Comments on: Video: How to Wire a Generator to a House

By: Albertville Al

Albertville Al — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:19:17 +0000

One point that should be made is that the ground lug on your generator should be connected to a suitable earth ground. The earth ground (third pin on your 120 outlet) is connected to the earth ground at your utility feed. For safeties sake, that return path needs to be completed back to the generator frame.

By: Ben Sobieck

Ben Sobieck — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 16:58:19 +0000

Retired,

The best idea is to turn the generator on first, then attach the power cord into your sub-panel hookup (or however you’re drawing power from the generator). Then hit the breakers one at a time. The point is that you gradually draw power.

Do the reverse order when powering down. The generator should be the last thing to shut off.

- Ben

By: retired75th

retired75th — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:49:15 +0000

Excellent video! Well done, understandable and very useful. THANKYOU. I thought the transfer switch box kit was legal and the best solution. Not so. Installing a sub panel with disconnect makes far more sense. And if you have an undersized main panel, as the narrator, you can kill 2 birds with one stone. It is also cheaper and simpler and will be what I do.. We are in Colorado and if the power goes put in winter, the pipes can freeze, which is a VERY expensive repair. If you follow Hurrican Sandy, there are a lot of folks still without power and this is the end of Nov. here you need to draw a permit to do this work. That means a fee, inspection and rework if you don’t pass inspection. Have a good electrician do the work, get materials and the inspections are his responsible. Excellent video as I said, but there is one question. Should the generator be running first before you plug in the powers cord ?