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Message
Transfer switch & installation cost? Updated
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:06 pm
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:06 pm
I replaced my old generator with a 10,000 starting watts portable one recently and and getting prices for the transfer switch and installation.
I have 8 circuits I would like to run - not all at the same time - during extended power outages:
1. Water heater
2. Washer
3. Dryer
4. Alarm system
5. Fridge/freezer
6. Stove/oven
7. Master bedroom lights
8. Master bathroom lights
The plan is to only run the water heater circuit an hour or so before showering then turn it off. A window unit plugged into the master bedroom outlet, alarm system, and the fridge/freezer probably most of the time. Everything else would be only at certain times with everything else turned off.
The first price I got was for $1,700 for the transfer switch and installation. The switch would accommodate every circuit in the house in case I ever want to upgrade in the future. That’s not necessarily what I want but I am entertaining it.
Does that sound right? Waiting to get other prices so I don’t have anything to compare it to yet. I swear I should’ve become an electrician!
UPDATE 5/7:
I got an interlock kit installed for $700 and can use any circuit in my house except for the central air and just not all of them at the same time. This was MUCH cheaper than buying and installing a whole house generator, as I spent a total of $1,650 for the generator and kit as opposed to close to $10,000 for the other option. Thanks again for the help in this thread.
I have 8 circuits I would like to run - not all at the same time - during extended power outages:
1. Water heater
2. Washer
3. Dryer
4. Alarm system
5. Fridge/freezer
6. Stove/oven
7. Master bedroom lights
8. Master bathroom lights
The plan is to only run the water heater circuit an hour or so before showering then turn it off. A window unit plugged into the master bedroom outlet, alarm system, and the fridge/freezer probably most of the time. Everything else would be only at certain times with everything else turned off.
The first price I got was for $1,700 for the transfer switch and installation. The switch would accommodate every circuit in the house in case I ever want to upgrade in the future. That’s not necessarily what I want but I am entertaining it.
Does that sound right? Waiting to get other prices so I don’t have anything to compare it to yet. I swear I should’ve become an electrician!
UPDATE 5/7:
I got an interlock kit installed for $700 and can use any circuit in my house except for the central air and just not all of them at the same time. This was MUCH cheaper than buying and installing a whole house generator, as I spent a total of $1,650 for the generator and kit as opposed to close to $10,000 for the other option. Thanks again for the help in this thread.
This post was edited on 5/7/20 at 11:41 am
3
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:09 pm to TDsngumbo
Sounds right.
The amount of work to install a whole home transfer switch is less than installing a separate panel that will just run a few circuits. No matter what I think knce your running on generator you’ll likely want to run a few things not for conviennance.
The amount of work to install a whole home transfer switch is less than installing a separate panel that will just run a few circuits. No matter what I think knce your running on generator you’ll likely want to run a few things not for conviennance.
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:12 pm to Tbooux
quote:
The amount of work to install a whole home transfer switch is less than installing a separate panel that will just run a few circuits.
That’s precisely what that electrician told me. I know more about quantum physics than I do about electricity so I didn’t know if he was just trying to pump up the profit by suggesting that or not.
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:15 pm to TDsngumbo
I would say that's a fair price. Especially if the electrician was likable. Sometimes I'm willing to pay a higher price for good service and reliability.
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:22 pm to Aristo
Eh, he did explain things pretty well so I’d say he was likable. I don’t want to pay that much BUT I sure as hell cant do it myself and I want it to be done right so if that’s what it takes, then I’ll be digging into the savings soon.
Posted on 4/19/20 at 7:46 pm to TDsngumbo
What exactly is he installing? Is it a true transfer switch? Automatic or manual? Is your generator just a portable that you’d bring over to a power inlet box? Is the generator location and the service entrance or main panel in the same location?
When I built my house I installed an interlock, a 50A breaker, and a power inlet box. Total cost of those components was probably $200. The install was very simple (I did the electrical), so I wouldn’t expect an electrician would charge more than 2 hours or his minimum.
When I built my house I installed an interlock, a 50A breaker, and a power inlet box. Total cost of those components was probably $200. The install was very simple (I did the electrical), so I wouldn’t expect an electrician would charge more than 2 hours or his minimum.
This post was edited on 4/19/20 at 7:47 pm
Posted on 4/20/20 at 8:00 am to LSUtigerME
quote:
What exactly is he installing? Is it a true transfer switch? Automatic or manual? Is your generator just a portable that you’d bring over to a power inlet box? Is the generator location and the service entrance or main panel in the same location?
The estimate is for an automatic transfer switch (which I think is kinda overkill since it’s for a portable generator but again, this isn’t my area of expertise so maybe it’s not overkill). The generator and outside main panel (or service entrance) is outside and the main panel with the breakers is inside.
I’m not sure what an interlock does. I’ve searched online and from what I gather, either it’s a plate that goes on the breaker panel preventing the main breaker from being hit OR the info online assumes I already know about this and doesn’t explain in detail. It just seems too simple.
Here’s what I want to do:
I simply want to start the generator, plug it into an inlet box that feeds power to certain circuits in the home, and use 8 circuits in times of extended outages such as a hurricane or the occasional ice storm every 15 years. What do I need?
This post was edited on 4/20/20 at 8:03 am
Posted on 4/20/20 at 2:11 pm to TDsngumbo
Shameless bump for more opinions.
