that in 1984 he proclaimed himself as "wealthy" since he had some sort of tenure and made $30k a year then.
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If you have a guest house . . . you have a mansion. :pat:

:poke:

We have a gardener too - he's cheap foreign labour(<-hint) from just across the border. In fact he's also the nanny and handyman too.
 
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