Generac 6852 Transfer Switch installed (to power my house from the Pro Power 240V plug)

[Sullyfamily]

I really appreciate all of the posts in this thread. Great education for a weekend DIY'er. I question I still have is why wouldn't you want to put in a whole house transfer switch? Are there reasons for not doing this?

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[TaxmanHog]

I really appreciate all of the posts in this thread. Great education for a weekend DIY'er. I question I still have is why wouldn't you want to put in a whole house transfer switch? Are there reasons for not doing this?

You would exceed the capacity of the PPOB's 30 amps @ 240v

By selecting the critical circuits and routing only these loads, you won't have to switch [OFF] breakers which could not be supported.

 

[Lilburnedbear]

I really appreciate all of the posts in this thread. Great education for a weekend DIY'er. I question I still have is why wouldn't you want to put in a whole house transfer switch? Are there reasons for not doing this?

For me it’s a cost issue at the present time. A good Siemens 200 amp double throw 3 pole disconnect costs anywhere north of $1,500 just for the switch itself. Then there’s installation which I haven’t found much luck lately without usury rates from an electrician. If you can stomach $2k+ it’s surely a simpler way to go with more options. Together with a SPAN panel it makes total sense.

Have toyed with putting it in myself but that’s a whole other level of trust in one’s abilities. Maybe I’ll do it someday. I finally put a Generac 6852 in last weekend and so far so good. Though some old wiring in my house is throwing a ground fault, but only when I switch back over to Grid.

I don’t mind shutting off circuits during an outage, something I see advised to do anyway.

 

[Maquis]

Have toyed with putting it in myself but that’s a whole other level of trust in one’s abilities.

You would have to have the utility pull the meter, and here they will require an inspection before they will hook it back up, which means permit. And a homeowner cannot get a permit to work on the service itself, you have to have a license. So I couldn’t DIY such a project if I wanted to. Your jurisdiction may have different rules, but proceed with caution.

 

[Lilburnedbear]

Yup true about the meter pull because the switch needs to be in line between the main breaker and the meter, right? Hence the trepidation on DIY.

FWIW, In Oregon we as owner residents can do work as long as it’s permitted/inspected. I know it’s not that way in other jurisdictions. Permits are cheap compared to hiring someone to change out a switch, fixture or old wire.

the OP’s point I think the whole house transfer switch is a happy medium between the $400 Generac critical loads panel and a $20k ATS/generator.

 

[Sullyfamily]

Update - I installed a Generac 6853 last weekend and all works perfectly. Running 10 circuits pulling about 2800 watts. Initially I had one circuit causing the Lightning to fault. I traced it to a light switch box where there were 2 light switches on 2 different circuits. The electrician that wired the house must have not been paying attention as he wired all neutrals to the same lines. once I separated the neutrals in the box, all is good with the Lightning. Great solution for about $500!

 

[thequackenbush]

Update - I installed a Generac 6853 last weekend and all works perfectly. Running 10 circuits pulling about 2800 watts. Initially I had one circuit causing the Lightning to fault. I traced it to a light switch box where there were 2 light switches on 2 different circuits. The electrician that wired the house must have not been paying attention as he wired all neutrals to the same lines. once I separated the neutrals in the box, all is good with the Lightning. Great solution for about $500!

Can you send some pics? Would love to see the set up

 

[Sullyfamily]

Here you go!

 

[thequackenbush]

Here you go!

Brilliant! And you’ve got the 30a mobile charger connected too?! Well done

 

[MountainAlive]

Update - I installed a Generac 6853 last weekend and all works perfectly. Running 10 circuits pulling about 2800 watts. Initially I had one circuit causing the Lightning to fault. I traced it to a light switch box where there were 2 light switches on 2 different circuits. The electrician that wired the house must have not been paying attention as he wired all neutrals to the same lines. once I separated the neutrals in the box, all is good with the Lightning. Great solution for about $500!

Nice. I look forward to discovering all kinds of messed up hidden wiring things in my ancient house once I get around to doing this transfer switch project in 2025.

 

[thequackenbush]

Nice. I look forward to discovering all kinds of messed up hidden wiring things in my ancient house once I get around to doing this transfer switch project in 2025.

Adding this / my lightning to my house / life has caused me to do the same and find so so many antiquated / probably not safe junction boxes and antique cloth wiring to replace

 

[Sullyfamily]

Adding this / my lightning to my house / life has caused me to do the same and find so so many antiquated / probably not safe junction boxes and antique cloth wiring to replace

The struggle I had with discovering this is I had the house custom built in 2010. Seems like a basic skill needed to correctly wire 110v neutrals!

 

[InTheCloud]

Going this route; should I upgrade to the Generac 9854 (with 50A wiring and inlet)? Thinking about future-proofing for a life after the Lightning, and want to avoid doing things twice.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Going this route; should I upgrade to the Generac 9854 (with 50A wiring and inlet)? Thinking about future-proofing for a life after the Lightning, and want to avoid doing things twice.

You would need adapter cables plug the 30 amp twist lock on the truck into the 50 amp twist lock on the house. Other than that, no issue.

 

[MountainAlive]

You would need adapter cables plug the 30 amp twist lock on the truck into the 50 amp twist lock on the house. Other than that, no issue.

I guess you could also just run beefier gauge wire that could handle a 50 amp outlet, but just put a 30 amp outlet on there for now for the Lightning. Later you could swap it out for a 50 amp outlet assuming the wiring is gauged properly for that. I’m not an electrician but research that route maybe.

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