Generator in a outside building and powering the panel...

[aczlan]

Why do you want to use a kirk key setup? Its overly complicated(in my opinion, of course). Why do you need a captive key? All you need is an interlock like this Generator InterLock Kit Manual Transfer Switch to be perfectly safe. You can kill the grid power, then turn on the genny breaker, then start the genny, or you can start the genny, kill the grid power, then turn on the genny breaker. Either way, the genny and the grid power can never meet. Its not physically possible.

Can you show me a schematic as to how you'd not need two more hot wires with the kirk key setup? I'm not getting it.

No new wires are needed for the kirk key setup.
One lock would go on the main breaker in the house and the other would go on a new genset breaker in the barn subpanel. They are setup so that:
1. There is only one key
2. The key cannot be removed unless the breaker is locked in the off position

So, to switch from utility to generator power you:
1. Shut off the main breaker in the house panel
2. Lock it off
3. Remove the key
4. Walk to the barn
5. Unlock the genset breaker
6. Turn it on

Aaron Z

 

[GPintheMitten]

That's a good solution.

 

[MossRoad]

No new wires are needed for the kirk key setup.
One lock would go on the main breaker in the house and the other would go on a new genset breaker in the barn subpanel. They are setup so that:
1. There is only one key
2. The key cannot be removed unless the breaker is locked in the off position

So, to switch from utility to generator power you:
1. Shut off the main breaker in the house panel
2. Lock it off
3. Remove the key
4. Walk to the barn
5. Unlock the genset breaker
6. Turn it on

Aaron Z

Well that's just ridiculously simple!!! :laughing:

So you need a key device on the main breaker, a key device on the genny breaker, a breaker for the genny in the barn and that's it? The same key that turns off the main breaker is the same key that turns on the genny breaker? You can't remove the key in the wrong position and accidentally turn things on in the incorrect order? If so, nice!

What's cheaper? That setup or two wires, a breaker in the house and an interlock kit? Or are you just happy you don't have to pull two wires in the conduit under the drive, possibly skin them up, spend the better part of a day, etc...?

Looks like a good, safe choice. Pretty easy to explain the opperation to the users, too. :thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

Well that's just ridiculously simple!!! :laughing:
So you need a key device on the main breaker, a key device on the genny breaker, a breaker for the genny in the barn and that's it? The same key that turns off the main breaker is the same key that turns on the genny breaker? You can't remove the key in the wrong position and accidentally turn things on in the incorrect order? If so, nice!

Correct. It would also work at my place where I have a similar situation (but no paved driveway to deal with)

What's cheaper? That setup or two wires, a breaker in the house and an interlock kit? Or are you just happy you don't have to pull two wires in the conduit under the drive, possibly skin them up, spend the better part of a day, etc...?

Well, the wires would be about $135 each (assuming 150' runs), so 3 of them would be $400ish. It looks like I can get a used 2 lock kirk key setup for under $150

Looks like a good, safe choice. Pretty easy to explain the opperation to the users, too. :thumbsup:

Yep.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

Dang! That's a good deal.