Posted on 4/20/20 at 2:24 pm to TDsngumbo
The interlock is just a plate that goes in the main box that does not allow BOTH the main breaker and the generator breaker to be ON at the same time. It does this by mechanical interfere.
Posted on 4/20/20 at 2:44 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
Shameless bump for more opinions.
My opinion is get the transfer switch that has the capability of doing the whole house. If you move/sell it could be a feature that its already done. Or if you stay, you could put a bigger generator there if you want.
We always size transfer switches for the service.
Oh and the interlock, the poster above said what it did, but it keeps you from backfeeding the power grid and killing a lineman. Also, keeps you from making a big mess with the power company turns the power back on and your generator is still running.
Posted on 4/20/20 at 4:21 pm to kengel2
After learning more about an interlock, I may go that way instead. Seems like that would be much cheaper. Still would have to get the plug installed outside and connected to the panel inside but it still sounds a good bit cheaper.
Posted on 4/20/20 at 9:52 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
The estimate is for an automatic transfer switch (which I think is kinda overkill since it’s for a portable generator but again, this isn’t my area of expertise so maybe it’s not overkill). The generator and outside main panel (or service entrance) is outside and the main panel with the breakers is inside.
Doesn’t make any sense. If it’s a portable generator that you need to start up, you really shouldn’t have an ATS. Just get an Interlok and an inlet
Posted on 4/20/20 at 9:55 pm to TDsngumbo
Flanged inlet kit
Comes with box, cover and L1430R, just need to nipple into your panel and wire to a 30 amp breaker, connected via interlock to your main.
Power goes out, you flip the interlok, plug in the generator then fire it up
Comes with box, cover and L1430R, just need to nipple into your panel and wire to a 30 amp breaker, connected via interlock to your main.
Power goes out, you flip the interlok, plug in the generator then fire it up
Posted on 4/20/20 at 10:06 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
Still would have to get the plug installed outside and connected to the panel inside
Does your panel inside have a main breaker? Or do you have a panel outside with a few breakers? Most houses I’ve seen (newer builds) have a small panel outside (4-8 breakers) and a subpanel in the house. Depending on where your service entrance comes in, this can be both convenient and limit the amount of large wire runs.
If your main panel is inside, it’s a little more complicated as he’ll have to drop the 6/3 through the wall and into your panel. You’ll also need a free double breaker space immediately near the main breaker. In addition, not all panels have an interlock available.
So adding the transfer switch at the disconnect may actually be easier depending on how you’re setup. However, if you’re setup with your main panel at the service entrance and have a free breaker space, it’s a very simple job.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 7:12 am to LSUtigerME
My main is inside with the service entrance and a small breaker panel outside. Still, it has to be cheaper to run the lines to the panel inside than paying for and installing a transfer switch, right?
Posted on 4/21/20 at 8:16 am to TDsngumbo
can you post a picture of your outdoor panel?
Posted on 4/21/20 at 9:45 am to bee Rye
Just had another electrician take a look at it for me. Looks like I'm going to go the interlock route. Going to be much cheaper and no need to run wires to the inside panel (I was wrong in my assumption about that but now that I understand how it works, it makes perfect sense). Just have the inlet box connected to the main panel outside with the interlock on that one instead of the one inside.
Thanks to the previous poster who mentioned the interlock. I'm an idiot when it comes to electricity and hadn't really looked into an interlock until this thread but it looks like that's going to save me lots of $$$ and accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.
Thanks to the previous poster who mentioned the interlock. I'm an idiot when it comes to electricity and hadn't really looked into an interlock until this thread but it looks like that's going to save me lots of $$$ and accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.
Posted on 4/21/20 at 11:23 am to TDsngumbo
quote:
Thanks to the previous poster who mentioned the interlock. I'm an idiot when it comes to electricity and hadn't really looked into an interlock until this thread but it looks like that's going to save me lots of $$$ and accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.
I accept PayPal and Venmo
Glad it worked out better for you. I did this exact setup at my house when I built. I’m not sure what he quoted, but I’d recommend getting the 50a inlet box, even with a smaller generator. That way if you get a bigger one in the future, you won’t have to modify the house.
A 10ft 50a cable is like $120-$150, and the adapter from the 50A plug to the 30a or 20a for the generator is like $15-20. You could also look into having the electrician build the cable for you, may be a little cheaper.
Posted on 5/7/20 at 11:42 am to LSUtigerME
I got an interlock kit installed for $700 and can use any circuit in my house except for the central air and just not all of them at the same time. This was MUCH cheaper than buying and installing a whole house generator, as I spent a total of $1,650 for the generator and kit as opposed to close to $10,000 for the other option. Thanks again for the help in this thread.
I'm ready for a cat 4 now, baws, but since I spent money to prepare we can probably all rest assured that we won't see a hurricane here in SELA for another 20 years
I'm ready for a cat 4 now, baws, but since I spent money to prepare we can probably all rest assured that we won't see a hurricane here in SELA for another 20 years
Posted on 5/7/20 at 12:20 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
I'm ready for a cat 4 now, baws, but since I spent money to prepare we can probably all rest assured that we won't see a hurricane here in SELA for another 20 years
Yeah I spent $1000 on a large generator that could run everything in my house except Central Air about 7 or 8 years ago after the last major hurricane that came through and knocked out power for nearly a week. Also bought two window units.
I'm not complaining but haven't had to use the generator or the window units.
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