Affordable Generator Setup: Transfer Switch and Generator Inlet detailed install

[@durangarc]

This is the best explanation I've seen. Like seeing and hearing what the pros are thinking!

[@GainSolarPower]

Thank you I’m hoping to get 1.4 million views like hometown acres

[@davidcummings9328]

Enjoy your videos. I have Been installing a solark for last 2 months on the weekends On my own home.. Had a federal panel and did not realize that it was a fire Hazzard at first. Had an electrician friend replace and move my panel...Wish I had found you videos sooner like the details. . Sure would of saved me time. Always enjoy your perspective. Thanks. Have a blessed year.

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanks for watching

[@matthewsteurrys1083]

This is the best explanation of a sub panel/generator plug transfer switch install I have seen.

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanks you pleas like and subscribe and just watch the video over and over again !! Jk.

[@GainSolarPower]

Thank you very much. It is always risky to put yourself out these but I want people to know how to do this. 200000 people lost power this weekend.

[@PEPMP]

Awesome video presentation and education for public! Thank you

[@jruggle]

Great video. I am learning the solar part from you as I worked as electrician for many years. But I also learned that the neutrals for each circuit did not need to be moved from main panel. I am old but still learn something every day!

[@GainSolarPower]

So I’ve definitely argued with some electricians about this but I’ve never found anything in the code that is against it and the reliance transfer switch’s come UL listed like this

[@fabianpollio3260]

@@GainSolarPower great video. I'm installing a 12Kw split phase inverter and i wanted to do some thing like this, transfer switch and sub panel but the inverter feeds both panels, the inverter will be an emergency only power source for the house, it will be only an off grid when the power goes off. my question is, do i have to separate the neutrals from the utily company and from my inverter or can both neutrals be connected all the time. I don't want back feed issues for my inverter if there is a surge with the utility company. thank you

[@neilbrookins8428]

That’s a nice hole cutter. Great install and looks safe. I like that inlet design a lot better than the one I got both for the cover can be closed while in use and the angle of the plug is easy to see. Only thing I’d do differently is unbond the generator. Your design sends 50% of the neutral current down the ground wire between the generator and the inlet. That ground wire is not designed for current in normal use. Ground should only carry fault current. But other than that a great install. If your generator’s 30 amp socket was a gfci it would trip instantly because the power is unbalanced due to ground current. But that generator doesn’t have gfci on that socket so you can get away with that fault.

[@robertlane6675]

I installed a Reliance transfer panel for my dad. I was happy to see the build quality on the panel was decent and that it used normal breakers. He only has a 120 volt generator so I combined both hots. If you have a gas furnace and no well this option works pretty good.

[@GainSolarPower]

Glad you got your dad some backup power!

[@godelrt]

Is it ok to combine both hots?

[@robertlane6675]

@@godelrt Yes it is, but of course turns the panel into a 120 volt only. I called Reliance and they also gave the ok.

[@BrianLeeWho]

Johnny, I like your videos over Scott’s (Engineer775) videos. He’s ok, but he just gives overviews of what he’s doing-seldom the why, what or how explanation. You always take the time to go over the details. Great videos.

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanks I’ll make sure to let him know! I’m trying to get 1.4 million views like hometown acres

[@matthewwright8216]

I have to agree. Johnny's videos in general have more details sprinkled in thru them. This video in specific was very well done from an informative point of view. I totally understand Scotts style as most video watchers do not need the full detail. Prospective clients probably just like to see the over view. Too much detail can be overwhelming. The diy community which is much smaller (specifically solar related community) would benefit from more detailed videos probably do not generate a great revenue stream vs less hands in clients. I am more hands on person and have learned a lot from Johnny's videos. I am fortunate to be located about 50 miles from Gainesville. And will try to get johnny out this way for a few key details on my system.

[@GainSolarPower]

@@matthewwright8216what kind of install are you doing?

[@matthewwright8216]

@@GainSolarPower hello Johnny I contacted you maybe almost 3 months back. You were super quick getting back to me. And very helpful with your responses. I had somethings I needed to get ready on my end. I will try to contact you later today to update you on the situation. And maybe I can get on your schedule.

[@engineer775]

Thanks a lot.Johhny shared this with me to ruin my day. Thanks.

[@zachlast4888]

honest question here the diagram @ 19:10, why install a sub panel? if you have 100 amp service and a 100 amp transfer switch, Instead why not have the grid power come into the transfer switch then the other "on" position will be the generator input. all that's needed is to kill the breakers in the original panel box that you don't want powered.

