How To Hook-up A Generator

Generator Hook-up

The Voltage Selector Switch.:

The voltage selector switches the main power carrying windings of the generator to produce "120V ONLY" or "120/240V". If a 240V appliance is connected to the 4-prong receptacle, the switch must be in the "120/240V" position. If a 120V appliance ONLY is being connected to any of the 120V 3-prong receptacles, select the "120V ONLY" position. The benefit of this is to get maximum power from the 120V 30A locking receptacle.

Before you start your generator:

Many generators have two separate main windings. Each winding is capable of the same output. The voltage selector switch changes the two main windings from a PARALLEL connection for ("120V ONLY") to a SERIES connection for the "120/240V" position.

In the "120V ONLY" position, the power of the two main windings are connected in parallel (after the circuit breakers) and full power can be obtained from the 30A 120V receptacle. When in the "120V ONLY" position, the 240V receptacle cannot be used.

Balance the load:

The generator has two separate main power producing circuits. These two circuits supply equal power to the receptacles shown when the voltage selector switch is in the "120/240V" position. When using the 120 volt / 240 volts L14-30 socket it is important to divide the loads between each side as close as you can.

Neutral Bonding Requirements:

Bonding the neutral wire to ground is required on some construction sites. Industrial Generators provide neutral bonding. This is NOT required on portable generators used at your home.

Neutral and ground conductors must be bonded together in one location only. This is done at the main electrical service panel, where both lines connect to a common ground rod or plate.

If you bond the Neutral on your generator to ground unless it was designed to do this you risk causing serious damage to its electrical system. If there is a ground fault in your home the power that normally returns to your generator will be live on the ground and most people not grounding the generator this creates a circuit between you contacting the generator and completing a path to ground causing electrical shock.

If you are hooking up your generator to a transfer switch our your home, all 4 wires must be used. If you fail to hook up the Neutral it will result in dangerously high voltages in your home. I mention this because some have used 3 wire extension cords using the two hot wires and one ground leaving neutral un connected.

The neutral conductor carries an equal and opposite current to what flows through the live line. The ground conductor is a safety line only. Under normal use it carries no current and ensures the chassis of equipment (or generator) remains at ground potential and safe to touch

Hook up to your home.

A manual transfer switch is the key to safe and convenient operation of portable generators for standby power.

By isolating those circuits using generator power, a transfer switch eliminates the risk of back feeding the electrical utility, which can cause injury to workers and property damage. By installing a transfer switch at your breaker box and connecting a portable generator to the transfer switch, you can run selected circuits for appliances such as a furnace, well pump sump pump, refrigerator, television, computer, printer or lighting circuit during a power outage, depending on the capacity of your generator. Since many portable generators cannot handle all of these loads at the same time, the transfer switch allows you to manually transfer each of these loads separately whenever you need them.

Determining which circuits you will require during a power outage is the first step in selecting the proper wattage generator and transfer switch. Since most home appliances operate intermittently, a 3000 watt generator can provide adequate power to circuits for the most common appliances, such as furnace, lights, refrigerator, freezer, microwave oven, and TV.

If your home has a deep well pump with up to 1 HP motor, a 5000 watt generator will be required to provide the starting capacity for the pump. Larger wattage units can be selected for simultaneous starting and operation of multiple appliances.

You can find our huge selection of transfer switches here.