On occasion I do home repairs on houses that have no power because homes are in foreclosure etc… What’s the quickest & safest way to repeatedly connect to a portable generator to a main panel. Would like to know proper equipment & procedures if possible.Thank you in advance.
Buy an appropriate sized extension lead about 50 foot long.
Put generator matching plug on one end and heavy duty "alligator" clips on other. (Be sure to color code them!)
Run line to main panel IN THE HOUSE, turn OFF main breaker, remove cover.
IF there is a double "vacancy" in the breaker strip connect clips there, IF not, remove a breaker and connect. (For 110/220 you need to remove a 220 double breaker or 2-110 singles. IF singles they MUST be on different "legs"! The circuits on removed breakers will NOT have power.)
Be sure to remove connections AND replace cover whenever leaving premises.
I specified the panel INSIDE the house for 2 reasons.
1. According to code, ANY "auxiliary" power connection at the "access" panel is required to have a transfer switch to prevent power being fed back into the lines leading to the premises. (THESE switches are EXPENSIVE!!)
(THIS is ALSO why you want the MAIN breaker INSIDE OFF. FOR SAFETY!!)
2. MANY times the outside panel has a seal on the cover which you do NOT want to remove. (In SOME cases, removal is illegal if done by anyone other than the power company or electrical inspector.)
That leaves your generator OUTSIDE, and your connections INSIDE where they are protected from weather.