RELIANCE CONTROLS POWERBACK METER

[Vikas]

"The PowerBACK! Is intended to be installed on any manual transfer panel or generator-ready load center. In a power outage, the PowerBACK will sound a 100dB audible alert as soon as utility power is restored. Installs easily in any 1/2" KO within 20 inches of main breaker. Battery powered with low battery indicator."

Does anybody know if it is easy to install and does it work? What is the principle of the operation?

We just had an extended power outage. When the utility company increased their ETA for restoration, I finally gave up and started the generator. I have manual interlock switch. After an hour I went out to check on the generator, one house had lots of lights. So I knocked on their door and they told me that the power was back.

I absolutely need something which can tell me when the power is back. That is disadvantage of the whole house manual transfer switch.

Googling came across this device. The selling website has no other information on it.

This is my breaker

 

[The_Jeff]

Probably "sniffs" through inductance like one of these:

My smart meter has a green LED. Where I set up my portable generator, outside my basement access and legal cord/transfer, I can see my meter. So when I fuel my generator, I check the smart meter for activity.

 

[Elevguy]

I put a indicator light on my panel that is tied to Edison. When Edison power returns I shut generator down and switch breaker back to Edison power

 

[Jarlaxle]

I didn't have my garage hooked to the generator...so I just left the switch for the garage floodlight on.

 

[Vikas]

I have the AC voltage detector but that does not pick up the massive incoming feed but does pick up the branch lines. Unfortunately, that will not work.

The pdf file that I found seems to imply I have to open the panel and have wrap it around the incoming leg of the main line. I would like to avoid doing that.

 

[Superflop]

Or depending on your setup get an auto switch with start/stop for the genset.

 

[HerrStig]

My neighbor calls me on the phone.

 

[supton]

Do you have a street light nearby?

 

[Vikas]

No street lights. Does anybody have explanation as to why the voltage detector can pick up romex going out of the panel but not the main feed coming in to the panel? Is it because main wire jacket is too thick?

By the way some of you do not quite understand how mechanical interlock works. You can NOT have both Edison and generator supplying power to even different circuits at the same time. Some of the suggestions provided here make me think that you are confusing this with non-interlock scheme.

In the interlock scheme, all circuits are either hooked up to the generator or to the grid power. There is nothing in between.

 

[supton]

The switch for my generator does not switch all circuits. Just well, fridge, a few others. But not everything. And I can select what circuits change over. Each circuit of my house goes to this switch panel first, then to the breaker panel. Someone had fun wiring it up. [I don't recall the name of the box otherwise I'd link to it.]

Metal shielding will block 60Hz, although it should make it out of a thin metal layer. It may just be too low of a signal once going through that attenuating layer for it work well.

 

[Vikas]

The advantage of having mechanical interlock switch is that I am not limited to specific pre-selected circuits to run on generator. I am on the honor system to select the circuit which I find to be necessary. So if I wanted, I could run almost any circuit in succession aka refrigerators, laundry, dishwasher, furnace, gas water heater, internet, computer, tv, light bulbs, fans. For example, if I want to use microwave, I can make sure (or turn off) other appliances such as furnace, washer/dryer, dishwasher etc or their circuits. At least that is the basic idea. It is poor man's version of whole house backup system.

It is an aluminum plate which blocks the generator input unless the main breaker is switched off and then only the plate can slide over to allow the generator breaker to switch on.

I had to pay multiple hundred dollars to the electrician for that ten cent worth of the flat aluminum plate. The idea is extremely clever and I don't begrudge the inventor making money. I hope he gets substantial royalty from each sell.

 

[ironman_gq]

We took the easy route (in an outage prone area and it's seasonal use) and had a 20kW genset installed with an automatic transfer panel. Power goes out, generator comes on and takes over till main power is restored. Runs the whole place including the hot tub and AC and was actually not all that expensive considering the damage that an extended outage would cause in the winter to a place that is heated with electricity.