Cheap & Easy Way to Connect a Generator to Your House - Legal Too!

For $100 you can connect your generator to your house legally & safely WITHOUT backfeeding dangerously. See how I installed mine start to finish. This works for gas generators or battery systems usign 240v to run things like heating systems,, well pumps and more.

Nothing in this video was sponsored - Electric work is NOT for everyone. This video is only for entertainment purposes and can't be a duplicate for a professional and your setup may be completely different and your town or county may have different electric codes.

As a member of the Amazon affiliate program I earn commissions on sales using links in this video

Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal.

EASY Way To Connect A Generator To Your House - Interlock Inlet Install

[jamesborton]

Having installed many of these, AND consulting customers, the BEST course of action is ...
Only install 6/3 wire from inlet box to breaker panel, someday you will want to UPGRADE to a larger generator (50 amps) (electric start) making it easier for a spouse or kids to facilitate the starting of the generator if you're not home when emergency arises. Always put inlet box OUTSIDE allowing plenty distance AWAY from house (windows, vents etc ) also consider installing an outdoor 120 volt service box (receptacle) to charge your generators starting battery BEFORE THE STORM hits.
TYPE OUT IN LARGE letters an instruction sheet so ALL family members can follow procedures to start generator. Have flashlights strategically located to start generator IN THE DARK.
Keep FRESH fuel supply in stock, plus oil change, air filter and spark plugs WITH dedicated tools on site . Do you want to go shopping at 3 am in an ice storm for a spark plug to start a generator to keep your furnace on ? (Or send the spouse 😅 ? )

[tylerfoss]

I had a licensed master electrician wire a similar interlock and generator feed line to my main electrical circuit breaker box years ago. I consider it some of the best money I have spent on improving my home.
I have not needed to do this many times (few power outages, thank God) but it is pretty awesome to run my entire home off the generator in an emergency.
Thank you for another wonderful video!

[ronpecinajr]

I'm a licensed electrician and I'd hire you to do this work for me. 100% legal and done in a workmanlike matter. The only thing I do differently is I like to, locate this inlet device box on the exterior to deter a homeowner from setting up and running their generator indoors. It's not a code violation to install the inlet indoors however.

[robertmunroe]

Well done Silver. I did the exact job a year ago after watching more than a dozen different YouTube videos; mine is below the main panel but on the outside of the house. The beauty of your video is that it’s a “one stop shop” of everything needed to safely install the inlet box. Thanks for all the help; I always find value in your videos!

[claudenormandeau]

When we built our house we had the electrical contractor wire in a transfer switch. Nice and safe that way and relatively cheap while your doing new construction

[TheStevedie]

I always flip all the breakers off on my sub panel and I have the breaker on the generator turned off as well. I go out and start the generator, flip the breaker on after about 30 seconds. Then by the time I get inside I can start flipping breakers on one by one. Great video overall for someone looking to do this too.

[fredinathan]

I have no idea why I love watching your videos.

[ES-izwf]

We built in 16’ and had our electrician install an interlock switch in our breaker panel and a 30 watt outlet on the back outside wall of the garage. I keep my portable generator in my shed which is just a few feet from my garage so it makes it easy to get out and set up. I haven’t had to use it yet but it’s there if I do. I have a maintenance schedule for my power equipment which includes firing up the generator to ensure it works when called upon.

[joebob]

Great video! I did the same for my house, but you should address the generator you're using for this setup. It has to be a floating neutral one vs bonded neutral if you're not also disconnecting the neutral leg from utility (very rare). Most generators there is a way to unbond it, and there are warning stickers you'd need to label the inlet and generator to be within code.

[chipfornaris]

I wish more folks would do this correctly like you show. I’m a home inspector and have seen many houses with the inlet box and NO interlock kit!! Even with dead man’s cables plugged into the dryer 240 volt outlets. Tragedy waiting to happen. Do it right, if you can’t… hire someone and practice when there is no power outage, not when there is an outage….you have to practice/ prepare, have fuel stored safely, change the oil after 55/60 hours and ride out the storm with power and if you have soft start kits on your central AC units you can have AC too.

