How to Connect a Small Generator to Your House - Safe & Legal - Run Heat, Fridge & More! 

How quickly would you burn through fuel if operating off that generator?

Did you install the xfer panel yourself? My electrician is apprehensive to install the 120v version. I have a 120v Champion dual fuel 3400w unit being delivered this week, and I will be doing this setup, one way or the other. I found the version of this switch with a 30 A input (6-breaker) and will use it to take advantage of the available power. Just curious if you had push back from an electrician, or if this is just a Florida issue...

@J Lee as you remarked that your generator died, I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. First, what is the make/model of your generator? Second, what do you mean "died"? Did it seize up? Did it overheat? This is helpful info for those of us who may have to run a generator for a while (hopefully not to the extent that you did though). I live in Florida, and I hope I do not have to use mine for an extended period, but....hurricanes. I am trying to increase the life of this unit. I broke it in as suggested and am now using Royal Purple 30W synthetic (on the first oil change). I plan to change the oil every 50 hours or so. I think the key is to give them a break, change the oil, and don't overload them [including allowing plenty of air flow around them. I put a small fan on the unit's intake if it is hot]. I have a similar set up as Silver Cymbal as far as the panel goes. I have the 120V Pro/Tran2 6-circuit panel with a custom connector (50A TT). I can run dang near my whole house on this generator, obviously without the 240V units (A/C, Dryer, Pool pump, etc., as the genset is a 120V unit). I have a gas water heater and range, so that helps with current draw. Additionally, all of my lighting is LED, so I can run all that I need and still be comfortably under 50% capacity. I run the refrigerator, nearly all of the lights in my 1700 sq. ft home, the range, ceiling fans, box fans, the microwave, toasters, coffee pots, etc. Note that of all these mentioned, the microwave pulls the most (right at 1,000 W), and that is only used for short duration cooking needs. Heating elements, as you implied, pull a fair bit of power also, and if you are taxing your generator for hours on end, continually for months, I would imagine it would test your genset significantly. I don't know if yours comes with an ECO mode (such as with my set up), but I imagine that this will help immensely. Just curious, did you replace the unit?

Where I can buy the cord ? Exactly that one Thx

@@omarr7825 Right here amzn.to/2DDGXb8

You're right about the a/c issue. I bought a window a/c unit solely to be used for outages as you describe. I also have the same transfer switch, along with two EU2200's to use in parallel if needed. One usually does the trick, however, if we're careful.

Wow this is the awesomeness, electricity RULES , please, can this be done in an apartment, I'm thinking no , I have a breaker box in the bedroom, washer and dryer connections and water heaters on balcony in storage. Everytime a generac commercial comes on, I wish for the day the commercial says , now Apartments... All I care about is AC , Plan on buying smallest 500btu AC unit at walmart to put in my window, Been searching all type generators. But can a Switch panel be put in my apartment. ... thank you

Thats very cool. A little time getting prepared pays off big when you have an extended outage. Thank you for the kind comment!

Hi David, how long did you run your generator? We may need to run it during the night for the fans... Thank you.

How does it run before needing more gas?

@@ChillAndOutTheWay The HONDA eu2200i generators runs about8 hours on a tank of gas which is little less than 1 gallon. I have that set up. I only ru my eu2200i for 8 to 12 hours then shut it down to cool for an hour. I have other generators I run when one generator is cooling.

Literally just after the meter you need a transfer switch between the grid and the generator. Then from the chnage over switch go into the main breaker.

Is there an extension cord with a standard three prong plug for my small generator and on the other in four prong female plug to use 2 to or 4 circuit breakers on a 10th circuit manual transfer switch? I’m not finding the small 4 circuit manual transfer switch for outdoors in stock.

Do you have a link or directions on how to access your article?

@@Lauterbach24 Sorry but that was a long time ago and a few things have changed. Inverters are cheaper and there is merit in a solar panel system with a good battery for storage with an inexpensive 110 setup. But the jist of my article then was to only run your smaller generator a couple hours a day or less and use indoor/outdoor thermometers for your refrigerator and freezer so you know when the power is actually needed and not waste gas. Also use a couple 50 foot heavy duty extension cords so you can power two items at once or connect them together for something up to 100 feet away since the generator must remain outside. You can buy cheap(

You're welcome.

I really appreciate that so much! Thank you

Yes there is no need to run everything at same time.

see the honda generator forum hondagenerator.groups.io we cover all makes and models of generators. but the honda eu series is the best in class period. also we cover parallel and natural gas and propane conversion too.

Sorry you are having power issues, that can be super frustrating. I made an updated version of this video too showing a battery type generator but I show the transfer switch a bit more and that may be helpful and works with a gas generator too. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_-fc2gb1kmA.html

They are #12 and what they do is wire them for 20 amp capable but the breaker is 15 amp. Their feeling is that the circuit almost never draw 20 amp and in my experience it has been fine for me. When you are in the regular street power mode you use your regular 20amp breaker.

