When appliances are plugged directly into your portable generator, the other items in your house will turn on when the public utility is fixed. Second, check with your homeowners insurance company to see if they have any restrictions or requirements. An interlock kit eliminates the maze of extension cords you'll need if you connect your generator directly to appliances. This is why it pays to be prepared. Hopefully you've thought through a plan that includes a generator of some kind. Read on to find out! 702.5 Capacity and Rating. Certain states will require you to hire an electrician to install an interlock kit. Luckily, interlock kits are legal in most states. This way, the generator will not be able to back feed into the main breaker panel and will be safer to use. Yes, generator interlock kits are legal, just like a transfer switch. If the cover is removed, however, both breakers could be switched on. To check, you may ask them directly or view their website. Search Texas Statutes. An interlock kit, on the other hand, can be installed in less than two hours. By using these kits, you can change the power source to your house in a power outage. Shut the mains off and the generator to see if the plate slides up to block you from switching on the mains breaker. An alternative to generator interlock kits, whose legal side you wont have to worry about, are transfer switches. Certified for use with UL 67 Panelboards by the United States premier testing lab. Step 1: Remove . Here are some of the most notable: If your backup power strategy includes a portable generator, then a generator interlock kit could be right for you. An interlock kit saves space on your wall by not requiring an additional panel full of circuit breaker switches. authority having jurisdiction for enforcement of the Code has the Generator interlock kits are devices designed to ensure that during a power outage, the house is powered safely by the generator. It was spaced perfectly to interfere with throwing the main switch into the on position when the top right breaker was also "on" The top right breaker is my infeed from my generator receptacle. .article_content { Back feeding can be very dangerous and may cause serious harm to line workers or the electrical wiring system. Start the generator and let it warm up then plug it into the wall. This interlock would need to be on the . I flip the generator breaker on and then the breakers I want one by one. My thoughts are that while the interlock kit is a listed/approved device, it still needs to be used appropriately. Place the sticker instructions somewhere everyone can easily see. Also, unqualified people should not be removing a panel cover to defeat a safety device. You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools, or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence. Accommodates outdoor use. The kit works by ensuring the main . Switch each of your individual breakers you need back to the on position. Yes, you can run a generator without a transfer switch. Add To Cart. I highly recommend using interlockkit.com kits. Our Interlock kits are an easier, less expensive alternative to manual transfer switches. However, it is always best to check with the manufacturer of the kit to be sure. Instead, interlock kits allow you to switch from your main power to generator power in seconds. Generator interlock kits are legal in most parts of the US if they are approved by the UL under their standard UL 67. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I had a moral dilemma to whether or not buy an interlock kit for $40-$80. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 4 million WordPress sites. All products are NEC Code Compliant. The cost of an interlock kit is much less than that of a transfer switch. pull to release the device from the mounting means on the panel. Or fastest delivery Tue, Mar 7. Both have their pros and cons, so it is important to weigh your options before making a decision. Interlock generator kits are legal even if you install them on your own, but you can also hire an electrician to do the work. standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a as far as operation, you have to shut of main to even slide up the interlock before you can flip on generator breaker. 7 min read 2 Comments,