Procedure to test pro power to house

[harlano]

Looking to get some advice from the knowledge folks here. I had a neutral switching transfer switch installed that powers my sub-panel. The truck or main power is switched into the sub-panel. The sub-panel contains all the important circuits for the house.

I am about to test this installation. My question is after connecting the truck to the gen port should I turn on the pro-power first and then throw the transfer switch or should I throw the transfer switch first and then turn on the pro-power?

Thanks in advance!

Sponsored

 

[hturnerfamily]

general advice is to always turn ON power at the last...

make sure all connections are proper, then add power...


and, vice versa when ending ProPower

 

[Maquis]

If you want to be extra cautious the first time, shut off the individual breakers in the subpanel and after you flip the transfer switch & fire up ProPower, turn the breakers on one by one.
It’s not necessary, but you can see how much load is added by each circuit and if something trips, you’ll know which circuit to look at.

 

[Newton]

To rephrase above, always turn pro power on after the transfer switch has been set to generator mode, and turn it off before going back to utility power. Everything will last longer if you do it this way.

 

[harlano]

Hey guys, thanks for the very informative and helpful replies! Much appreciated. Getting ready to test soon.

 

[Calvin H-C]

It probably doesn't make much difference, but I have always followed this with our generator and now with the Lightning Pro Power...

1) Hook up generator/Pro Power to inlet.
2) Start generator/Pro Power
3) Shut off mains breaker in transfer switch. *
4) Shut off all branch circuit breakers in transfer panel.
5) Turn on backup power breaker in transfer switch.
6) Turn on branch circuit breakers one by one.

* assumes separate interlocked mains/backup breakers

I prefer to bring on each circuit one by one to avoid a sudden surge, though I don't generally do this when returning to mains.

Starting the generator or turning on Pro Power last subjects it to the full surge, depending on what is on at the time and whether or not you do the branch circuit breaker thing.

After all, when returning to mains, it is usually restored before we throw our transfer switch to it. We don't get the crew restoring power to hold off until our transfer panel has been switched back first.

 

[harlano]

It probably doesn't make much difference, but I have always followed this with our generator and now with the Lightning Pro Power...

1) Hook up generator/Pro Power to inlet.
2) Start generator/Pro Power
3) Shut off mains breaker in transfer switch. *
4) Shut off all branch circuit breakers in transfer panel.
5) Turn on backup power breaker in transfer switch.
6) Turn on branch circuit breakers one by one.

* assumes separate interlocked mains/backup breakers

I prefer to bring on each circuit one by one to avoid a sudden surge, though I don't generally do this when returning to mains.

Starting the generator or turning on Pro Power last subjects it to the full surge, depending on what is on at the time and whether or not you do the branch circuit breaker thing.

After all, when returning to mains, it is usually restored before we throw our transfer switch to it. We don't get the crew restoring power to hold off until our transfer panel has been switched back first.

Thanks for all the great tips. Will be testing in the next day or two.

 

[Maquis]

It probably doesn't make much difference, but I have always followed this with our generator and now with the Lightning Pro Power...

1) Hook up generator/Pro Power to inlet.
2) Start generator/Pro Power
3) Shut off mains breaker in transfer switch. *
4) Shut off all branch circuit breakers in transfer panel.
5) Turn on backup power breaker in transfer switch.
6) Turn on branch circuit breakers one by one.

* assumes separate interlocked mains/backup breakers

I prefer to bring on each circuit one by one to avoid a sudden surge, though I don't generally do this when returning to mains.

Starting the generator or turning on Pro Power last subjects it to the full surge, depending on what is on at the time and whether or not you do the branch circuit breaker thing.

After all, when returning to mains, it is usually restored before we throw our transfer switch to it. We don't get the crew restoring power to hold off until our transfer panel has been switched back first.

Good instructions. These are all of the steps that I was too lazy to type out completely in post 3.

 

[Calvin H-C]

These are all of the steps that I was too lazy to type out completely in post 3.

LOL - you were the only post I saw that mentioned the one branch circuit breaker at a time procedure.

I write maintenance manuals for a living, so that part of me made it hard to resist writing this up. ?

 

[Runaway Tractor]

It goes something like this.

 

[harlano]

It goes something like this.

Haha! Good one. That's exactly what it felt like this morning. Followed the great instructions by you guys and everything runs fine! Thanks to all!

 

[harlano]

After all the good tips I got, the test went fine this past Monday. Today, the real test: Power company had a planned power outage from 9AM to 3PM. I had everything ready and switched over with no issues.

Here's the Pro Power screen:

Leg "B" is supplying the whole house (fridge, tv's, DVR, internet, etc) plus a 12,000 BTU portable A/C.
Leg "A" is supplying power to a microwave used to heat up my lunch ?.

Truck saved the day! Wife is making fun of me for being excited with my big "toy"

Super happy with the results. Thanks to you all for the help!

Sponsored