Good tip. I'd go one step further, when you hear it stumble move the choke to 1/2 way, it will use up even more fuel in the carb

And Stabil, Stabil, Stabil.

This works on more than just generators. I installed a fuel shutoff valve in the line on my snowblower which I turn off and let it run out when I'm done using it. Starts on the first or second pull no matter how cold it is out!

that's good advice for any small engine from generators to lawnmowers, pressure washers, weed eaters, etc. gasoline will set up gunk, gum, and crud in the tank, lines, and carburetor making starting hard or impossible. run them dry every time and you won't have these starting and running problems after they've set for a long time unused.it works for me.

Just so you are aware, almost all Honda style carburetors have fuel bowl drains on the bottom of the carburetor. If you just shut off the fuel valve, it will still leave a substantial amount of fuel in the carburetor bowl. You still have to drain the carburetor bowl if you really want to remove all the fuel from the carb. THEN after the bowl is 100% empty, put the choke on and give it 5-10 pulls. This will suck any residual fuel out of the small carb passages.

Very cool sounds like a nice setup. We lose power a lot over the winter so I spend time every year to be prepared but it pays off whenever we have along outage like last year. 5 days straight!

You might use the Honda as the plan B in case the Honeywell stop working by just run extension cords from Honda, with the limitations that fixtures and any 240v circuits won't work.

Thank you so much I really appreciate that and that the videos have been helpful. The Eu2200i is a great generator, you will love it. Thanks again!

Lol, I came here too because my power is currently out in Northern California

Amanda Simmons one of the best things I did was install a whole house generator here in northern NE. They are 3-5 thousand dollars installed. You don’t have to buy one that does everything in your house. Just the major things like heat and refrigerator etc. 8kw at my house does it all except the bedrooms. I sleep in the dark so I don’t need power there. When the power is out people drive by slowly wondering how we have power and cable etc. Just FYI. Check it out.

Us also here in Ranch Cucamonga Calif power outage

@@lissethgomez8594 thanks to the WIND

Pay the electricity bill then 😂

What is the adapter plugs that you have mentioned? Would you please mention its name? Then I can search for it. Thanks.

I have similar setup but with one 240 breaker. I wonder if the split would work for that circuit.y suspicion is it might work as the 240 is connect to an extension of the house and downstream devices are all 120volt only. True 240v devices even works will likely overload the generator anyway.

@@captainjayc9217 you need a 5-15 to L14-30 adapter. L14-30 side need to be female.

@@feng443 Thanks. I appreciate that.

That would be good info for those that dont know how these work.... They are full proof and you do not need to worry about back feeding the breaker box. You dont need to switch off any other breakers , or even switch off the main breaker. These mini box transfer switches are pretty cool and very safe for "electrically dumb" people to use.

@@bubbatime thanks man. Glad their full proof for a fool like me.

Thank you

Try ez gen one circuit they are about 90 bucks.

amzn.to/2DDGXb8 click on other sellers to order

Glad it was helpful!

Yes sir, but you would be better off with a generator that could produce 240 volts, unless fuel efficiency is part of your equation.

Yes I did. I selected my heat, fridge, a lighting circuit and on circuit for some outlets in a room

That would be nice, the EU7000is has the gauge but it doesn't show fuel but everything else at least. Maybe the next time.

Silver Cymbal I just ordered a 2200 from the local farm and fleet. They are running a sale so I should get $100 back in gift cards. So I can’t complain. Will pick it up tomorrow 👌👌

13 gauge at 50ft might be a little stretch at peak output nut should handle.normal load. It is better to put a 15Amp breaker on generator is 20AMP so 10 gauge should be safer. If cable is shorter than 50 feet, 10 gauge might be overkill.

Looked like there is a 6 circuit version available - Honda 32316-30216A1 transfer switch. Cheaper from another site than Amazon.

The way I do this on a 6-circuit transfer switch is I switch them all OFF in order, then go back and flip them from OFF to Generator (or OFF to Line) in the same order. That sort of guarantees a decent pause for each circuit.

@@elitebicycleracers Hi Alan. Yepp, good hint! My topic was related to extremely _slow timing_ on purpose. For sensitive equipment its better to have it five til ten seconds away from being powered (before switching it on to the other rail). Its just a note regarding the video. Some people are able to switch over very fast to the other rail possibly thinking they are doing any good to their equipment. (A small anecdote: I've a big mackie mixing console with modern switching power supply. Once i take it from the grid, i'm not able to switch it on without leaving a pause for - at least - two or three minutes. Otherwise it trips the fuse. Sure, this is a very special case, where this big power supply needs astonishing amount of time to return to its "null state" with its caps empty. Especially computer equipment with harddisks is sensitive too for such cases.)

Thank you. They cover this in the manual for the switch I list in the description. Most 20 amp circuits never draw the full 20 amp. One example is my heat it is on a 20 amp on the main breaker but how then do I do it on the transfer switch. That is because this switch is 15amp. You will never overload it because it will trip at 15amp before the 20amp. If you check their materials this explains more about it but this is common. Gentran may also have more info on their site.

