Home Generator Installation & Wiring
A generator is only as good as the switch that connects it. We install the transfer switch, the inlet or the standby set feed, and the circuits you actually want running when the power is out. The wiring side is where backfeed onto the utility line gets prevented, so it is the part that has to be right. Most homeowners pick the sump pump, furnace, refrigerator and a few lighting circuits.
Standby or portable
| Standby set | Portable unit | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting | Runs on its own when the utility drops | You start it and connect it yourself |
| Connection | Automatic transfer switch | Inlet box with a manual transfer switch or interlock |
| Coverage | Whole house, or selected circuits | A handful of circuits chosen in advance |
| Fuel | Natural gas or propane, piped to it | Gasoline you store and refill by hand |
| Our part | Pad feed, transfer switch, panel tie-in | Inlet, interlock or transfer switch, labelling |
Why the transfer switch matters
Feeding a generator into a wall outlet pushes power back down the utility line and can kill the lineworker restoring your service. A transfer switch or a panel interlock makes that physically impossible, and it is required.
What we need to know first
- Which circuits you want live during an outage, in priority order
- Whether the house has natural gas at the meter or would run on propane
- Where the set can sit: clearances, exhaust direction and distance from windows
- What space is left in the panel, and whether the service can feed the load
- Whether a sump pump or well pump has to keep running, since those drive the sizing
Frequently asked questions
Can I just run extension cords from a portable generator?
You can, for a lamp and a refrigerator. Anything hard-wired, such as a furnace or a sump pump, needs an inlet and a transfer switch to be connected safely.
Will a standby generator run my whole house?
That depends on the size of the set and the load. Many homes run everything except electric heat and the range. We work out the essential load list with you rather than assuming.
Who runs the gas line to a standby generator?
We do the electrical side: the feed, the transfer switch and the panel work. The fuel line is run by the gas fitter, and we coordinate so both are ready for the same inspection.
Does a generator installation need a permit?
A permanent standby installation and its transfer switch are permitted electrical work, and they are inspected. We pull the permit as part of the job.
How often should a standby generator be exercised?
Most sets run a self-test weekly or monthly on their own. Leave that enabled, and keep the enclosure clear of snow, leaves and anything stored against it.
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