Generator to Furnace Transfer Switch

[stevosredneckrepairs]

the yellow marette inside the panel is dangerous make shure its tight and cover it with electrical tape and tuck it out the way Your seimens panel should have a seperate ground bus on it i know neutral and ground are the same but the panel should be wired properly

[xboxer1985]

The neutral is bonded to ground in a main panel, so that part is key. What you NEED to do is most "portable" generators have their neutral bonded to ground/frame of the machine ALSO! YOU MUST REMOVE THIS BOND IF YOU ARE TO USE THIS TYPE OF TRANSFER SWITCH! Two paths to ground can potentially electrify the frame of the generator. Check video below on ground/neutral wires

wwwDOTreliancecontrolsDOTcom/S­tream/ProTranInstall/ProTranPl­ayer_T1.aspx

[SkilledEddie]

Ok I'm lying how about YOU tell me how to make this a code compliant install then....

[artcancro]

THIS HOOKUP IS ILLEGAL. When you switch over to the generator power, you no longer have a full size circuit breaker protecting the branch circuit that goes from the load center to the furnace. The little breaker on the "Easy Tran" box is what the National Electric Code refers to as a "supplemental overcurrent device" and is NOT an acceptable substitute for a full size circuit breaker. An electrical inspector would not sign off on this installation.

[SkilledEddie]

@artcancro

The red wire is landed on the furnace breaker in the main panel which is the OCP. The switch in the Easy tran is just a single pole double throw switch. When switched to Gen power the screw in fuse in the Easy Tran is the OCP when switched back to LINE the breaker in the main panel is the OCP. What is wrong with that?

[artcancro]

@SkilledEddie Don't take my word for it ... try to get your town's electrical inspector to sign off on the installation. You'll see.

[SkilledEddie]

@artcancro

I have installed many 6 circuit gentrans the same setup as this and passed inspection every time.

[artcancro]

@SkilledEddie You are obviously lying.

[BigYellow9999]

@artcancro

Yes, I responded to your comment, then drew the diagram out and realized I was wrong. When on gen power, you're no longer going through your main breaker. Now, here's my question. Considering that people are installing transfer switches all over the place, how do you know that the breakers inside are inadequate? What makes them inadequate? Some of the GenTrans allow you to even change the breakers out and put in your own. You'd be using the same breakers that you use for your house.

[artcancro]

@BigYellow9999 You can google the phrase "supplementary overcurrent protection device" to learn the difference between these devices and full size breakers. They are not intended to function in place of a full size breaker, and neither UL guidelines nor the NEC allows for such replacement.

As you mentioned, Reliance does offer GenTran panels with full size breakers, and these models are definitely NEC compliant, and will pass inspection in most jurisdictions.

[BigYellow9999]

@artcancro

I would assume the ones that have "locked in" breakers are standard (probably slimline) but you just can't move them. GenTran sells thousands of units. Not saying that's any endorsement, but considering they sell models that you can actually put in your own breakers (the same ones you use for your house), I'd be stunned if they didn't use standard breakers for the fixed ones like this one.

I recently installed a ten circuit transfer switch. I'd like to hear your response.

[RSBSTEADICAM]

Sir,

Rule: 101 only work on a power system with the power turned off! Your setup is still a very dangerous situation since you have just shorted the ground and neutral together from the generator which means if the power comes back on you may have a phase problem that could back feed the mains.

[EtoMaster1]

i know a lot about electronicks

[mrbillpowers100]

You can do the same thing hooking up the generator to the whole house using an Interlock kit (google it) for $150 bucks and all your light AND the furnace will have power. If you have a small generator,(say under 5000 watts) you will have to turn off your ac and water heaters breakers but your refrigerator, lights etc will work.

[ricnchoclte1]

Do you have to call the electric company and have power turned off at your house to do this or can you just throw the main breaker?

[LaneVines]

Great video! Thanks for posting and showing a close up of instructions!

[allinasmile]

Great. Very clear. I just bought a generator and am thinking I'll add a transfer switch with multiple circuits. (I have a well pump and think it would be great to have water and heat.) I'm guessing it is similar to your switch only times about 6 switches. Your video gives me some hope of doing it, enough to research it further anyways! Cheers!

[tobiray]

very, very good helped lot....thanks!!

[JohnPaul2006]

How powerful a generator could you get away with using? My heater draws about 12amps total and is 120vac(around 1500W i guess), so am i correct that a 2000W generator would be sufficient? or am i completely off base? :) great video by the way. clear and easy to follow instructions.

[jpizfulful]

@JohnPaul2006 Well, you need to go to your breaker box to find the furnace breaker. Common breakers for gas furnaces bare 15 or 20 amp. Find yours and size it. Amps x Volts for example 120 x 15. buy a generator fitted for it with a 240v feed to the bypass. it will allow only the 120v to go to the breaker. Or you can buy an essential circuit bypass to run your well pump, sump pump, furnace, refrigerator, and some other rooms altogether 30 amp pre wired. You can also just do the furnace.

[granite45689]

Great Video, easy to understand. Just bought one on Amazon for 69.00

[markg9]

Thanks for vid. Is there a "legal" way to put this switch next to the furnace by splicing it to the wires going to the furnace itself? (Away from the main distribution panel).

In my house it's easier to hook up the generator wires in the boiler area.

Thanks

[displayfireworks2008]

@markg9 I was going to do it that way but figured I would do it this way so the generator would be closer and less extention cord. But you could do it right next to furnace 

[jpizfulful]

@markg9 Yes. Find the wires to go to the furnace and put the wires coming to the furnace to the transfer switch and hook the output wires from the transfer switch back in the furnace ad that schould work. Remember to use output wires going to the furnace otherwise you will backfeed

[mrmatt57]

Great video, thanks so much for sharing!