How I Installed the Generac Generator Transfer Switch | Full Install | Home Link

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: After the video I had this inspected. Inspector made me add a nipple between the 2 panels so the wires had protection. I also removed the neutrals from the bus and connected them to each branch circuit. DO NOT RELY ON THIS VIDEO AS A "how-to". CONSULT WITH A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN AND GET IT INSPECTED!

DISCLAIMER: Do not attempt this unless you are fully competent with electrical wiring. Failure to follow all instructions can kill you! Consult a professional electrician for guidance. This is how I wired and tested the Generac generator transfer switch. Generac's instructions are horrible. PS: if you're an expert electrician and have a better way, please share your video on how to do this. This was my interpretation based on their instructions.

[davidblue]

Sir,
I have educated myself for years by way of U Tube and you are one of the best teacher I've found. I was in the US Army and being a staff sergeant had to perform many instructive classes for soldier's that required precise steps so they would be able to follow Army regulations that kept them alive on the battlefield. I don't know your profession but you would certainly make lots of money as an instructor in most industrial setting's. The Auto industry is always looking for people of your caliber. Mercedes Benz in Tuscaloosa, Toyota in Huntsville, Alabama, Hyundai in Montgomery, Alabama all of these Auto makers require most of their employees to attend the training facility at AIDT. But each one has their own training facilities and you would be a highly sought after instructor. I'm sure you excel in whatever you do but if ever in the market for a job change I would certainly consider you being a top candidate! Thank you for the clear precise video!

[JustSayin]

SAFETY FIRST! You should always hook up the ground first in case the circuit is accidentally energized there is a safe path for the current to fault. Also it’s safer to land and terminate the main breaker very last.

[wegotflames]

Thank you sir for making it so simple. Ive ordered mine after this last ice storm in Texas this week. I had power with my generator, however this will take care of all the cords running thru my house. Really clean up the process. Great instructor you

[williekeener]

This is a very well prepared video that gives the important information that a homeowner would need. A few details were left out but you covered them in replies to comments. As a 40 year former utility employee, I appreciate you recommending getting an inspection. Your transfer switch is listed and rated for the application which means that it is safe. I wish that this was the only instructional video about this that was on the net.

[jordanrodrigues]

To expand and clarify what the inspector said for others watching this:


- Neutrals (7:30 - 8:00 is incorrect)



A neutral wire is a supply wire, *just like a hot wire*. Because its a supply wire, it may only have one source. A neutral bar is a power source.



All wires in a circuit must start at the same source. With newer breakers, this rule is obvious: they provide both hot and neutral terminals. The neutral bar supplies the breaker, the breaker supplies the circuit, the circuit supplies the load. You can trace from the source to the load. Both the hot and the neutral must follow the same path.


Since these breakers don't connect to the neutral, the neutral path bypasses the breaker and supplies the circuit directly. You must use the neutral bar at the same location as the breaker: transfer-switch circuits get their neutral supply from the transfer-switch neutral bar.



(This neutral bypass is also necessary for most light switches. There are additional details, and sometimes in multi-wire circuits you are required to make a dedicated neutral path using wire nuts etc.)


Since the main panel and transfer switch are next to each other, this error is not terribly dangerous. But if they were separated by a greater distance, the wire resistance would be higher and a larger loop-antenna would be created. Both of those can create phantom-voltage problems - a circuit that's turned off can still absorb power from other circuits. In industrial wiring that can even become a shock hazard or cause damage.



It also becomes easier to accidentally send neutral current through the wrong neutral. That mistake will start fires: hot wires are directly protected by a circuit breaker, but neutral wire mistakes can leave them unprotected and overloaded until something burns.


- Nipples


Simple enough: the holes in the electrical boxes have metal edges. Those edges can chafe through wires and cause a short circuit. A nipple is a piece of plastic or rubber or a short conduit (pipe) that's designed to protect the wires from chafing.



Technically "nipple" might not refer to all types of hardware, only to short sections of conduit. It's not a very precise term and IIUC the code intends to get rid of it.



