I have a home with a 240V well pump and a 240V hot water heater, and a 240V heat pump/AC. I live in the boonies. Without electricity I have no water after the pressure tank is empty (see my other post about that). I found there are 3 basic ways to wire a generator into a house.
1. Buy and install a monster 200A transfer switch that switches from "mains" to generator in front of your breaker box. Disadvantage of this is expense and difficulty in wiring since you may not have access to the heavy mains coming into your breaker box. I rejected this.
2. Install a transfer switch such as this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reliance-306LRK-6-Circuit-Transfer-Switch-Kit-P2/50436688
In some cases this would be effective. You have to decide in advance WHICH six circuits you want to have back up capability. You can switch each of the six individually from mains to gen. You have to locate this close to your breaker box since you have to run the six branch circuits from this new box to your main box. Trouble is that if you have 240V circuits like me, they take up TWO positions. So my pump and HW heater take up 4 of the six. I'd need one for the fridge, that leaves one for the living room. Or maybe bedroom? Or bathroom? They make a similar model for 8 or even 10, but even so, what about the garage, other bathroom, etc? You certainly cannot make ALL of your circuits switchable with such a device.
3. Install a simple mechanical interlock and "backfeed" a 30A 240V circuit to your generator using a outlet box on your outside wall. You only need to add one dual circuit breaker to your panel and run the wires from that breaker to your new gen box. I used this:
http://www.interlockkit.com/
The kit is unique to your brand of breaker box and absolutely prevents connecting your mains and generator together at the same time (poof!). Typically, you add a breaker to the top left or right of your breaker box and run the wires to your gen input line. You can move the breaker that's already in that position down one position by just moving them all down one (double) space on that side.
When you power fails you flip your main (mains) breaker off, slide the lockout tab up, and turn on your new branch breaker. Fire up your gen and you can provide power to ALL your circuits. Simple and safe.
My modest 5500W 240V gen cannot power my 4,500W electric water heater AND my 1HP well pump at the same time (nor the heat pump but I have a propane heater for that situation). As long as I don't try to heat water and pump water at the same time I'm good with everything else in the house being connected. I just have to load manage but since the heater only needs to be run once a day, at most, and the well depending on water usage, this works out well. Every room in the house has lights, the garage door opener works, the propane range and MW work fine, etc.
Anyway, this is what I did and it works great. Did this on two homes. Your mileage may vary . . .
1. Buy and install a monster 200A transfer switch that switches from "mains" to generator in front of your breaker box. Disadvantage of this is expense and difficulty in wiring since you may not have access to the heavy mains coming into your breaker box. I rejected this.
2. Install a transfer switch such as this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reliance-306LRK-6-Circuit-Transfer-Switch-Kit-P2/50436688
In some cases this would be effective. You have to decide in advance WHICH six circuits you want to have back up capability. You can switch each of the six individually from mains to gen. You have to locate this close to your breaker box since you have to run the six branch circuits from this new box to your main box. Trouble is that if you have 240V circuits like me, they take up TWO positions. So my pump and HW heater take up 4 of the six. I'd need one for the fridge, that leaves one for the living room. Or maybe bedroom? Or bathroom? They make a similar model for 8 or even 10, but even so, what about the garage, other bathroom, etc? You certainly cannot make ALL of your circuits switchable with such a device.
3. Install a simple mechanical interlock and "backfeed" a 30A 240V circuit to your generator using a outlet box on your outside wall. You only need to add one dual circuit breaker to your panel and run the wires from that breaker to your new gen box. I used this:
http://www.interlockkit.com/
The kit is unique to your brand of breaker box and absolutely prevents connecting your mains and generator together at the same time (poof!). Typically, you add a breaker to the top left or right of your breaker box and run the wires to your gen input line. You can move the breaker that's already in that position down one position by just moving them all down one (double) space on that side.
When you power fails you flip your main (mains) breaker off, slide the lockout tab up, and turn on your new branch breaker. Fire up your gen and you can provide power to ALL your circuits. Simple and safe.
My modest 5500W 240V gen cannot power my 4,500W electric water heater AND my 1HP well pump at the same time (nor the heat pump but I have a propane heater for that situation). As long as I don't try to heat water and pump water at the same time I'm good with everything else in the house being connected. I just have to load manage but since the heater only needs to be run once a day, at most, and the well depending on water usage, this works out well. Every room in the house has lights, the garage door opener works, the propane range and MW work fine, etc.
Anyway, this is what I did and it works great. Did this on two homes. Your mileage may vary . . .
