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1. Transfer switches for portable generators install#
2. Transfer switches for portable generators generator#

You won’t be able to connect anything that’s hardwired to your circuit panel, like a furnace or an air conditioner compressor, and you’re also out of luck if you have an electric range or dryer, because both use large, 220-volt, four-prong plugs. Keep in mind, too, that without a transfer switch, you can power only electronics that have a standard plug. And yes, multiple cords: Because they can be overloaded, you’ll need a dedicated cord for anything that draws a lot of power, such as a space heater or window air conditioner.

Transfer switches for portable generators generator#

Without this switch installed, you’ll need to run outdoor-rated extension cords from your generator into the house. Heating and cooling equipment are essential, as are water heaters and well pumps. The electrician can help you figure out which circuits you’ll want to power in an outage. The switch itself is installed by an electrician, usually alongside your main circuit breaker panel. When electric service is out in your area, you plug your portable generator into an outdoor outlet that’s connected, through the house, to a transfer switch inside.

Think of a transfer switch as a miniature circuit breaker panel that draws electricity from your generator instead of from the power company. (The advantage of home standby generators? They have a built-in transfer switch that automatically switches on when the power goes off.) How a Transfer Switch Works Portable generators rated for 5,000 watts and above can connect to your home’s circuit breaker panel with a transfer switch-a small board that looks a bit like a circuit breaker panel itself. “A transfer switch will let you power things on your circuit breaker panel, including hardwired appliances like a water heater or well pump.” “It’s not only less safe to run a generator without a transfer switch, but you’ll limit the devices that your generator can power,” says Dave Trezza, who performs generator testing at Consumer Reports.

Transfer switches for portable generators install#

You’ll have time to get familiar with the generator, stock up on gasoline, and most important, hire an electrician to install a transfer switch-a small device that allows you to power entire circuits in your house with a portable generator-without the hassle and potential dangers of using extension cords. The ideal time to shop for a generator? Before you really need it. But getting a portable generator up and running in a hurry often means bypassing the recommended installation procedure and making do with extension cords. Sales of portable generators tend to spike around major storms, from just before to weeks afterward.