[@GainSolarPower]

Your are right but this is a 200a service e

[@LTVoyager]

Yes, the interlock does require some additional load management, but it is far less expensive and gives far more flexibility if you decide you need to run a lighting circuit somewhere in the house or energize an outlet circuit temporarily. It is easy to place stickers on the panel breakers for the normal generator loads and teach someone to turn off all of the breakers before attaching the generator and activating the interlock and generator breaker and then turn on just those with a colored sticker beside them. These simple instructions can be placed on a small placard in the panel. Easy, inexpensive and gives far more flexibility.

[@condor5635]

Totally agree. Have no idea why you would put all the equipment in for no additional benefit.

[@wcholla1391]

This video was priceless, I just finished mine yesterday!

[@GainSolarPower]

Glad it helped

[@kevinvanderlei3271]

Great video! Thank you very much for the time you put into making the video!

[@godelrt]

Such a good video.. with a line diagram wow! Thank you for taking your time to go into so much detail!

[@mister-action1]

I did a short cut by installing a double pole breaker in the box that sends power from my generator. I make sure to turn off the main before starting my generator. Then turn double breaker off and unplug generator after the power comes back on. Then turn main back on. I did not know how to do it your way until watching this video. Thank you I will change it the way you explained. ASAP.

[@pryda1]

You should install an interlock in your panel so the generator breaker can not be on when the main breaker is on. They cost about $20 and are very easy to install.

[@mister-action1]

@pryda1 Yes, I remember. Mine has been hooked up like this for 24 years. But Thank you!

[@LTVoyager]

That looked like a twist and lock plug, but I didn’t see you twist and lock it when connecting it and the index mark you put on the plug seemed to line up still after it was inserted rather than being off a little when locked.

[@RobertYonng]

On this setup the generator would have to be floating neutral correct? Spence the neutrals are feed though all hooked together.

[@elmera9472]

Question on the last part of the video where you have a drawing of the layout. If i have a portable generator that has two 50 amp plugs with a max running watts of 20,000, could i install a transfer switch such as this install with a 50 amp inlet and subpanel, while at the same time install an interlock on the main panel with ANOTHER 50 amp inlet to feed the main panel? That way i can utilize all the power available from the generator using both 50 amp plugs? Is this at all possible? Thank you in advance for your time!

[@tedjohnson64]

Nice video! I’m surprised the service panel is only 100 amps, I thought most homes built in the last 30 years had 200 amp service panels?

[@aryam6407]

Great idea... I want to use with battery backup rather than generator and I like the idea if not having to mess with the meter... Can I I use an ATS instead of the manual switch? Can you please recommend an automatic transfer switch?

[@sh839c]

Good video sir.Is there anyway you can post the part numbers for the xfer switch and that good gen inlet box or where to get them. Thanks. .

[@cgutowski471]

Glad I found this video and yes I subscribed! I need to add a subpanel but for solar loads panel. My main panel is IN the wall between the studs. I assume I could put my sub panel in the wall cavity next to it, run a metal nipple through a hole in the stud and wire/extend the circuits through it like you did?

[@richardphillips2405]

Great video. There is one thing that I need advice on. That is running conduit through the wall to the outside and the way to connect the conduit to the outside box that has the L14-30 plug. What fittings do you need and how do you recess the fitting so that the outside box fits flush against the wall. Thank you.

[@GainSolarPower]

You are probably over thinking it . very difficult to put this into words. run it like you would and Air conditioner disconnect

[@tjmooney4181]

Do the neutral and ground bond in the transfer switch as well as the main panel?

[@dapperdave2090]

👍😎👍 very informative... but I still a little confused on the neutral wiring... and the grounding and bonding of the "first means of disconnect" ... where does the ground connect to??? does the generator need it's own ground rod and neutral system at the transfer switch??? how about the use of a bonding bushing for the metal chase nipple going through ringed panel knockouts??? In my opinion... you're best master electrician on the internet....

[@a88430]

Thanks for the advice. Great video

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanks for watching

[@dannycarter8207]

Hey johnny boy what wire nuts you use? Ever use wago, do you like them?

[@GainSolarPower]

Wagos are great. They came out with the 221’s to fit number 10. I use them in a panel all day long. Way quicker than a wire nut

[@joelschiffer]

Where does the neutral from the generator go? Seems like it's going up into the main panel or sub panel?

