How to generator power pass through to inside the house.

[Oldoak]

Close. But not exactly.
I have a farmhouse built in the late 1700s and am familiar with knob and tube.

The cabin had two uninsulated wires ran down the center of each rooms ceiling for positive and negative.
By alligator clipping on ( or even twisting a wire around each one)
The owner could move and set lights wherever he desired.
The insulators? One inch chunks of PVC or pieces of a broom handle about an inch long.

They had PVC back then? I don't think so.

 

[bigtiller]

The harbor freight gent lives in this:

View attachment 630829

Where did the genny house come from?

 

[aczlan]

They had PVC back then? I don't think so.

As I read it, lennyzx11 was talking about two different buildings, a 1700s farmhouse and a cabin that a friend had setup a lot voltage knob and tube system in.

Aaron Z

 

[LouNY]

Close. But not exactly.
I have a farmhouse built in the late 1700s and am familiar with knob and tube.

The cabin had two uninsulated wires ran down the center of each rooms ceiling for positive and negative.
By alligator clipping on ( or even twisting a wire around each one)
The owner could move and set lights wherever he desired.
The insulators? One inch chunks of PVC or pieces of a broom handle about an inch long.

One tidbit of information concerning the old knob and tube wiring which doesn't seem to be common knowledge is that a great deal
of the knob and tube found in old barns and farm houses was installed prior to commercial power.
It was run when the upscale farm would have a Delco Power Plant usually running off a hit and miss engine to provide DC power for the farm.
It continued to be used after commercial AC power arrived.

 

[Imold]

Here is what I run my generator into for my home, had it added to my service back in 98 after a 4 day power out in the winter, would be nice if it had a auto switch but it works for us for what use it gets. I have a 40ft cable that is plugged into the bottom of the 200 amp box and then the cable runs down to my basement door, just have to start the gen and plug it in after I move the switch. When I see the power back on around us I go and shut the gen down, unplug it and go to the pole and move the switch to is proper spot.

 

[Imold]

Here is what I run my generator into for my home, had it added to my service back in 98 after a 4 day power out in the winter, would be nice if it had a auto switch but it works for us for what use it gets. I have a 40ft cable that is plugged into the bottom of the 200 amp box and then the cable runs down to my basement door, just have to start the gen and plug it in after I move the switch. When I see the power back on around us I go and shut the gen down, unplug it and go to the pole and move the switch to is proper spot. Up is on Grid power and Down is for off Grid power.

View attachment 630862

 

[gshellen]

I struggled with transfer switch’s and interlock kits in my last few houses. Adding a transfer switch is expensive and limiting in the number of circuits you can move over. Interlock switches work well, if your code and existing panel support them. My current house has 400 amp service, so getting all my critical circuits under generator power wasn’t possible without serious rewiring ($$$$). Here is an easier way. GenerLink switch. Comes in 30 and 40 amp versions. Simple and safe. Best of all, you can take it with you when you move. I can’t post a link as I’m still under the min post count. Home Depot sells them. The 30 amp runs $650.

 

[snymat68]

I struggled with transfer switch’s and interlock kits in my last few houses. Adding a transfer switch is expensive and limiting in the number of circuits you can move over. Interlock switches work well, if your code and existing panel support them. My current house has 400 amp service, so getting all my critical circuits under generator power wasn’t possible without serious rewiring ($$$$). Here is an easier way. GenerLink switch. Comes in 30 and 40 amp versions. Simple and safe. Best of all, you can take it with you when you move. I can’t post a link as I’m still under the min post count. Home Depot sells them. The 30 amp runs $650.

That's a clean (although expensive) approach I hadn't heard of before. Pretty neat.

 

[Travelover]

That's a clean (although expensive) approach I hadn't heard of before. Pretty neat.

I agre it is a simple solution , though it is $650 for $25 worth of parts.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I agre it is a simple solution , though it is $650 for $25 worth of parts.

I'm thinking by the time you have a transfer switch bought and installed the price will be close to the same.