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.

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