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arby · Mar 16, 2007, 06:05 AM

I plan on buying a portable generator to hook up my house for emergency power, going to instal a manual transfer switch. I was wondering most generators have numerous outlets on them do I have to rewire the panel on the generator to get max output or does the 240 receptacle put out the max, I plan on putting in a 60 amp switch and buying around a 6500 watt gen.

tkrussell · Mar 16, 2007, 01:04 PM

The 240 volt outlet is probably a 30 or 40 amp at the most. 6500 watts at 240 is only 27 amps so don't expect too much more of the genset.

arby · Mar 16, 2007, 01:19 PM

How many amps at 120 would the genset be

tkrussell · Mar 16, 2007, 01:20 PM

27 amps each 120 volt leg.

arby · Mar 16, 2007, 01:36 PM

Thanks I might look at a little bigger genset

pelle · Mar 16, 2007, 02:21 PM

Since I work for a power utility.. PLEASE be sure to install the transfer switch and USE it. One of the scariest things is to hear generators going when the power is out in an area. Especially for support people who don't work around wires all the time.

labman · Mar 16, 2007, 02:41 PM

I have a generator rated at 6250. The fine print says 5000 continuos. I added up my furnace, pump, refrigerator, and freezer and if I ran them all at once, it would only add up to 4,000 watts. You should be able to do quite a bit with that size generator. Be sure and look at the interlock plates. If you have a newer Square D box, they may be as cheap as $16. With the interlock plate, you can use any circuit in the house, just not all at once. Do a search here generator + connect.

There have been some reports here of furnaces refusing to run on a generator. It may require careful attention to grounding and good voltage regulation.