30 amp Inlet/Passthrough Project

[SupremePossum]

Do I have a problem with over-preparing for power outages? Yes.

Kind of a boring post, but figured I'd post in case it gave someone an idea

I have a standby Genset with an ATS, and I also have a 30a inlet with Interlock at the panel

BUT, what if I want to power something in my house separately from those?

* Load testing a portable generator (Such as my bi-monthly test)
* Powering larger or more sensitive appliances from a smaller inverter generator when running on backup-backup power from my 6kw light tower
* Powering a few critical items while I change the oil in my main genset
* Powering critical network UPS while electrical work is occurring

Among other things

So I got a 30a inlet and just wired it up to a L14-30R on the other side of the wall. From there I can adapt to whatever I want using this adapter

I also got a 120v 30a adapter to go from my 120v only portable genset to an L14-30R which has both hots connected. Which would still let me use the above adapter, all outlets would just be on the same phase, which is fine

 

[SupremePossum]

Testing with around 3kw, zero problems

 

[DCDG]

When I first read the post I was thinking you installed the Reliance controls through wall kit.

https://www.reliancecontrols.com/pr...e-generator-through-the-wall-kit-gray-wkpbn30

Which technically you come up with your own version. very nice, clean and good workmanship

 

[Lubener]

I did a similiar project back in October. I got tired of feeding the cord through the kitchen window to power the fridge and scrambling to find some backer rod to seal the window to keep out the CO.

 

[SupremePossum]

I did a similiar project back in October. I got tired of feeding the cord through the kitchen window to power the fridge and scrambling to find some backer rod to seal the window to keep out the CO.

This is the kind of thing that seems a little silly, but when you need it, you really need it!

 

[Pablo]

My 9500 watt manual set up works fine but tempting to get a full blown $25K biggie installed. This would insure there would never be another power outage in this house

 

[SupremePossum]

Yeah I have a 27kw Liquid cooled, love it

 

[DCDG]

Every time a storm is predicted i fill my gas cans and bingo the storm passes right on by. I bet if i purchased a big dollar unit we'd never see a storm again

 

[SupremePossum]

Every time a storm is predicted i fill my gas cans and bingo the storm passes right on by. I bet if i purchased a big dollar unit we'd never see a storm again

Thats what I thought and what happened to me

THEN, we had the Houston Derecho (24 hour power outage with record high heat) and a month later, Hurricane Beryl with a 7 day power outage

Worse, the CenterPoint Energy prediction for power restoration got posted 6 days into my outage, and said we'd have to wait 2 more weeks for power

Without the generator, we'd have been having to prepare for that

That situation alone solidified I had made the right choice. It removed all anxiety about power outages. As someone who is quite well prepared and handy, I also found it interesting that the aftermath of hurricane Beryl was very stressful despite the fact we had zero house damage but a spot of brown sheetrock from driven winds (Fixed the issue) and some very old fences down, AND, I had the AC set to 68 degrees while I ate my home cooked meal after cleaning up the oak tree salad in the front yard

Would never live without backup power again

 

[SupremePossum]

Another point to add, a few neighbors have portable generators with interlocks and claimed a standby generator is a waste because their portable generator would work just as well

A few things happened

First, during that 7 day outage, Probably 30% of the people I knew with portable generators had them fail. I'm sure some due to lack of maintenance, but that heat was no joke

The other thing is that quite a few people realized that when the wind is blowing a million miles an hour and the rain is coming in sideways, its not really a good time to run outside and fire up the portable generator... So they sat without power. Of course my Standby unit just turned on...

1 person also burned down their generator while refueling it while on

 

[Lubener]

Go live with the Amish. They are unaffected by these problems.

 

[DCDG]

Another point to add, a few neighbors have portable generators with interlocks and claimed a standby generator is a waste because their portable generator would work just as well

A few things happened

First, during that 7 day outage, Probably 30% of the people I knew with portable generators had them fail. I'm sure some due to lack of maintenance, but that heat was no joke

The other thing is that quite a few people realized that when the wind is blowing a million miles an hour and the rain is coming in sideways, its not really a good time to run outside and fire up the portable generator... So they sat without power. Of course my Standby unit just turned on...

1 person also burned down their generator while refueling it while on

That's stupidity on fueling a hot and or running generator and yes many generators like lawn equipment expire early due to lack of and improper maintenance. My biggest fear would be running up my fuel supply and stations being empty or without power themselves and not able to pump. Hurricane Sandy took out long island for nearly a week and that little 4000/3500 Champion fought through like a champ although that was when new also survived Irene previously. I don't want to test my luck but 15 years is pretty darn good luck with 100% chinesium equipment spends most of her days now mostly doing maintenance runs or minor local power blips that last more than a few mins. Good fuel + Good plug + the right maintenance = years of trouble free reliability that's my recipe and maybe bit of being lucky.

