Consumerbot3418
Fitting square pegs into round holes... for fun?
It's important to use a transfer switch that also switches neutral, when using a bonded generator, I'm convinced. But how? I found this 3 pole, double throw safety switch, but the $600+ price tag has me weighing my options, and trying to get creative.
Would it be possible (code compliant) to just put a 3 pole safety switch on each input, and carefully switch one off, before switching the other on? It would achieve (nearly) the same thing, and save about $500!
Or, could a receptacle be wired to the generator output, another to the grid-sourced output, and then a matching plug be fitted to feed my load panel? No risk of having both sources connected that way... I'm guessing there's some kind of NEC against feeding a panel with a plug (as so many RVs do), but I couldn't arrive at a definitive answer whilst researching. If UL plugs and receptacles are used, and it's not against code, it would be a safe and durable solution to my problem.
I also considered a DIN rail mounted contactor-based solution like this. I assume it would be code compliant, but I'd rather not trust a cheap/no-name, non-UL component for such a critical task.
Thoughts? Anyone else found a safe (code-compliant), affordable way to do this?
Would it be possible (code compliant) to just put a 3 pole safety switch on each input, and carefully switch one off, before switching the other on? It would achieve (nearly) the same thing, and save about $500!
Or, could a receptacle be wired to the generator output, another to the grid-sourced output, and then a matching plug be fitted to feed my load panel? No risk of having both sources connected that way... I'm guessing there's some kind of NEC against feeding a panel with a plug (as so many RVs do), but I couldn't arrive at a definitive answer whilst researching. If UL plugs and receptacles are used, and it's not against code, it would be a safe and durable solution to my problem.
I also considered a DIN rail mounted contactor-based solution like this. I assume it would be code compliant, but I'd rather not trust a cheap/no-name, non-UL component for such a critical task.
Thoughts? Anyone else found a safe (code-compliant), affordable way to do this?
