Larry Fine, this off-topic post is for you (along with anyone else who wishes to comment).
I light of past events, I wish to add a "whole house" backup generator. In particular, I am contemplating a 12,000 watt Generac Guardian generator to power some (not all) of the electrical devices in my house. However, i have a situation that I have not been able to get answered, as follows:
My house has an 800 Amp service line (actually two 400 Amp cables) that is brought to a CT box in my basement. Four 200 Amp panel boxes are connected to the CT box. All X10 controlled devices (e.g., X10 light modules and associated lights) are connected to panel box #1. All outlets (for tv, floor lights, etc.) are connected to panel box #2. All heavy equipment (e..g., furnaces, HVACs, etc) are connected to panel box #3. The theater is connected to panel box #4. In this way, all devices that could generate noise are isolated from the X10 lighting modules
I wish to have the backup generator supply power to certain lighting circuits, 2 refrigerators, 1 HVAC, 2 hot water tanks, 1 stovetop, and the theater.
Traditionally, an automatic transfer switch is used to switch the house between the local power utility company and the backup generator. The transfer switch that comes with the Generac system includes 10 circuit breakers. The idea is that you transfer the circuit from your panel box to the transfer switch. However, doing this would eliminate the current isolation between devices.
thus, the question is, does any know how to install a backup generator and keep the devices isolated? Can multiple transfer switches be used, and if so, how would they be connected. I do not intend to do this myself, but I have spoken to two backup generator companies, and no one knows what to do. I even called Generac's tech support, and their response was to install multiple backup generators; one for each panel box. This is out of the question, not only from a cost point, but also, from the amount of noise four generators would produce.
Thanks
Steve
I light of past events, I wish to add a "whole house" backup generator. In particular, I am contemplating a 12,000 watt Generac Guardian generator to power some (not all) of the electrical devices in my house. However, i have a situation that I have not been able to get answered, as follows:
My house has an 800 Amp service line (actually two 400 Amp cables) that is brought to a CT box in my basement. Four 200 Amp panel boxes are connected to the CT box. All X10 controlled devices (e.g., X10 light modules and associated lights) are connected to panel box #1. All outlets (for tv, floor lights, etc.) are connected to panel box #2. All heavy equipment (e..g., furnaces, HVACs, etc) are connected to panel box #3. The theater is connected to panel box #4. In this way, all devices that could generate noise are isolated from the X10 lighting modules
I wish to have the backup generator supply power to certain lighting circuits, 2 refrigerators, 1 HVAC, 2 hot water tanks, 1 stovetop, and the theater.
Traditionally, an automatic transfer switch is used to switch the house between the local power utility company and the backup generator. The transfer switch that comes with the Generac system includes 10 circuit breakers. The idea is that you transfer the circuit from your panel box to the transfer switch. However, doing this would eliminate the current isolation between devices.
thus, the question is, does any know how to install a backup generator and keep the devices isolated? Can multiple transfer switches be used, and if so, how would they be connected. I do not intend to do this myself, but I have spoken to two backup generator companies, and no one knows what to do. I even called Generac's tech support, and their response was to install multiple backup generators; one for each panel box. This is out of the question, not only from a cost point, but also, from the amount of noise four generators would produce.
Thanks
Steve