[dholt]

Thank you! I was going to upgrade my 30A on the outside, but you made me realize that I can put a second 50A inside the garage. This saves me from fishing the new wire.

[AnAZPatriot]

I installed a subpanel with 3-way rocker switches right underneath the breaker box. 1 position is fed from the generator, one position is not fed at all, and the other position is fed from the street. That way the generator and the street will always remain separated.

[Acts-]

This is a great video! Very nicely done! The one thing that I would add is to test the circuits once you have everything installed. You only have 30 amps to work with, so it's good to put an amp Probe on there and check things out see how much power you're using for different circuits so you're not overloading anything. Just a tip for those who might go ahead and do this themselves.

[NeilPBrooks]

Yep, I agree. Overly complicated generator transfer switches are more expensive and don’t allow whole house connectivity.

[chrism]

That Honda has a floating neutral. Most generators are bonded. Not explaining the difference in DIY videos can lead to code violations and potentially dangerous situations. When installing an interlock with a bonded neutral generator, you have to remove the jumper or you will be bonded in more than one place.

[david-holmes]

Great work as always! I'd love to see one on how to deal with Multi-Wire Branch Circuits (shared neutrals) using a 120v power source powering both legs of a panel.

[jeffryan]

Great video!!! Glad to see the Generator Interlock installation - it is VERY important to have & will save lives. (maybe yours)

In most cases, your generator will NOT be able to power your entire house. Before you actually have to run Generator power, Identify which Circuit breakers are your 'Essential' ones (Furnace, Well Pump, Fridge, Freezer, essential lights, etc) I used a green paint marker to mark these breakers. Next, I marked the 'Nice to have' breakers (garage door opener, more lights, outlets for TV, etc) - I used a yellow paint marker. The remaining go unmarked & are things that take high amps, like the Range, Electric Water Heater, A/C, Electric Dryer, Washing Machine, dish washer, etc. Monitor your Amp gauge on your generator. You can run your Range if you turn off some of your Essential breakers.

Making a Checklist & instructions on 'How to' get everything working, in the proper order is good to have. Make sure you have a working flashlight available. You will have to get this working in the most inconvenient time & conditions. Make sure you start & run your generator every 30-60 days to insure it starts & runs. Keep an extra quart of oil available & rotate your gas. Do a full test at least once a year. (nothing worse than to have a generator that wont start of run when you really need it)

For extended power outages (several days or longer expected) - run your generator for about 1 hour, then shut it down for about 2 hours (or more, based upon your conditions). This will allow your limited fuel supply to last longer.

[jameskoehler]

I'm an electrical contractor and I install many of these set-ups. I will NEVER install the inlet inside of a building or garage. I will only install those on outside walls. You might be smart enough to never run the generator inside the garage, but you may sell the house to some idiot who decides to buy the shortest cord for their generator, then runs the generator in the garage, and ends up killing their family. Carbon monoxide poisoning kills more people that you would believe, and I will do my best to prevent that from happening.

[johndeluca]

Thank you for the video I had just bought a 12500/ 9, 500 generator for my house. Bought everything and was going to hire an electrician but this seems easy enough

[tracynation]

Super. In an emergency, if you only have a 120 volt generator, you can temporarily connect to both line 1 and line 2 as long as all 240 volt two pole breakers like the dryer, stove, and sub panel breakers are ALL turned off, as well as the main breaker. I have a short cnnversion cord that allows a 120 volt generator to connect to both poles of a 240 volt 30 ampere inlet from a standard extension cord, powering all 120 volt breakers, but you have to make sure to shut off, or not use, any 240 volt items. I have two inlets to my panel, along with the main/generator lockout, (More money = auto transfer switch) however, I have two inlet plugs, 120 volt × 20 ampere and 240 volt × 30 ampere connected to a 30 ampere transfer switch, so i can plug into most generators. I also have a large deep cycle 12 volt RV battery permanently hooked to a 1500 watt inverter, and a trickle charger, on a cart, which I can plug in to for quick emergencies. (20 ampere inlet.) The battery will run my hot water heating boiler, thermostat, pump, and valves for three days, which is longer than my generator runs on one tank of fuel. 💙 T.E.N.