Call or text 828-289-6216 or email Gary@GaryScruggsElectric.com for a free quote on a generator interlock kit and power inlet box.
Most people can run the bulk of their home on a 12 kW portable generator. You may even be able to run a whole home AC, if the AC system has a soft start built in. If you are on well water, you need a generator when the power goes out. No power means no water.
What it costs
A whole home automatic generator usually runs $10,000 to $20,000 or more, installed. A 12 kW portable generator with an interlock kit and generator inlet box installed can come in under $3,000.
What an interlock kit does
A breaker interlock and a generator inlet box let you power your home from a backup generator or a whole home battery pack when a storm or something else knocks out the grid. The interlock blocks the generator from back feeding the electrical system. That is what makes it safe. It is also what makes it legal.
I have done this at my own house
I ran my home on a 12 kW generator through Helene and other storms. I know it works.
What a generator interlock kit installation includes
We mount the interlock kit on your breaker panel. We install the generator inlet box on the outside of your house and wire it to the panel. When the power goes out, you plug your portable generator into the inlet box, switch off the main breaker, and turn on the generator breaker. Then you pick the circuits you want to run.
How we start
We look at your electrical service and panel. Then we tell you the best way to install the interlock and the power inlet. The quote is free.
Get a surge protector too
We recommend a whole home surge protector with any portable generator. A portable generator puts out “dirtier” power than the power company does. It can make LEDs flicker.
We install generator interlock kits in Cleveland, Rutherford, Gaston and Polk Counties NC. We are licensed and insured.
What is a generator interlock kit?
A generator interlock kit is a small plate that mounts on your breaker panel. It lets you turn on either your main breaker or the generator breaker, never both at once. That is what blocks the generator from back feeding the power lines. It is the part that makes a portable generator hookup safe and legal.
What is a generator inlet box?
It is a weatherproof box mounted on the outside of your house. You plug your portable generator into it with a power cord. The box is wired to your panel, so you do not run extension cords through windows and doors, and you do not plug the generator into a wall outlet. Run the generator outdoors, away from windows and doors, every time.
Is a generator interlock kit legal?
Yes. The interlock blocks the generator from back feeding the electrical system. That is what makes the setup both safe and legal. A licensed electrician should install it.
How much does generator interlock kit installation cost compared to a whole home generator?
A whole home automatic generator system usually costs $10,000 to $20,000 or more, installed. A 12 kW portable generator with an interlock kit and generator inlet box installed can cost less than $3,000. The tradeoff is simple. An automatic system starts itself. With a portable generator, you roll it out and plug it in. For a lot of families, that is a fair trade for thousands of dollars.
How much of my house can a 12 kW portable generator run?
Most people can run the bulk of their home on a 12 kW generator. That usually means the refrigerator, freezer, lights, well pump, and more. We look at your electrical service and panel and tell you what makes sense for your house.
Can I run my AC on a portable generator?
You may be able to, if the AC system has a soft start built in. A soft start eases the startup surge that big AC units pull. We look at your setup and tell you.
I have well water. Do I need a generator?
If you are on well water, yes. No power means the well pump stops, and that means no water. A generator hooked up through an interlock kit and inlet box keeps the pump running through an outage.
Can I use a whole home battery instead of a generator?
Yes. A breaker interlock and a generator inlet box also let you power your home from a whole home battery pack when the power goes out.
What will you check before the install?
We look at your current electrical service and panel. Then we tell you the best way to install the generator interlock and the power inlet, and we give you a free quote.
Why do you recommend a whole home surge protector?
Portable generators put out dirtier power than the power company does. That can cause LEDs to flicker. A whole home surge protector is a good add-on with any portable generator.
Contact us for your free quote or call us today +1 828-289-6216
