First, you should decide if you are going to do this the "best" way or the "cheapest" way.

One of the best ways is a big honkin' manual transfer switch with a name like Square D, Ronk or ASCO on it. Your dual 200A panels might mean you have a 400A service, switches in that size are not inexpensive. But such a switch may last the life of the house.

A cheap way is a couple of those Reliance switches and some extension cord for your generator. Or a pair of interlocked breakers in each panel and so on.

You wrote "Obviously the water heater and central a/c can't be run on a portable generator..." I agree that you can't run those items with the size generator you will probably buy. But "portable" generators are readily available that will run your house and 5 or six more like it- however, you don't buy them at the big box store, and you tow them with a truck.

If your WH is around 4.5kw, an 8kw generator will certainly drive it.

In the philosophy of the Reliance box, you could add a subpanel (like the shed) that has the circuits in it you want to use during the emergency. Then use a transfer switch between the subpanel and the main panel that also connects to your generator outlet. The main panel could feed with a 60a breaker (or whatever you need) to the subpanel.

Get a gas grill to cook on.

With a 8000W generator, you're only going to move some of the circuits. You can splice the one you want to move inside the panel it is currently located in, over to the transfer switch with the same sized wire. You need to feed the transfer switch with a breaker and wiring of adequate size (it will tell you but 40A and #8 CU would probably fill the bill.

Reliance makes this type of panel as well:

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Reliance-Controls-TRC1003A/p1119.html

Basically combining the sub panel with a generator plug and an interlock. Rated at 7,500w, 100amps, 30amp generator input

Any glaring issues with using that?

It would seem to be a lot simpler if I could just use an interlock on each panel. But how to feed both panels with one generator?

Found this response on another site:

"you could install an interlock kit in each panel and give each panel its own inlet. Then you have the option of using two generators, or one generator with a Y cable. (you wouldnt want the Y cable connected when on utility power due to the bridging neutral situation)"

"...a lot simpler if I could just use an interlock on each panel. But how to feed both panels with one generator?..."

Maybe buy a generator with two suitable outlets? When you get up around 10kw many portable sets have both a L14-30R and 14-50R receptacle.

Hi Mr. Ohmmmm,

I know your pain. We lost power for 5 days after a tree fell in a storm. And there was much grunbling, and I installed a generator set. Having paid over $US 800 for a crached heat exchanger in the HVAC due to freezing. Luckly no burst pipes.

I think a good-ish solution is a petrol generator with a suitable transfer switch. The best genset I know is a Honda EU6500iS in this class. This has an inverter and although wheelable is enclosed, so you it is better protected against rain etc. Usually the genset comes with a recomended transfer switch which is appropriate for the genset capacity. Honda has a transfer switch as an acessory.

Petrol gensets are the cheapest, however you will need to store lots of petrol 24 hours = 20 gallons, and you will need to wheel out the genset when it may be cold and damp.

A more expensive solution is a propane powered genset. These typically come with their own transfer switches because they have auto start and auto switch over.

After my power outage, I installed a Onan RS 20000 from Costco. A bit of googling will probablly bring up my old posts.

Genset solutions can get expensive and you have to think carefully how practical it is for you to wheel about equipment, possibly in bad weather, and keep petrol around. Note petrol will last only a year if you use a fuel stabilizer. propane will last almost indefinately.

Anyhow good luck with your project.

Warmest regards, Mike.

Yes, still pondering and doing research online. There is a natural gas line out front, the builder just chose to cheap out and not run a line to the house. We have a gas fireplace, but no gas supply. Duhhh

Portable units certainly can be used for other things as need be. But, I can't say I have ever really needed one for a project. Usually a long extension cord will do the trick.

Considering the real estate market and this particular town, spending $5000 for a permanent generator setup right now would probably add about $100 value to the property. So basically I am leaning toward cheap.

