Well done presentation. One thing to add is that an interlock switch is all or nothing solution and the transfer switch allows for more options. With a transfer switch you don't have to wonder if the grid electricity has come back on either since only a few circuits are run through the transfer box. The un-switched circuits of your home will turn on when the grid comes up and you can go flip the switch and turn off your generator. And since your electrical system doesn't know what the power source is, instead of using a fossil fuel generator, you can plug in a solar generator and never have to go out in bad weather during a power outage. A transfer switch would also allow you to power select circuits through solar and reduce your energy bill while at the same time using grid power for some of your electrical needs. An interlock device is a cheap solution but it doesn't allow as many options as a transfer switch. ...just sayin'.
Interlock switch is not all or nothing. You can switch off the breakers in your breaker box that you don’t want on. You can choose the breakers that you want to be on or off and change anytime you want unlike a transfer switch that needs to be pre-assigned/wired the to “X” amount of breakers on the transfer switch box and those are the only breakers that can be switched on. Depending on the transfer switch box there are only a set amount of breakers in the transfer switch box that can be switched on unlike a interlock switch where all the breakers from your breaker box are available for your choosing to switch on (depending on the power of your generator).
I enjoy your presentation s. This is timely for me. I have the interlock config. I have an audible alarm kit installed on the grid line side so I will know when grid power is available. Important question. In your previous presentations you discussed bonded and floating neutral generators. Which applies here with the interlock kit? I noticed that the neutral was not discussed. I think perhaps a floating neutral will be required relative to the portable generator. If you or any experienced electricians watching could help clarify this, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you all.
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I was wondering the same thing. I am setting up a 50 amp with interlock. Was wondering what I need to do if anything. But I think that the bonded neutral is only used for the 20 amp gfci outlets on the generator. The 30 am and 50 amp plugs are not part of that system. So I think nothing needs to be done. But I could be wrong.
@retiredarmyvet2018 I am in this exact predicament. I think all the plugs are connected. I got was one of the unlucky recipients that got a reversed polarity 30amp receptical on my Bluetti AC200max. When testing this you plug a ground Neutral plug into one of the regular 15amp plugs and plug a 30amp adapter to regular plug into the 30amp receptical of the bluetti. Then plug in Klein Tools polarity tester and it says Reversed polarity at the 30amp receptical. It is using the 15amp plug as a reference to show this which wouldn't that mean they are all connected in some way? I know some eco flow deltas had reversed polarity at the 30amp receptical too.
The total generator capacity is usually not all available on the 240 volt outlet.A 5000 watt generator may only have a 20 amp 240volt outlet for example. The interlock receptacle on the outside of my house is 30amp but my 5000watt generator has a 20 amp 240 volt breaker.
Could you explain how the interlock kit works with a floating Neutral Solar Generator? Isn't the neutral and ground bonded at the main panel? If so this is safe right?
I have a portable floating neutral generator with Interlock kit at the house panel. Also have 50 amp outlet for generator to plug into which was professionally installed and has neutral and grounds connected to appropriate locations in breaker panel. Do I still need to ground the generator in this application or will the connected house ground suffice ?
I have 2 disconnect cabinets adjacent to the meter base (I think one feeds the barn, the other the house). Both have only the circuit breaker used for the disconnect switch, with no provision for any more breakers. In any case, the panels in the house do not have disconnects since those are outside by the meter base. I assume that means I cannot use an interlock kit. And I hate the idea of transfer switches. Are there any other options?
Your suggestion to turn on the main to see if power is restored is not convenient. A better option is reliance power back alarm which will beep as soon as utility power is restored. It’s better because it’s a passive solution vs an active solution.
Is it possible to have the grid power run certain high wattage appliances and also have my bluetti power station run other things under the 2000 watts that my bluetti can handle. Ki d of how my hybrid solar system works?
Nice informational video. Will the type of generator (gas VS battery) alter my decision on interlock VS transfer switch? Does one work better than the other if I’m using a battery back up generator?