@@SilverCymbal Awesome! The switch seems like a great purchase then. Do you know if the second 15 amp outlet on the Honda is a second dedicated circuit? I bought a single EZgen switch, and was thinking of connecting it to the lights upstairs, which is on a separate sub panel. Thanks again for all your info.

There are a damn sight better ways to spend $2600, than on 2 tiny generators. Hell, you could buy 2 Predator 9000w generators from harbor freight AND STILL have a grand left over for the switch panel install.

Wired together they only produce 120V power. They do not produce 220.

@@bubbatime *YOU* need to do some research

Technically almost all generators say they can not be run in the rain.. I try to put them under an overhang but sometimes you can't. You to have to use your own judgement and follow the manual and make your own decision.

Yes.

If you're referring to an L5-30 to L14-30 adapter, yes, there is such an animal. Look on Amazon.

I did find it on Amazon. Decided to go with a 15 amp inlet outside wired to its own dedicated outlet inside the house. This gets me generator power closer to refrigerator and living room; without having to use 75 feet extension cord to reach the same area. Thanks for responding.

@@Mykal2k8 Before I installed my transfer switch, I installed the Reliance WKPBN30 through-the-wall kit. This sounds similar to what you're describing. Glad you found something.

Yes, I installed it in about 30 minutes. They are prewired which makes them easier.

Start it with eco off let it run for couple min till it warms up then eco mode

Thanks for the reply. This is what I thought but I needed to be sure.

No they are called break before make switches which means they have a disconnect position in the middle so that can't happen. This is the only legal way to do a hookup like this that is safe. Interlocks are fine too but that's a different way entirely.

You can absolutely do that. Watch this video using my gas and a battery option for a few other ways: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_-fc2gb1kmA.html

@@SilverCymbal Thanks SC, good to know. I enjoyed your video. Keep up the good work. The one you suggest is exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you

No you don't. These don't work like that are are 100% safe. You can't backfeed, each switch is essentially it's own service disconnect.

see the honda generator forum hondagenerator.groups.io we cover all makes and models of generators. but the honda eu series is the best in class period. also we cover parallel and natural gas and propane conversion too.

Michael the transfer switch will not allow the power to go back to the grid. In the video he shows the transfer switch has a line, Gen, and off position. That keeps it from going back to the grid.

Gas furnace should work in most situations. Mine was on like a 15A circuit.

You don't say how many amps your fridges are, what horsepower your furnace motor is, or what you'd like to plug into your kitchen and living room outlets, but it is very unlikely that it will power the average hardwired 1/2 hp furnace motor AND two fridges at the same time, unless the fridges are quite small. I have two EU2200's and in parallel they will run my 1/2 hp furnace, my fridge, ceiling fans, outlets, without difficulty.

If you have a bigger generator that has a 30amp plug you might want to look into doing an inlet with an interlock system. I just did it to my house here in GA weeks before a storm came through and knocked out power. With my 6500 watt generator my family didnt realize that the power went out because 90% of the things we use were still on.

Boiler Heat - Fridge - Computer Closet (router, other gear) - Lighting circuit for kitchen witj a couple of outlets

Thank you very much!

see the honda generator forum hondagenerator.groups.io we cover all makes and models of generators. but the honda eu series is the best in class period. also we cover parallel and natural gas and propane conversion too.

Reg 87 octane gas

The 4 circuits are rerouted to the transfer switch first, then back to the panel. The transfer switch now determines where the power source will come from, the main or the generator.

That "off" you were referring to on the generator is the idle control switch. Its an inverter generator, it will idle down really low when the power use is low. When more power is needed, the engine accelerates and increases in speed, which makes more power. You can turn the idle control off if you want it to just run fast all the time, which is how he is running it in this video.

toobglued I have a quiet Predator 3500 120V generator that I would like to back feed into my house during power outages. I know I would need to get an interlock, and install an inlet box. My generator has a three prong twist type connector. How do you connect your 120v gen to the 50 amp recep.?

toobglued I can’t find info on others using a smaller 120v generator to back feed a house electrical panel without using a more expensive transfer switch. I just want to turn on a limited amount of selected circuits, like fridges, wall outlets for tv and internet, and lights.

Yes it ties right into my main panel. Installation is very easy with the style of panel. The panel is prewired and you only need to connect it to each of your 4 circuits that you want to power. These can be installed easily in 30 minutes to an hour.

@@SilverCymbal You are going to get the usual "it's totally illegal" because it has no way to prevent power from getting to the grid. Do you have an interlock on the main panel to prevent this? Personally, I have no problem with your set-up as I used to run a "suicide cord" and back fed my panel. But common sense is not so common.

You do not need an interlock with these panels as they do not allow backfeeding and meet all National Electric Code Article 702.6. This panel lets you completely isolated the circuit from your main panel so there can be no error that would allow backfeeding to happen.

@@SilverCymbal where can you buy this panel?

​@@deandufour6424 To purchase the updated version of this 4 circuit switch panel shown in the video click here amzn.to/2DDGXb8