 

[repairman54]

I've been on both sides of the fence. Portable and stationary. Stationary is the way to go, no gasoline issues, hooking up, etc. And the stationary is adding value to your home.
I was 11 days on a portable with Sandy and lucky to be in NW NJ so going north into NY I was able to get gas easily since storm and power issues didn't go too far north. 5600w portable had a 5 gallon per day habit and my work area in NYS made it easy for me to get gas. Sandy was my longest outage but I had plenty of 1/2 to 2 day outages in rural NW NJ. Being a BITOG'er my stuff was always ready to go and never let me down.
Living now in the NYS Adirondack's a generator is standard equipment with sub zero night winters. I'd say 3/4 of the places in town have stationary's.

 

[DCDG]

I've been on both sides of the fence. Portable and stationary. Stationary is the way to go, no gasoline issues, hooking up, etc. And the stationary is adding value to your home.
I was 11 days on a portable with Sandy and lucky to be in NW NJ so going north into NY I was able to get gas easily since storm and power issues didn't go too far north. 5600w portable had a 5 gallon per day habit and my work area in NYS made it easy for me to get gas. Sandy was my longest outage but I had plenty of 1/2 to 2 day outages in rural NW NJ. Being a BITOG'er my stuff was always ready to go and never let me down.
Living now in the NYS Adirondack's a generator is standard equipment with sub zero night winters. I'd say 3/4 of the places in town have stationary's.

it doesn't fit everyone's pockets or situation going stationary. my biggest factors are cost and I ain't dying in the house. I was never lucky to have a luxury add on that someone wanted to pay extra for while it can add home value realistically you have to find that buyer that wants it. This generation of home buyer sees extra machinery and home add-on's as extra maintenance or an expense, they don't think or plan on the luxury utility factor upfront.

 

[alarmguy]

it doesn't fit everyone's pockets or situation going stationary. my biggest factors are cost and I ain't dying in the house. I was never lucky to have a luxury add on that someone wanted to pay extra for while it can add home value realistically you have to find that buyer that wants it. This generation of home buyer sees extra machinery and home add-on's as extra maintenance or an expense, they don't think or plan on the luxury utility factor upfront.

This is a good point. I wouldnt want a whole house generator. Though I am someone who would never spend for that. Im also the person who wouldnt see additional value in a home sale with one. I actually would not want it.

Living on the South East Coast it IS something a select few people do get installed when they move in. I guess the perception of hurricanes. (again the media creates that here) SO once one is installed, it has to fire up automatically every month, annual services (most people pay for that) This can go on for 10 years before anything useful comes out of it. I will admit, my wife wanted something in case a hurricane, ah yes the media. Who knows, maybe one day we will get a portable, powerful enough such a 220 inverter to run on propane.

Thing is here, forget the media. Many people who have them say the last time they really needed it was 2018. That's 8 years of maintenance with a whole house and for me, a propane one could sit in the garage until needed. So once again, I talked myself out of wanting one and my wife has since cooled on the idea. Yeah, she wont let me forget if that once a decade storm takes out power. *LOL*

Of course I am not discounting anything, depends on where you live and the reliability of the grid near you. Most stuff is underground here.

 

[SupremePossum]

Hey now remember what forum you're in, I love maintaining an engine

 

[DCDG]

This is a good point. I wouldnt want a whole house generator. Though I am someone who would never spend for that. Im also the person who wouldnt see additional value in a home sale with one. I actually would not want it.

Living on the South East Coast it IS something a select few people do get installed when they move in. I guess the perception of hurricanes. (again the media creates that here) SO once one is installed, it has to fire up automatically every month, annual services (most people pay for that) This can go on for 10 years before anything useful comes out of it. I will admit, my wife wanted something in case a hurricane, ah yes the media. Who knows, maybe one day we will get a portable, powerful enough such a 220 inverter to run on propane.

Thing is here, forget the media. Many people who have them say the last time they really needed it was 2018. That's 8 years of maintenance with a whole house and for me, a propane one could sit in the garage until needed. So once again, I talked myself out of wanting one and my wife has since cooled on the idea. Yeah, she wont let me forget if that once a decade storm takes out power. *LOL*

Of course I am not discounting anything, depends on where you live and the reliability of the grid near you. Most stuff is underground here.

you and I think very very very much alike on the financial and realistic side of practicality and buying over hype. the got to have mentality will keep many people with emptier pockets then should be. it's a sickness actually and many get offended cause they're called out on it like a hoarder, hoarding they get defensive and try to make others agree.

 

[SupremePossum]

 

[DCDG]

Hey now remember what forum you're in, I love maintaining an engine

I do maintain an engine that's bolted to a movable chassis. more the reason not to own a pad mounted standby generator. I am taking my labor of love with me when I move.

 

[SupremePossum]

So this worked out so well in the house, I figured I should do something in the garage. I also have a UPS in the garage which powers some more things critical to me, so I got a 120v inlet. Now I can easily have that small 120v inverter genset right there and power the garage and house critical loads, if I ever needed to

Another day I will run another wire up and over to my network rack, so there is an outlet there. On the way there is the garage door, so I could even throw an outlet there too