Portable Generator Interlock Transfer Installations And Electrical Services

FAQ

What are our hours of operation?

Monday - Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm Saturday 09:00am - 6:00pm

Houston Office 832-217-9494

WHAT ARE INTERLOCK TRANSFER INSTALLATIONS? They allow you to run power/electricity from a portable generator to any circuit within the electrical breaker panel. Allows safe powering (with the use of an interlock kit) of a home by using a portable generator during a power outage. It is a safe, affordable alternative to purchasing and installing an expensive home automatic stand-by generator. ARE INTERLOCK TRANSFER INSTALLATIONS SAFE? An interlock transfer installation is a safe and cost-effective way to ensure you’re using a portable generator safely, providing you have a certified licensed electrician preforming the installation. WHAT ARE INTERLOCK KITS? A device that creates a mechanical interference between the main breaker and the generator back feed breaker, that prevents the main breaker and the generator breaker from being turned on at the same time. The “interlocking” of these breakers protects the public power system by ensuring that your generator does not accidentally put power on the utility power grid. ARE INTERLOCK TRANSFER KITS UL LISTED? Interlock transfer kits are intended to be installed by licensed electricians. The kits are designed, manufactured, and tested by Wyle Labs are to meet the National Electrical Code and the National Fire Protection Code. The Wyle Labs is a nationally recognized testing laboratory that tests to UL standards. DO PORTABLE GENERATOR INTERLOCK KITS MEET CODE? They physically prevent the utility main power from being on at the same time as the portable generator breaker. Yes, they do meet National Electrical code, and local standards. DO INTERLOCK TRANSFER INSTALLATIONS NEED AN ELECTRICAL PERMIT? Yes, if the interlock transfer installation is installed in a city, town or municipality in the State of Texas, an electrical permit will have to be summited, and an inspection will be performed. DO I NEED A SEPARATE BREAKER PANEL TO HAVE AN INTERLOCK TRANSFER INSTALLATION? No, not in most cases. The interlock transfer installation will go on the existing breaker panel. Exception: If the breaker panel is full and there are no extra spaces for the portable generator breaker, we will have to make extra spaces by installing tandem breakers, or installing a sub-panel, or installing a larger new breaker panel. DO I NEED A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN TO PREFORM AN INTERLOCK TRANSFER INSTALLATION? Yes, in the State of Texas you need a Texas Master Licensed Electrician, and a Journeyman Electrician working under a Texas Electrical Contractors License to perform an interlock transfer installation. WHAT IS THE BASIC “INTERLOCK MY GENERATOR” INTERLOCK TRANSFER INSTALLATION? 1) Relocate circuit breakers in breaker panel to place generator breaker in proper location. 2) Install a back feed generator circuit breaker in correct position to work properly. 3) Install conduit and conductors from generator breaker to weatherproof portable generator inlet. 4) Install proper interlock kit from main breaker to back feed generator breaker. DOES “INTERLOCK MY GENERATOR” GIVE FREE ESTIMATES? We absolutely do give free estimates. Send us a close-up picture and a full picture of your breaker panel and portable generator and we will email or text you a quote for the cost of the interlock transfer installation. DOES “INTERLOCK MY GENERATOR” GIVE A WARRANTY ON THEIR INSTALLATION? Yes, we give our customers a 24-month warranty on installation, provided that once our job is completed, YOU MUST use a Texas State Licensed Electrician to remove and replace the breaker panel in its proper place so the interlock kit will work properly. DOES A PORTABLE GENERATOR NEED A GROUND ROD? Whether to ground your portable generator or not is probably the most misunderstood and debated topics when it comes to a portable generator. As a rule, for most residential applications, a portable generator only needs to be grounded with a grounded electrode (ground rod) when the generator is powering a house with a switched neutral transfer switch. A transfer switch of this type removes the home’s ground rod from the equation in the event of a lightning strike and the generator must have one installed. When using an interlock kit with a 4-wire twist-lock generator cord, the neutral is not switched or removed from the home breaker panel and utility power source, and does not switch the neutral, thereby most portable generator does not need a grounded electrode (ground rod). Liability Disclaimer: There are many different portable generator manufactures. Although most generators will not require a grounded electrode (ground rod). We recommend that you request information from the manufacture about installing a ground rod with your portable generator when an interlock transfer installation is installed to power your home. After installation is complete, the generator or the installation should not be modified in any way. When panel cover is removed (after interlock kit is installed) it is imperative that it is properly placed back on breaker panel as it was originally installed. Warranty will be expired if panel cover is removed by anyone except a Texas State Licensed Electrician.