Generator Thread ....When the power goes out...

[Medic1957]

In 1995 there was no power for 2.5 miles in any direction from where my neighbor and I built homes out here along the Broad River

So (1995) Rayle EMC ran new poles and line 2.5 miles to service just us, only required was we had to sign a 10-yr service contract

Then crazy happened 10 years ago, George Power came here with trucks and cut & stubbed-off the Rayle line down on the main road, proceeded to run 3 new miles of poles & lines from the opposite direction saying “hello, welcome to Ga Power” Funny thing is our price per kilowatt went down

That was one of the first things we noticed when we moved here.
Rayle is one of the most expensive EMC's around, but they are quick to fix any problems we have,so we are happy with them.

 

[10thmountain]

Here we go again. Hope all you guys are ready. I am.

 

[basstracker89]

Here we go again. Hope all you guys are ready. I am.

Not as well as should be, but I do have 15gal of fuel to get started

 

[buttplate]

Sold my 15KW generator to my cousin I Alabama this past summer cause I had not used it in the years I had it, OH WELL!!!!

 

[THREEJAYS]

Ready as I can be. Fuel on hand generator and propane heater if needed.

 

[wolfmanrogers]

Running the inverter and changing the oil today.

 

[SpeedyR]

I'd like to put a transfer switch in and wire that into the main panel at my house (with appropriate lock outs, etc). Anyone on the north side of ATL know a good electrician that could install an outlet under my deck and put in the transfer switch?

or have an idea of costs? Main line into the house is on the side just above the deck, so I would guess 20-30' away for the outlet.

Want to be able to switch off the main panel/lockout and flip breakers, leave on one or two rooms (basically my fridges) and then plug the generator into the outlet to backfeed the house. Will probably get a bigger generator or even a natural gas one that I can plumb into the gas line at some point but for now just want the manual switch and outlet but have the wiring in place for something bigger if needed.

 

[Leveraction44]

I'd like to put a transfer switch in and wire that into the main panel at my house (with appropriate lock outs, etc). Anyone on the north side of ATL know a good electrician that could install an outlet under my deck and put in the transfer switch?

or have an idea of costs? Main line into the house is on the side just above the deck, so I would guess 20-30' away for the outlet.

Want to be able to switch off the main panel/lockout and flip breakers, leave on one or two rooms (basically my fridges) and then plug the generator into the outlet to backfeed the house. Will probably get a bigger generator or even a natural gas one that I can plumb into the gas line at some point but for now just want the manual switch and outlet but have the wiring in place for something bigger if needed.

In my opinion, any competent electrician could do what your asking.

One approach would be to go to Home Depot, Lowe's, or Costco and talk with the companies that install Generac generators.

Tell them that your not interested in purchasing the Generac at this time, but may in the future,
In the meantime you would like to to get an estimate on installing an automatic transfer switch (ATS), from Generac.

It would entail routing the utility power not to your existing panel but to the ATS. Your generator would also connect to the ATS. The ATS would select the power source that is live and route it to your panel.

So on loss of utility power, you would go to your main panel and open all breakers that you did not want to power - leave closed the breakers to your fridge and rooms to refer to above. Start your generator, and once it has warmed up a minute or two, plug it into the ATS. the ATS will sense the live power and switch gen power to the panel. Once utility power is back up, it will automatically switch back over to it.

In case you are interested, instead of the ATS you could get a manual switch where you do the switching.

If you ever decided to go with a Generac your ATS would already be installed and ready to connect to the Generac.

 

[SpeedyR]

In my opinion, any competent electrician could do what your asking.

One approach would be to go to Home Depot, Lowe's, or Costco and talk with the companies that install Generac generators.

Tell them that your not interested in purchasing the Generac at this time, but may in the future,
In the meantime you would like to to get an estimate on installing an automatic transfer switch (ATS), from Generac.

It would entail routing the utility power not to your existing panel but to the ATS. Your generator would also connect to the ATS. The ATS would select the power source that is live and route it to your panel.

So on loss of utility power, you would go to your main panel and open all breakers that you did not want to power - leave closed the breakers to your fridge and rooms to refer to above. Start your generator, and once it has warmed up a minute or two, plug it into the ATS. the ATS will sense the live power and switch gen power to the panel. Once utility power is back up, it will automatically switch back over to it.

In case you are interested, instead of the ATS you could get a manual switch where you do the switching.

If you ever decided to go with a Generac your ATS would already be installed and ready to connect to the Generac.

that's exactly what I want to do. I'll check around and see what I can find for a good electrician. Good friend of mine (not local) worked for Generac for quite a while, will eventually go that route for sure.

 

[fslc94]

Suicide cord is so much easier and cheaper 👍🏻💯