Wiring Generator To Electric Panel

There was plenty of room at the bottom of the main electrical panel to bring in the three 3 copper conductors that feed the new generator sub panel.

Wiring generator to electric panel. Start up your portable generator and give it time to warm up. If the generator has a 3 wire receptacle which states that it is 240 volts then a separate neutral is not present therefore a 120 volt circuit is not available. A 6 green copper wire was used as the grounding conductor for the sub panel. When you are thinking about purchasing a new portable generator for your home s backup use you should also consider buying a transfer switch device which is an electrical device installed next to the electrical switch panel in your home and connects to all the circuits in your panel that you need to power during an outage and adds a safety.

For a generator 240 volt connection it is best to wire it direct and with only 240 capabilities. You want to keep the wiring dedicated to the need of the generator since its purpose is for additional or emergency power. You can wire a 240 volt circuit to provide both 120 and 240 volts. Generator power which will be used for multiple circuits should first connect to an electrical distribution panel.

All you need to do is attach the conduit to the main box pull the wires through the conduit and wire the circuits on the transfer switch to the breakers on the main panel representing the circuits you want to power with the generator. The generator is an additional power source or a backup source. A y adapter should not be connected to a generator. Look at your electrical panel and flip the switches of any circuits you want to be powered to the on position.

There are several different wiring systems that can be used to connect a generator to a home. Warning even if you turn off the main circuit breaker please remember that three service wires from the meter remains hot energized. After inserting ground wire to the end of 240 volt receptacle tightly screw it there. This is part 2 of the connecting a portable generator to the home main electric panel series.

Now the wire for ground needs to run through similar bar. The main two are discussed here contact your local department of labor and industries planning department or power company to find out what is legal in your area. It should run till the end of 240 volt receptacle inside breaker box. Pre wired transfer switches come with all of the wiring you need to connect the switch to the main breaker panel.

Now simply insert the eight by three cable to outlet of generator you want to plug it in. Interior of the existing main electrical panel lower section showing the grounding electrode conductor. Go to the transfer switch and flip the main breakers to the generator position. Go to your home s electrical panel and flip all the circuits to the off position.