You may be considering using a generator at your house for emergency power backup. We have been getting more calls for this type of work over the past several years due to wildfires, ice storms, power outages, and natural disasters.
We at Classic Electric install for our customers a mechanical interlock and wiring for manual generators. Manual generators are the portable generators you see for sale at your local hardware store or big box store that are often used at construction jobsites or for temporary power.
In order to use a manual portable generator at your house with your electrical panel, we will need to install a power inlet box outside and a 30 Amp or a 50 Amp breaker in your electrical panel along with a mechanical interlock. The mechanical interlock is used so power can't be coming into your panel from the utility company and the generator at the same time.
You may not have enough room in your electrical panel to add a new circuit and breaker for this. Every panel is different, so the best thing for you to do is call us and have us take a look at your system. After we look at it, we can advise you on your options and give you an estimate of what it will cost to get your new generator wired for future use.