Generac Interlock + PowerBoost generator mode FTW

[ryanc111]

Had a Generac installed this summer and getting the first real chance to test it out now. Some unfortunate soul hit a major power pole last night and we have an emergency outage for repairs.

Powerboost in generator mode, connected to the Generac and one by one brought all the circuits online.

Judging from the current power draw I have lots of headroom here.

I also should have done a more thorough job testing which outlets each circuit I moved are actually controlled by that circuit rather than trusting the original labeling in the panel. Oh well, I can switch circuits at some point down the road easy enough. The good thing is I am able to run the furnace and keep things toasty warm. It's a balmy 3 degrees here today.

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[Robbie Racer]

Very nice! I'm looking to do the same type of hookup to my house. Is that the Generac Model 6852 or 6854? Any issues tripping any of the breakers on your truck when you first connected it?

 

[OneFiddy]

Would like to know more for installation details. Looking at doing something similar.

 

[ryanc111]

Very nice! I'm looking to do the same type of hookup to my house. Is that the Generac Model 6852 or 6854? Any issues tripping any of the breakers on your truck when you first connected it?

Pretty sure its the 6852 as I already had the box and cord from my first attempt at just using an interlock switch on the fuse panel. But as has been discussed here many times the ground setup on the Powerboost generator precludes you from doing that safely - so transfer switch it is.

 

[ryanc111]

Would like to know more for installation details. Looking at doing something similar.

I had an electrician do it. While not cheap the wiring (heck general construction) of our house was jenky enough as it was - didn't want to risk making it worse doing it myself.

 

[SRMD]

Pretty sure its the 6852 as I already had the box and cord from my first attempt at just using an interlock switch on the fuse panel. But as has been discussed here many times the ground setup on the Powerboost generator precludes you from doing that safely - so transfer switch it is.

Did you have to do anything special regarding the transfer switch? I know there have been threads where they talk about special grounding requirements for the PB to work.

I have a transfer switch (Reliance) in my house for a standard 30A generator and would love to know if it will work. I am still awaiting delivery for my PB.

I will be very disappointed if I cannot use the same transfer switch I use for the noisy, pain In The ass generator, for the Powerboost.

 

[ryanc111]

Did you have to do anything special regarding the transfer switch? I know there have been threads where they talk about special grounding requirements for the PB to work.

I have a transfer switch (Reliance) in my house for a standard 30A generator and would love to know if it will work. I am still awaiting delivery for my PB.

I will be very disappointed if I cannot use the same transfer switch I use for the noisy, pain In The ass generator, for the Powerboost.

I don’t have the exact answer for you as I’m not an electrician but our trucks have a bonded neutral (as opposed to a floating neutral) and as long as the transfer switch can handle ‘switching’ the neutral it should be good. If not, then the truck generator GFCI will trip as it detects the multiple grounds.

There are unsafe ways around this but ultimately you need a transfer switch that works with a bonded neutral generator. From what I’ve read Reliance definitely makes one that works so hopefully you’re in a good spot.

 

[UGADawg96]

Nice install. I have the same one:

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/installed-transfer-switch-in-house.1267/page-20#post-181830

 

[Hullguy]

Did you have to do anything special regarding the transfer switch? I know there have been threads where they talk about special grounding requirements for the PB to work.

I have a transfer switch (Reliance) in my house for a standard 30A generator and would love to know if it will work. I am still awaiting delivery for my PB.

I will be very disappointed if I cannot use the same transfer switch I use for the noisy, pain In The ass generator, for the Powerboost.

It not work Unless it is a X Series Reliance transfer switch. The transfer switch must switch the neutral as well as the hot legs. Yours will only switch the hot legs and will cause a gfi fault at the truck

 

[ryanc111]

It not work Unless it is a X Series Reliance transfer switch. The transfer switch must switch the neutral as well as the hot legs. Yours will only switch the hot legs and will cause a gfi fault at the truck

I knew someone smarter than me would jump in.

The whole process can be confusing but once you get it setup correctly it can be a game changer.

 

[Robbie Racer]

The Reliance X series transfer switches are mostly either on back order or out of stock but I think that I found one that might work. It is a Reliance XRK0303D 30 Amp 10/18 Circuit Panel/Link Utility Transfer Panel. But, my electrician that I have made aware of the switched neutral requirement says it won't work because I need a 100 amp panel rather than a 30 amp. Has anyone used this particular transfer switch with success?

 

[SRMD]

I will check what I have. I know my electrician required me to return the Pro/Tran 2 transfer switch due to county code. The Pro/Tran 2 was advertised as compatible with ARC breakers. This is NOT true per my electrician - no common neutral bar in this switch. So, whatever I have has a common neutral bar. I am not sure what he replaced it with. This was 3 years ago, so I hope I have the right one. Forgot to look last night.

 

[wayfarer556]

Few things are more satisfying than seeing a disaster recovery plan work with flying colors (in production).

 

[SRMD]

So, looks like my electrician made his own transfer switch, when I returned the Pro/Tran 2, because it was not code compliant, he just wired his own. Now I am checking with him if it is bonded neutral.

 

[redline]

Might be a dumb question … if you already have a generac why do you need to plug your truck into house ?

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