Where can I find a schematic showing how to wire a portable generator to my home thru a transfer switch?
Question:
Answers:
Check out this website for a utility company. It will give you a basic example of how to hook up a generator. I would suggest that if you have no experience to hire a licensed electrician.
you can contact the maker of the gen set or the transfer switch co it comes with a diagram just follow it
Easy
assuming u have 3000 watt generator
HONDA
248 cc
10 HP
you have 2 receptacles on your machine and 120/240 switch
switch to 240 v
take 30 ft of 2 wire 14 gauge and put 2 male prongs on boths ends
take another and do the same
Now when power goes off to the house, go down stairs and turn the big MAIN breaker to OFF position
Then turn off all breakers (15 amps & 30 amps)
Take 2-14gauge wire and plug 1 into one recepatcle of machine to LETS SAY plug near Front door and plug in other one to machine and plug it to LETS SAY plug inside garage
Start generator and go down stairs and turn on neccesary breakers for your options LIVING ROOM, BATHROOM, KITCHEN etc... and now u have the setup
If interested ask me, i will send you photo of house and generator
PLEASE AND I MEAN PLEASE call an electrician. It's not that expensive and you can really get hurt with this type of installation if it's not right!!
PS: I am not an electrician but have been in const. for over 20 years
wiring transfer switch; double pole, double throw;
always connect your load on the two middle terminals, your normal power(utility company) will be connected on top terminals(stationary contacts), your generator power will be connected on the bottom terminals(stationary contacts), so your load is on the middle with the movable blades of the transfer switch, you won't be backfeeding utility company with this set up, either switch down for emergency power or switch up for normal power.compute your size of wire, lets say you have a 5 kw genset, I= 5,000/110, assume that your load will be 110 volts, = 45.45 amps
compute size of wire with a safety factor of 125%,
45.45*1.25= 56.81 amps,
based on NEC :
# 6 TW copper= 55 amps
#6 THW copper= 65 amps
so i'd go for 1 black color, 1 white color and 1 green color #6 thw copper, use a cabtyre for portability.
note:
size of wire depends upon the power rating of your genset, not considering any voltage drop which have another method of computation.
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