[@crazygravy437]

I have central AC with the typical outside condenser unit. My main panel is opposite side of my house. How do you bridge this 50 amp connection from the condenser unit to the generator sub panel?

[@roywood8533]

Hey Johnny! Question about the double throw safety switch install. Is this the same way you would wire up a sol ark 12k instead of the generator? I would like to see you do a detailed install of one of these. Many thanks!

[@GainSolarPower]

Are you installing a 12k. It’s the same concept for the bypass with the output of the 12k being the generator side and the grid being on the bypass side

[@andys5203]

Awesome video. Thank you sir.

[@richardphillips2405]

I have another question or concern. How would you connect an inverter instead of a generator to the L14-30 plug? My inverter has a bonded ground-neutral inside the inverter. If I connected the ground from the inverter to the ground of the sub-panel, there would be two instances of neutral-ground bonding. I did some research on this. I found two possible solutions. One was to switch both the neutral and the hot leads in the transfer box and the other solution is to not connect the ground from the inverter. I guess that the same question would be applicable to a generator and whether the generator has a floating neutral or a bonded ground-neutral. It would be costly to change out the transfer switches in the manual transfer box from SPDT to DPDT. If you went with not connecting the ground from your inverter or neutral-ground bonded generator would you still get protection from the existing circuit breakers? It seems as though you would still get protection from a hot to ground short. But, there may be something that I am overlooking. How do you handle floating neutral vs bonded neutral-ground bonded issues with either generators or inverters? Again, I really enjoyed your video and thanks.

[@tonyrollin402]

I would have like to see exactly how you move the circuit from the main panel to the transfer panel is there a way you can draw a diagram explaining how you did that I'm currently trying to do the same thing and I didn't want to buy a reliance panel

[@GainSolarPower]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJLSh6SrnK6Jgbs

[@GainSolarPower]

Watch that video it’s pretty much the same thing.

[@dwmcever]

Used a 60 amp DPDT Contactor. with a Push button switch. Spouse just presses the button. Solar Battery driven inverter instead of genny. Genny with start and charge solar batteries if batteries get low after 12 hours or so on batteries with no solar (rain). I moved neutrals to the 60 amp box neutral bar. My 60 amp contactor is so fast my old PC computers don't miss a beat. Setting it up for Arduino WiFi / Automatic to take Spouse out of the loop. My biggest problem is that if Grid goes down so does internet and cell service tower goes down. system been installed for 2 years.. Most mornings I get up and if the sun is shining I'll hit the button and make a pot of solar coffee and the house will go all day on solar.

[@Starkchris]

Looks good to me great video. Where’s the grounding bushings ? I almost never use them but get called now and then.

[@GainSolarPower]

It was an emergency install. Storm coming.

[@Starkchris]

@@GainSolarPower I certainly understand. I always look over it last thing on my mind. I do a lot of in a pinch jobs. from material shortages to customers pockets being small but needing critical things. 🤙🏻

[@GainSolarPower]

@@Starkchris you are and electrician too?

[@Starkchris]

@@GainSolarPower yeah for 11 years now. Solar for 5 years.

[@Scat.original]

do you have links to the panels and parts?

[@Nodularguy1]

Since the transfer switch does not include the Neutral and it remains bonded to the grid neutral and ground, would this create a problem for say GFCI or generators with a bonded neutral? I find it confusing that transfer switches don't isolate/transfer the neutral or ground as well. Thus separation of generator and grid neutral forcing the critical loads panel to get its neutral from the generator. If the neutral and ground are bonded in the main panel and the generator is bonded internally would this create a problem? Should we verify that the generator is a floating neutral? There are so many opinions and versions I have seen would like your thoughts. Thank you for all the videos you make!

[@GainSolarPower]

That generator had a bonded neutral and I couldn’t figure out how to remove it, I opened it up but couldn’t find the bond. I called an old electrician friend and asked him about it. He said it would be fine and that he has done it plenty. Switching the neutral would probably create more problems than it would fix.

[@tinysparky]

Recommended 200a switch

[@armyguru1214]

I'm curious. Why bother with a second panel? Why not just feed your main panel and select which loads to use when you want?

[@plain-train2512]

I'm assuming they don't want to manage loads when the generator is needed.