The important things are that, no matter what hardware you're using, the wire must be protected from chafing, don't overstuff (although sometimes there isn't a precise rule), and you must follow manufacturer instructions.



---



Otherwise, looks good. "W" in "WXY" stands for "neutral" or "grounded power conductor, " not white. Make sure to twist those twist-lock connectors otherwise they can burn under normal load.


This transfer switch is only safe with generators that ground the neutral at the generator. This is typical of American generators (it's an OSHA requirement for job-site use) but not with lower-power "inverter style" generators, especially from Japan. With the generator off, you can test the generator socket using a multi-meter. On the 14-30L socket, ground is the dog-eared one and neutral is the one 180-degrees opposite. They should be connected. You can also use a three-light plug-in tester while taking power from the generator. "Open ground" is the fault condition if the generator isn't compatible.

[orwinz]

when you do your own wiring, please do the ground first and then the neutral and then the hots, also, in a main panel the neutral bus and ground bus are bonded so it doesn't matter where the netral wiring goes, unless you enjoy color coding, lacing it out etc

[JohnSmith-pzlo]

I've never seen a breaker wired so BEAUTIFUL... GOOD JOB!

[Allclear]

Someone did a great job wiring your main panel, Love seeing a Clean panel like that!

[freddyblock]

Great video but PLEASE NOTE it’s 10/3 wire you need and used from the inlet box the generator connects to that feeds the Generac transfer switch. Thanks! I'm hooking one of these up shortly. Ordered it tonight!

[cntslesfabrication]

This is the most in-depth install I have found. I truly appreciate you taking the time to show all the steps and how to do it. Thanks

[eka]

This is one of the best 'how-to' videos. I successfully installed my generac homelink subpanel/transfer switch this past weekend. I probably wouldn't have done it without the help of this video as the generac instructions leave out a lot of information covered in this video. Thanks for the great video!!

[pensive]

was hoping you were a good label guy and you surpassed my hopes.
accurate labels on electrical gear and supply is a pretty important
concept for the safe home owner.
great video!

[aaronjohnson]

This is by far the best video on YouTube about the subject of transfer switches. Very detailed, i could hear whay you were saying, very good video. Thank you for taking the time to make it and share it.

[nostang]

If you going to a sub panel you have to separate your neutral and your ground wires. With that said if you're going to your main service panel you can land your neutral and ground on the same bus bar. So that way your neutral run is not going around the panel. And your load side and line side wires are supposed to be in separate runs. Great video!!!

[JustAnotherDronePilot]

I don't even need one of these, but you've done a great job teaching us how to wire everything up! Thank you.

[YoutubePremium-qzhj]

One of the best youtube DIY videos I have seen. Kudos to you!

[AJSshodan]

Second time I've watched this start to finish. Love the attention to detail explaining the process. Thank you!

[lebleup]

Nice to see someone taking pride in neat, clean and attention to detail work. The others' comments and input also adds to a very educational and civil display of helping each other out. Good job everyone!

I have this very same Champion 4000/3500 Watt generator used here and tested it out by backfeeding into an unused 220 range outlet that I flipped around to face outside and mounted an outdoor receptacle latched door enclosure housing and weather-sealing the receptacle . I plug the generator cable with twist lock right into this outlet. Main Disconnect locked out, of course. This little generator lit up most everything in my home when fully loaded. Now I know I'll have heated water and convection heat (have wood burning stove... high up in Western mountains), freezer, TV, Internet bathroom and kitchen outlets should a nasty one hit and knocks power out for any length of time.
Shutting the main breaker off isolates the house from the incoming service, thus, keeping any lineman from getting a new hairstyle. Once I throw the main disconnect OFF, I can just shut the door to the Main and throw a Lock Out Tag Out Label with lock on it and call it good. But I will put a Manual Transfer Switch in next to the Sub Panel as a back up. SAFETY FIRST! Life is precious.

[spudbud]

WOW, finally someone made a detailed, easy to understand Generac transfer switch video! thanks for the help.

[_Seagie]

Best generac inverter switch install vid I've seen 👍🏼 why the down votes? I know you refer to 10/3 as 10/2 not a big deal