200A Panel Full - want to install full house surge protector

My 9500 watt HF Predator gen is gas. I don't really want to convert and plumb to/from my LP tank.
Our outages tend to be short. I have not started the genny in anger in 2+ years. I do run for maintaining and such

A new thing for me is making decisions on "house half life"- we will be drastically down sizing house/property wise in 5-6-maybe 7 years.
Think more expensive place on water. IE smaller. Crap within walking distance kind of thing. Geezerville! So I am now constantly asking "Do I REALLY need this?" I mean anything that smokes out now, will replace.
 
My 9500 watt HF Predator gen is gas. I don't really want to convert and plumb to/from my LP tank.
Our outages tend to be short. I have not started the genny in anger in 2+ years. I do run for maintaining and such

A new thing for me is making decisions on "house half life"- we will be drastically down sizing house/property wise in 5-6-maybe 7 years.
Think more expensive place on water. IE smaller. Crap within walking distance kind of thing. Geezerville! So I am now constantly asking "Do I REALLY need this?" I mean anything that smokes out now, will replace.
We thought about a gen, wife REALLY wanted one when moving to the coast but now that we made it through a tropical storm or two without even a blink of the lights she is ok. Our small 120 (?) LP tank would not be sufficient and the thought of gas for something that may not ever be used turned me off. So I MAY one day, pick up a small one (though I am sure I wont) to keep the refrigerator TV and possibly buy a small AC unit that will stay in storage with the gen to stay cool in one room.
I noticed that lock out switch on your panel. A lot of people either do the entire Genarac route or the outside plug to the panel. Im sure I wont do anything and regret it one day, so I can hear my wife remind me for the rest of my life *LOL*

Yeah, hate to say it, you get to the point of asking "will I be alive to receive the benefit?"
Scary stuff/reality sometimes makes you wonder. :unsure:
 
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We thought about a gen, wife REALLY wanted one when moving to the coast but now that we made it through a tropical storm or two without even a blink of the lights she is ok. Our small 120 (?) LP tank would not be sufficient and the thought of gas for something that may not ever be used turned me off. So I MAY one day, pick up a small one (though I am sure I wont) to keep the refrigerator TV and possibly buy a small AC unit that will stay in storage with the gen to stay cool in one room.
I noticed that lock out switch on your panel. A lot of people either do the entire Genarac route or the outside plug to the panel. Im sure I wont do anything and regret it one day, so I can hear my wife remind me for the rest of my life *LOL*

Yeah, hate to say it, you get to the point of asking "will I be alive to receive the benefit?"
Scary stuff/reality sometimes makes you wonder. :unsure:

I tested all kinds of stuff, Predator did fine - locked out - plugged in from breezeway on other side of wall. This box set up was here when we bought the place, so - take advantage. The gen circuit and lockout was added and permitted at some point. So was the 80A sub in my shop. Hehehehehheh. No that was from the original build, people who built the house in 2014 NEVER used the shop, never set foot inside. Not sure if health issues or what.
 
I decided against adding that whole house surge protector.

I have all the important stuff sans the washing machine and DW already protected, and maybe 5-7 more years in this house. I guess I'll take my chances.

I think you'll be fine, especially being in the PNW.
 
So I MAY one day, pick up a small one (though I am sure I wont) to keep the refrigerator TV and possibly buy a small AC unit that will stay in storage with the gen to stay cool in one room.
26 years in SE TX.
We were without power for 8 days after Ike.
The weather was absolutely beautiful after the storm for several weeks.

This year Beryl we lost power for 3 days.
One day was somewhat miserable.

I thought about a small generator and window unit.... still can't justify it.

We keep about 6 old milk jugs frozen in our second refrigerator.
If/When we lose power, those get moved to the main freezer as needed.

We had to eat ice cream on the second day.
 
26 years in SE TX.
We were without power for 8 days after Ike.
The weather was absolutely beautiful after the storm for several weeks.

This year Beryl we lost power for 3 days.
One day was somewhat miserable.

I thought about a small generator and window unit.... still can't justify it.

We keep about 6 old milk jugs frozen in our second refrigerator.
If/When we lose power, those get moved to the main freezer as needed.

We had to eat ice cream on the second day.
With all but one kid gone - just converted our upright freezer to all ice - bottles, jugs, bags, cubes - now instead of a liability - it’s an asset if off-line and don’t have to worry about $$$ worth of meat inside …
We have a large and small fridge - the smaller mainly drinks and over flow items …
 
Installed and "working". I mean both LEDs are lit so should be working. (ha!)

The only minor pain is the lock out jig got in the way - in every way possible including removing the cover and then the two 20A breakers to the right of the generator brkr-sw. So I took the bloody thing off temporarily, then it fought with me again and then it fought with me re-installing the panel cover without smacking half the breakers. Just needed perfect re-alignment.

House power back on before the wife even came back in the house.
 
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