[AT] Spam> OT - Transfer switch

Steve W. falcon at telenet.net
Fri May 22 11:45:02 PDT 2009


Mike Meulenberg wrote:
> Hi all, I am looking to have an electrician wire a manual transfer
> switch into our house so we can safely back feed our whole panel. I
> am not great with electrical so I was wondering if those on the list
> that are, could look at what this guy is proposing to see if it is a
> good and safe idea. Thanks, Mike
> 
> Here is what he is proposing:
> 
> I want to make sure I understand what you would like. If you want to
> back feed your panel, we would install an outdoor power inlet to
> which your generator would plug into, a 3-phase disconnect switch so
> we are able to disconnect the A and B phase and the neutral from the
> utility along with a 30amp circuit breaker which you would turn on
> and switch the new disconnect switch to the off position, when you
> experienced a loss of power.
> 

Not legal in most states. You have to have an interlock of some type
that prevents both systems from being on.
Either a double pole switch that is a break before make type
or a pair of breakers mounted so that when one is on the other has to be
off.

What you have to make sure of is that in NO possible way can you back
feed the power into the utility system.

For my generator I have an outside outlet. It comes into the main panel
and hooks to a breaker directly below the main breaker. I made a simple
sliding metal lockout that you push into place to allow the breaker to
throw fully on. Both breakers can be off at the same time but cannot be
ON at the same time.
With the lockout down the main breaker can be turned on and it blocks
the handle of the second breaker. Turn off the main, push the lockout UP
and now you can switch on the generator outlet.

http://www.interlockkit.com/intro2.htm
Shows where I "borrowed" the idea from.

-- 
Steve Williams



More information about the AT mailing list