Converting Your Generator to Home Use
If you experience frequent power outages or your area is susceptible severe weather,
a transfer switch* can help you safely power your home or business using a portable
generator. Portable generators can provide comfort, safety and security during power
outages and emergencies, and can be installed temporarily during these situations.
A portable generator must be connected properly to protect electrical utility workers,
family members and property. Improper connection of your portable generator and
transfer switch system could void your homeowner's insurance in case of accident
or injury.
A manual transfer switch is the key to safe and convenient operation of portable
generators for standby power. By isolating those circuits using generator power,
a transfer switch eliminates the risk of backfeeding the electrical utility, which
can cause injury to workers and property damage.
By installing a transfer switch at your breaker box and connecting a portable generator
to the transfer switch, you can run selected circuits for appliances such as a furnace,
well pump sump pump, refrigerator, television, computer, printer or lighting circuit
during a power outage, depending on the capacity of your generator. Since many portable
generators cannot handle all of these loads at the same time, the transfer switch
allows you to manually transfer each of these loads separately whenever you need
them.
Determining which circuits you will require during a power outage is the first step
in selecting the proper wattage generator and transfer switch. Since most home appliances
operate intermittently, a 3000 watt generator can provide adequate power to circuits
for the most common appliances, such as furnace, lights, refrigerator, freezer,
microwave oven, and TV.
If your home has a deep well pump with up to 1 HP motor, a 5000 watt generator will
be required to provide the starting capacity for the pump. Larger wattage units
can be selected for simultaneous starting ands operation of multiple appliances.
Contact your nearest Honda Generator dealer for recommendations on the best model
to meet your needs.
* Honda EB Series Industrial generators can not be used with a transfer switch.
