How to Hook up a Portable Generator to Your House!! Emergency Only!!!

I am a woman and even I totally understand how to do this for well pump now! Thanks so much sweetheart from a Southern Belle! Much love to y’all up there!! ♥️

I fully understand the logic/theory behind each step. Good video for those who know what that's all about.

watched your vid over a year ago after i bought a generator , got 10/4 wire and made up a cord , yesterday power went out and i tapped into the stove breaker that we dont use. 40 amp. worked like a champ , we had power to everything for 14 hrs . including air-conditioning. we just monitored everything . Thanks for explaining everything to a tee.

As confusing as this video might have been for the average person to understand this wiring method, and understanding how the 2 phases of a panel are setup, it might’ve been just as easy to simply explain the interlock system. I absolutely love the release of liability in the beginning. Great job with this video!!

This is a VERY Italian way of telling someone how to do something you are not supposed to do. I love it!

It's the same way you would wire your panel for a lockout kit except you didn't add two breakers and an external twist lock connector. It doesn't cost that much more. Also, an easy way to tell if the power comes back on is to use a battery powered voltage tester that rings (chirps).Just set it next to the incoming service lines at the top of your panel.

Loved it! Next time just hit the main and plug it into the dryer outlet, as it's 220v and will run both L1 & L2 on the house panel. It's easier and safer than rewiring the house panel. Just don't forget to: 1. Turn off the OUTSIDE Main 1st, as you said. Some houses have two mains. One on the inside panel and one on the outside where the power company meter is. Yep that is the MOST important part so you don't fry someone or your generator. 2. Run a wire from the "Generator Ground" to the house ground in the house panel, if your power cord doesn't have one. 3. Shut off the AC System unless your generator can take a 22 Kilo Watt hit for a second when the AC compressor turns on. I'm guessing most folks don't have a 22KW home generator. Options: If you need AC like we do here in the south buy two small AC 250-350 sqft window units. Put them in the rooms you sleep, say kids or master bedroom, or both in a big master bedroom and have the kids sleep on the floor or pull in some mats for them. My 7KW/8.5KW surge generator will run the house & both small AC units at the same time. You do have to turn off everything that you're not using just to be safe you don't trip the generator circuit breakers. The rooms can use just the regular overhead lights but a small 40 watt desk lamp is better. Put LED night lights in the rooms for night time. Most rooms can be used under night lights, or at least the bathrooms. Most definitely get a transfer switch in the future. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya

I remember watching this a year ago. Then a few dozen other home electrical videos. I feel more comfortable with what is in this one. Thank you for sharing.

And how did I know where to plug in the white wire you ask? 😯 Eating my popcorn like ahhhhhhh son wait for it lol. Great video.

I won't be surprise if you are an Electrician or a EE. But I commend you for making it so simple to understand and speaking in layman's term.

Super thorough!! that is how it is supposed to be done! I too am super thorough and it was refreshing to see someone be as thorough as me! Thank you so much for sharing!

State of Texas watching this like!!!!!!

Great video 👍👍. I'm in Fl, just went through Ian. For 20 years, 4 different places, I've hooked my generator to my panel with the 10/4 like you did but to my dryer breaker. I hooked the Ground to the Ground Bar, the White (Neutral) to the White (Neutral) Bar, the Black & Red to the Breaker. I can't remember taking the Lines off before from the Breaker to the Dryer Outlet so left them on. For some reason I was getting 220v into my 110v breakers. I about blew my Fridge, I blew ever Bulb, Ceiling Fan in every room I turned on, Luckily I didn't Blow my TV. I kept Blowung GFIs in the Panel and through the house. I worked on trying to straighten this problem out all day until power cane back on. I think the GFIs saved my BUTT from blowing more things. My GROUND Wire in the Panel was loose, found that out when breaking it all down after power came back. WOULD a "LOOSE GROUND" have to do with like Getting POWER SURGES to my 110v stuff??? OR was it leaving the Wires on the Breaker to the Dryer Outlet???? I hope u answer I feel like a failure and its been bugging me for days now. I think I've looked at a few hundred videos until I found yours, GREAT JOB. THANK YOU I did though when 1st hooking up, I couldn't get all circuits working so I hooked freezer and Fridge on cords. After I thought I had the problem fixed I un plugged the Fridge from cord and plugged into the outlet AND POW, GENERATOR PULLS, FRIDGE smelled and thought I blew my Fridge. After that I was still popping GFIs. So it STILL could be the loose ground from Generator Cord to Panel???

Buddy this is the best video i have seen on doing this. Great job.

We lost power about 7 years ago for 10 days, I have a 10K Generator, for working my power tools in the back yard. I had no idea how to hook the Generator into my panel to get power to our well pump, lights and a few other things. A friend of mine that is an electrician came over and hooked it into the breaker panel just about the exact way. Awesome video!!

He looks like uncle fester without the light bulb. Great video

THANK YOU 🙏 Going to search for more of your stuff.

Thanks man. Great video. You are a good guy for posting this.

PERSONALLY I would have installed a manual transfer switch next to the main Panel, which is the way my generator back up system is set up. The transfer switch is a Connecticut Emergen Manual Transfer Switch. This way you can be sure that the system is completely safe to the power company and your self.

Love the conversation you held all good bro