CR never recommends this approach for two reasons.įirst, if you’re powering your house with a generator and the power comes back on from the street, you can overload the wiring and fry your electronics. Technically, you can connect a generator to your circuit panel without an interlock, but it’s dangerous and, in many cases, illegal. You’ll have to pay $50 to $150 for the kit, plus $400 to $800 for labor, which is significantly less than you’d pay for a transfer switch. Thus, power flows in only one direction.Īn electrician can tell you whether an interlock will work with your electrical system and whether it meets local building codes. Once utility power is back, you slide the interlock back to its original position. When in place, the interlock covers the main cutoff switch, so you can’t turn it on while the generator is running. Think of the device as a metal bracket installed on the panel. But rather than connecting to a transfer switch, the outdoor outlet connects directly to your existing circuit panel. The idea is similar: When the power goes out, you plug your generator into the same outdoor outlet. There’s also a less expensive alternative to a transfer switch, called an interlock device. Budget between $500 and $1,500 for the switch, including installation, which usually takes less than a day.Īnd plan early-even if you already have a generator, it can be hard to find an electrician for this kind of a job when there’s a big storm in the forecast. While a transfer switch boasts both safety and convenience, it comes at a cost. A transfer switch allows you to power any of those items-while skipping the extension cords. You’re also out of luck if you have an electric range or dryer, because both use large, 220-volt, four-prong plugs. You won’t be able to connect anything that’s hardwired to your circuit panel, like a furnace or an air conditioner compressor. Keep in mind, too, that without a transfer switch, you can power only electronics that have a standard plug. And yes, multiple cords: Because extension cords can be overloaded, you need a dedicated cord for anything that draws a lot of power, like a space heater or window air conditioner. Without this switch installed, you need to run outdoor-rated extension cords from your generator into the house. Heating and cooling equipment are essential, as are water heaters and well pumps. The electrician can help you figure out which circuits you want to power during an outage. The switch itself is installed by an electrician, usually alongside your main circuit breaker panel. When electric service is out in your area, you can plug your portable generator into an outdoor outlet that’s connected, through the house, to a transfer switch inside. Think of a transfer switch as a miniature circuit breaker panel that draws electricity from your generator instead of the power company.
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