Never Thought I'd Actually Use the Generator....

[Hullguy]

I installed the backfeed kit from Square D. pretty simple, you just need to order the kit for your specific box. You also need to have the first two slots on the right available. Had to move some breakers down on the right side in my case.
It prevents you from having the main and backfeed closed at the same time.

You can’t us

Thats good info.. i'll bookmark this suggestion for sure. Thanks.

you can’t use these interlock kits without losing your grounding system in your house. To do it correctly install a neutral switching transfer switch

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[Porpoise Hork]

Not sure if anyone follows the CA news but it has been a s**t show here the last few days. Fire burning down entire cities and electrical blackouts everywhere. Luckily for me and my family, I was hit with the latter of the two.
Whole town went dark - all businesses closed due to no power. Couldn't even pump gas.

Anyway, getting passed the sob story, I never thought I would actually use the Pro Power generator my truck came with but here we are. Powered up the wifi, tv, fridge, and a couple lights. I have an all new appreciation for this truck.

Side note - CA actually wants to ban gas generators. That has got to be one of the dumbest decisions I could think of.

The CA government is just plain stupid.

Sucks y'all are dealing with that. Hope everything works out for ya out there.

My wife attests that the PB was the best investment I have ever made. It has come through time and again and keeping our essentials going through ice storms, wind storms, and hurricanes to name a few. Each time just go out enable ProPower and run the main 220v cable into the house and plug everything I need into the 4 110v outlets and wait for main power to kick back on.

 

[Gros Ventre]

The CA government is just plain stupid.

Sucks y'all are dealing with that. Hope everything works out for ya out there.

My wife attests that the PB was the best investment I have ever made. It has come through time and again and keeping our essentials going through ice storms, wind storms, and hurricanes to name a few. Each time just go out enable ProPower and run the main 220v cable into the house and plug everything I need into the 4 110v outlets and wait for main power to kick back on.

Something to consider if outages are real & lengthy, is an in bed auxiliary gas tank. I have one and use it often just to buy gas at good prices. But... It gives me great comfort that at the end of the day if power went down for a week or two, as it did in the Roosevelt fire, I'm good for awhile. In that time (2018 & pre-Powerboost days) I put some 55 hours on a portable generator over some 10-12 days.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I've had mine run at a consistent 2500-3500 watt draw for 36+ hours straight and it only used about 7-8 gallons. Much better than my big dual fuel generator could ever hope to do. So I'm not as worried about running low on fuel as I use to be. I still I keep a few 5 gallon cans of gas full and ready to go with stabilizer in them at the start of storm season and top off the truck and car just in case. Same if a winter storm is headed our way. Then every couple months I'll use one to top off either the truck or wife's car and refill them to keep the gas fresh.

 

[belairbrian]

You can’t us

you can’t use these interlock kits without losing your grounding system in your house. To do it correctly install a neutral switching transfer switch

Please explain how switching the input phases to the service panel disconnects the neutral and ground. Considering the installation requires the generator ground to be tied to the same earth ground.

 

[ReactiveD]

Prayers to you and your family to stay safe. Store up on gas too, your truck will need it since using it to power the things at your house.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Please explain how switching the input phases to the service panel disconnects the neutral and ground. Considering the installation requires the generator ground to be tied to the same earth ground.

The Square D interlock kit has nothing to do with the neutral & ground. I installed one of these in my panel (I later put in the Generac panel and therefor took it out of my panel). All the interlock does is mechanically prevent the main breaker (EG the 200 amp utility input) and the upper right breaker (required to be the input from your generator) being closed at the same time. This interlock kit is UL approved and required for safety reasons.

 

[ReverendQ]

I bought the PB with 7.2kW specifically because I live in SoCal; thinking the big one would be an earthquake. Unfortunately the big one would be a wildfire.

As far as political statement I have none. However it is my understanding that the PUC is appointed by our elected officials who own stock in those companies the PUC is guarding the consumer from.

 

[Hullguy]

Please explain how switching the input phases to the service panel disconnects the neutral and ground. Considering the installation requires the generator ground to be tied to the same earth ground.

the neutral switching transfer switch has 3 poles. One for each hot and one for the neutral. the PB has its own neutral ground bond. Your normal power has own neutral ground bond. National Electrical Code states there can only be one neutral ground bond on a service. If the PB ”sees” the houses neutral ground bond, it goes into ground fault.
An interlock doesn’t isolate the houses neutral ground bond from the system. The neutral switChing transfer switch isolates the houses neutral ground bond from the PB.

 

[mflynndelta]

The Square D interlock kit has nothing to do with the neutral & ground. I installed one of these in my panel (I later put in the Generac panel and therefor took it out of my panel). All the interlock does is mechanically prevent the main breaker (EG the 200 amp utility input) and the upper right breaker (required to be the input from your generator) being closed at the same time. This interlock kit is UL approved and required for safety reasons.

Would you mind to elaborate on the part # or picture of the neutral switching transfer switch ? I am interested in connecting my F150 powerboost to my panel and want to know how you did this ?

 

[mflynndelta]

the neutral switching transfer switch has 3 poles. One for each hot and one for the neutral. the PB has its own neutral ground bond. Your normal power has own neutral ground bond. National Electrical Code states there can only be one neutral ground bond on a service. If the PB ”sees” the houses neutral ground bond, it goes into ground fault.
An interlock doesn’t isolate the houses neutral ground bond from the system. The neutral switChing transfer switch isolates the houses neutral ground bond from the PB.

Can you please explain how the neutral switching transfer switch isolates the houses neutral ground bond from the PB ?

 

[Gros Ventre]

Would you mind to elaborate on the part # or picture of the neutral switching transfer switch ? I am interested in connecting my F150 powerboost to my panel and want to know how you did this ?

When I put in the interlock kit, I did not do a neutral switching transfer switch. There is a video on one of these set of posts showing how to open the ground circuit to prevent the trip of the PB generator. I'm not recommending that. My description above is only of the Square D interlock kit.

 

[mflynndelta]

When I put in the interlock kit, I did not do a neutral switching transfer switch. There is a video on one of these set of posts showing how to open the ground circuit to prevent the trip of the PB generator. I'm not recommending that. My description above is only of the Square D interlock kit.

would you mind to send the video in a direct message for me I missed that post ?

 

[Gros Ventre]

would you mind to send the video in a direct message for me I missed that post ?

OK, may take me awhile to go back and find it.

 

[Gros Ventre]

OK, may take me awhile to go back and find it.

Found it:

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