You get an electrician to install a main breaker into the breaker box. That's what I am about to do. I want the interlock set up. My main breaker box is located in the garage and houses all my breakers. It does have a punchout labeled Main but it doesn't have one installed. My main breaker is out in the box below the utility meter. However I can have one also installed in my Main panel. The 200amp main breaker I bought off amazon with a 50amp double pole breaker for the Generator breaker for $104. It's Siemens brand. Electrician said he would charge me $500-700 for labor to do everything which is a good deal. I bought all the parts. He is installing everything. He will Install the 50amp inlet box 3 feet below my main panel. He will run 6/3 romex to the main panel. He will have to rearrange a bunch of the breakers in the main panel so he can put the 50amp double pole at the top right of my panel. He will install the 200amp main breaker right above the 50amp gen breaker. Then the left side of panel he will install a surge protector. Then he will install the Interlock kit. He will switch one of my 15amp breakers to a afci because all of my other breakers are afci except for one 15amp breaker which is odd? The original electrician who wired the home must have ran out of 15amp afci breakers and slapped a reg in idk. Then lastly he said he would fix the reverse polarity issue on my 30amp bluetti. All this for $500-700. Feel like that's good. He said if he was supplying parts too I would he looking at $1200 for everything. Said he could get it all done in 2.5hrs to 3hrs.
You didn’t cover bonded neutral vs floating neutral generators as it relates to use through an interlock and grounding scenarios. Based on your other video I’m assuming floating neutral generators used with an interlock should not be grounded?
If you are feeding power to your house using a portable generator through your breaker box be it using an interlock system or transfer switch, the portable generator should be a floating neutral generator. The exception is if you have a neutral switching transfer switch then the generator should be a bonded neutral. If you are powering your appliances through a portable generator using extension cords then the generator should be a bonded neutral. The difference is the breaker box is already neutral grounded and you don’t want two places to be neutral grounded so you want a floating neutral generator (neutral not grounded). Feeding your appliances directly through your generator, so none of your appliances are neutral grounded then the generator should be neutral grounded or bonded neutral.
Thank you for this video. I had an interlock system installed for my gas/propane generator for emergency, but now I have portable solar generators that they say you need a transfer switch. What can I do? I choose the interlock because I wanted to power certain areas to power like freezer, refrigerator, washer, etc.
I both a gas generator and a backup battery. You can use both with the interlock device. You simply plug your battery into the same inlet you plug your generator into. You get an RV adapter, 30A, that let's you run current from the 3 prong outlet on your battery to the cable you have for your gas gen to the inlet box on your wall and wahla, you've got power!
@@T4JQ3L I just had work done, and I can only use one at a time, it is either the battery or the gas/propane generator, I can't use both at the same time. Up switch is for battery, and down switch is for generator. I wish you would have answered my question earlier than this. I could have had the same set up. I am not having them do it all over. I have two Bluetti's AC300 and two B300 batteries for each. I still do not have it hooked up, because I need to have someone drill a hole for the mc4 cables from the basement to the outside. Not sure who I can get to do that. It is a slow process.
@@EliseGeiman correct. You can use both, but not simultaneously. I will use the generator during the day with a portable AC and to charge up battery. Then at night, unplug the noisy gen and lock it up, and plug in the quiet batteries when there's not much of a load. Plus, the battery is much more portable than the 200 pound gen. So, it's not a loss, you can use both, just not at the same time.
@@T4JQ3L Thank you for clarifying that for me. I am grateful that the wiring was done corrrectly. I was wondering how you could have both on at the same time, because they never mentioned that to me. the told me it was either gas/propane or Solar generator not both at the same
Everyone gives the same example of what can go wrong without an interlock. Might kill a lineman they say. What about the opposite example? With no interlock and power is on, someone sees a breaker off, the one for the generator, and turns it on because they think that all breakers should always be left on. This creates an energized male pins on the inlet. Which could kill a household member. Btw, I think that a generator main breaker would trip if it was trying to power the whole neighborhood so the chance that it would stay energized beyond a split second is rare.
Many states including California it is against the law to install Interlock. Transfer switch with critical load center or you pay a fine up to $5,000. Please, wannabe electricians, provide the public accurate information.