[@GainSolarPower]

Two reasons on this. The 200a main breaker wasn’t working and the generator would easily trip out of the load was not managed and this customer wanted his wife to be able to do it when he wasn’t home. He is a first responder and sometimes gone during snow storms

[@armyguru1214]

@@GainSolarPower understandable

[@a88430]

Johnny, just to confirm what you did with the wires in the main panel. You said you were going to pull the hots and wire nun them and that kind of sounds like you ended them in the panel. You actually pig tailed them into both breakers simultaneously and the transfer switch only let's one work at a time correct?? Asking for a friend.

[@GainSolarPower]

For the circuits I wanted IN the backup panel I extended the hots to land in a breaker in the generator subpanel.

[@neilbrookins8428]

Average Joe, no! Once the hot is moved and extended to the sub panel the old breaker does not have any wires connected to it! The new sub panel is always powering all circuits connected to it. Meaning it powers the freezer both from street and from generator. The source of power to the sub panel is determined by the new switch. But once the power gets to the sub panel it doesn’t know the source. It just passes the power on to the devices.

[@BOBBYON56]

i have a 200 amp main with 21kw solar system and i want to install a 13kw portable generator rated @ 50 amp 208/230 volts and use your Affordable Generator Setup: Transfer Switch and Generator Inlet detailed install video to prevent back feed from solar system or generator will this example wor5k or do i need to add another component you haven't shown Bob

[@GainSolarPower]

Too much going on for me to say. It’s a 100a transfer switch and a gen Inlet

[@nathanr.8556]

You used the original panel as a raceway with conductors passing through it which violates the NEC

[@pryda1]

Great video I wish you would have spent another minute or two on the wiring of the switch. I'm going to wire up a double throw safety switch to have selectable power at a mini split. So I can power the mini split off grid with solar + batteries and use the grid as a backup. I'm going to locate the switch next to the disconnect switch outdoors. Just trying to figure out the wiring.

[@cs-xd9gy]

What double throw switch is that? Cheapest one I can find is $250.

[@cs-xd9gy]

Found it. Nice work.

[@GainSolarPower]

www.homedepot.com/p/GE-100-Amp-240-Volt-Non-Fused-Emergency-Power-Transfer-Switch-TC10323R/100171587

[@TheBurnsStuff]

Good stuff. I like the ON-OFF-ON or ON-ON DPDT disconnects. I'm not a fan of those breaker interlocks that can added between the main and top breakers. I know they are "ok" but there's mistaking doing it this way. Folks, for the sake of your life, please.. PLEASE, don't backfeed using a jimmy-rigged dryer or oven receptacle. As always, very nice work, Johnny V!

[@GainSolarPower]

Yea I don’t like interlocks. They confusify

[@condor5635]

Why not buy a simple interlock and inlet box. So straightforward and safe and cheaper. All those extra boxes when not necessary. Not sure what I’m missing.

[@2wrdr]

I don't understand. I'm an old Electronics Technician. To me this seems overcomplicated. Why not place the switch (200A) between Grid and Generator power before the existing breaker panel. This way you don't need all these wires running back and forth between main and subpanel as there would be no subpanel. All the existing circuit wires and breakers would stay right where they are. After completion label the heavy loads you want turned off while using generator and simply turn those off when off grid. Then by default everything else that needs power will have it. I'm assuming this video illustrates the normal way an electrician does this to meet code? or something I'm simply not considering. With my way, the switch being 200A instead of 100A would be more expensive but then you don't need a subpanel and it's wiring so not sure why my way would not work. Can anyone explain this? Thx!

[@JohnnyValentine7]

It could be done the way you are talking but it would be a lot more expensive. Most people can barely get a generator started much less remember to turn off all the loads that will trip out the generator if they are allowed to run on generator power, the systems have to be dumbed down

[@2wrdr]

​@@JohnnyValentine7 Just trying to understand, why would it be a lot more expensive? Seems it would be a lot less wiring (labor usually more expensive than parts). Also it would be much easier to troubleshoot (far less components, circuit routes, etc.) down the road. I certainly agree lots of folks would struggle even if the breakers had red levers on them with a note: "Turn Off Red Breakers When Using Generator" but that's a whole new topic. LOL!

[@GainSolarPower]

It sounds like you understand it pretty well

[@chopshop523]

This is why you don’t want a transfer switch! Just get a inlet lockable kit and choose what you want to use whenever you need it.

[@GainSolarPower]

Yes that is a good setup but they wanted something more foolproof. Some people don’t get electrical at all

[@skipland1816]

Sound sucks