Portable generator wiring review


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Old 05-25-17, 03:15 PM
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Portable generator wiring review

OK so I'm going to fix this mess up and just want to make sure I'm thinking this out correctly. This group has proved before that I can get it wrong

The plan is to use an interlock with a 30A breaker and run 10/3 UF from the panel to a post outside with a standard gen outlet. That's it. Nothing complicated. Anything I'm missing? should I go larger in case they buy a larger gen later?

Not to throw the friend that did this as a favor under the bus, but here's the pictures of the current install. And yes that's two pieces of 10/2 used for the run and at some point is spliced to 12/4 SJ 30A breaker, no interlock & Suicide cord in use. This is for an elderly couple....

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Old 05-25-17, 03:29 PM
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from the panel to a post outside with a standard gen outlet.
No. You need an inlet. The picture shows a receptacle. You are going to replace that, correct?

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Old 05-25-17, 03:31 PM
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Correct, plan to use a standard gen Inlet box, no suicide cord.

The only thing I'm planning to reuse is the 30a breaker. everything else will be pulled.
 
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Old 05-26-17, 10:47 AM
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If you want to plan for eventual upgrade, install conduits instead of cables so you can pull larger wires if you need to. That said, a #10 cable will support a generator up to the 8kW range which is more than the vast majority of people need in an emergency. The only situations where you need to look at a machine larger than that would be if you need to support a central air conditioning or heat pump system or perhaps a tricky well pump, although many wells will be OK on a 5kW or 7.5kW generator.
 
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Old 05-30-17, 10:52 AM
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I agree with Ben, I don't see any reason to plan for larger than a 30A genset connection. My parents had a 50A connection for a 12Kw generator (electric heat) and it was a beast. Between the generator, cable, connectors, etc. they never used it because it was too big, too heavy, and too loud.
 
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Old 06-07-17, 12:26 PM
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Thanks folks, sorry for not responding. I wish he had just run 10/3 instead of the (2) 10/2. Would make this a lot easier. I agree 8kW is plenty for emergencies. The house runs on nat gas, but the water heater and clothes dryer are electric. If this was my house I'd probably switch to a gas water heater, but otherwise they will be fine. Having said that, I don't think there's any point of any of this if they don't get convert the portable gen to run nat gas. They can't carry 5g of gas anymore. getting old sucks.
 
 

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