Another issue is weather. If the power is out here, it is usually weather related. Which means rain here, lots of rain. And most smaller generators are not designed to be running out in the downpour. So the power is out and it is pouring rain. Now where do you put the generator? Can't put it in the garage and run it. The nearest covered area is the back porch, about 60ft around the outside of the house from the main panels. Hmmm Build a doghouse for the generator?

A lot depends on how much you want to spend.

To me, dealing with an outage means we maintain essentials, and not luxuries. That means we keep the gas furnace, water pump, freezer, and refrigerator running, and provide a little CF light in each main room. That's it.

OK, it doesn't take that much to keep the computer modem and network up, and a laptop doesn't use much energy, so that too. Maybe a small television set. But that's it. I mean it. :)

I don't expect to have all the comforts of home when the power is off. If we can comfortably read our books, take showers, and so on - that's enough for us. We can cook regardless, thanks to the gas stove (just light with a match), and the water heater is gas too.

Enough power to run an electric space heater - no way would I pay for that kind of extra genset capacity.

We have a gas furnace and a woodstove with backup-powered fan, what else do we really need? I say let the whiny family members whine.

Running an electric heater is redundant anyway, if your backup power is a genset. You have an engine making waste heat. Why not just duct in the heat from its radiator if you want some extra?

As for fuel, I've seen natural gas fueled gensets that sat for years nearly unmaintained, and started right up when they were needed. The downside is that in a really dire situation nat gas service may be interrupted.

But if it's that bad, you're also going to have trouble getting more gasoline or Diesel fuel when you run low. And large capacity onsite liquid fuel storage is a hassle, for where to put it, and keeping it fresh and safe. If you absolutely have to store fuel onsite, at least LPG won't go stale or evaporate.

You could also go all out and install a grid-intertie PV system with backup battery and (optionally) genset. Then you can (eventually) pay for your backup system through the reduction in your electric bill from the energy your PV generates year-round.

Hi,

One word of warning when using petrol gensets is the risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. This sadlly turns out to happen quite alot. So running near a window, porch, garage is a definate no-no.

You need to decide where to run your genset. It needs to have good ventlitation away from your house, and needs to by dry, and needs to be secure (generator theft can be rampant during an outage).

Failing having the ideal spot, I would wait untill the worst of the weather is past. That may be hunkering down for 4 hours or so. Then once the weather is clear, crank up the generator for showers etc. Then shut down again over night.

Each time you will have to wheel the generator out of the garage, and make sure no one steals it, or chain it to something.

I know it sounds like a hassle, but hopefuly this will only happen once in a while. So you are willing to put up with the hassle for the cheaper priced solution.

I would say overall it can be quite a bit of work, in that you need to keep and maintain a genset, fuel, etc. But when you need it, it sure is nice to have :)

Best, Mike.

I suggest you do the electrical part of this first, since you're pretty good at it.

What I meant about 'Reliance philosophy' was that they require you to do the wiring inside the panel (instead of pulling the circuits out to the subpanel). You could do this with your own subpanel and wire the circuits you want to each of your main panels. You would power the panel from a single 60a (or whatever) breaker from the nearest main and put the transfer switch in between. The other side of the TS would go to a socket for the genset. You could decide the size and location of the genset later on.

Basically I want to spend the least amount possible. The generator and cord can be included with the house sale as a bonus if need be.

I have taken photos of the main panels with circles around the proposed generator circuits. I may swap out a 20a master bedroom, for the receptacle circuit the microwave is on(counter top unit).

Comes out to seven 20A circuits and
two 30A circuits(well pump, aerobic septic)

Now the aerobic septic has an air pump that runs continously. But that does not draw much at all. The tank pump kicks on about 2 hours after sunset and pumps out the chlorine treated tank to sprinkler heads. Based on our use here, it only pumps out once per evening.

The reliance transfer switch unit I was looking at is here:

http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Reliance-Controls-Q510C/p1133.html#reviews

The one review questioned the quality of the internals and the wire gauge used on it.

With this box, you don't have 1 transfer switch, you have 9. And that's fine.