Connected my MEP-803A the proper way as my home standby generator... Install pics...

[BadRobot]

I have a couple questions.
1. How many amp circuit that connect to your house from electric company?
2. Based on MEP-803A manual, it rates as 52 amps. will you have to have generator output to match your house input circuit?

My house's electrical feed / input circuit from BGE (electric company) is 400 amps. I have 2 panels which support 200 amps each. I also have MEP-804A which rates at 62 amps.
I tried to do the same but my electrician said BGE (electric company) requires generator output to match its circuit which is 400 amps. Otherwise, I have to install 50 amps manual transfer switch and move circuits that I will use or run from the generator when power outage. Is it true statement?

I am not electrician by no mean. I just want to get a second opinion.

 

[csmitty]

I have a couple questions.
1. How many amp circuit that connect to your house from electric company?
2. Based on MEP-803A manual, it rates as 52 amps. will you have to have generator output to match your house input circuit?

My house's electrical feed / input circuit from BGE (electric company) is 400 amps. I have 2 panels which support 200 amps each. I also have MEP-804A which rates at 62 amps.
I tried to do the same but my electrician said BGE (electric company) requires generator output to match its circuit which is 400 amps. Otherwise, I have to install 50 amps manual transfer switch and move circuits that I will use or run from the generator when power outage. Is it true statement?

I am not electrician by no mean. I just want to get a second opinion.

For an automatic transfer switch per nec code the generator has to match the input power, in simple terms. Unless you have load shedding contractors on certain circuits so that when it switches over it won't overload the gen set. Not as simple but pretty seemless in operation.

If you have a manual transfer switch it's expected that you will manually manage the loads as well at your panel and turn off what is unnecessary before switching to gen power.

You can also do a separate emergency circuit panel like they suggested but that means moving all those circuits over to it and depending on where your main panel is that can be a pain.

Isn't the 804 3 phase?

 

[BadRobot]

I think MEP-804A supports both 1 and 3 phases.

Thank you for your answer. It makes sense.

 

[liebsce]

Awesome job! Thanks for all the great ideas.

 

[DieselAddict]

I think MEP-804A supports both 1 and 3 phases.

Thank you for your answer. It makes sense.

The MEP-804 is 3 phase only. It can't be converted to single phase.

 

[lonesouth]

I decided that this is going to be my 15 year home and that we are done moving so I wanted a more permanent installation of my 10kW MEP-803A. I wanted a safe and legal means of connecting it directly to my service panel so that my wife can just throw one lever to restore power after starting the generator up. It made the most sense to me to go with the DPDT safety switch. The county inspector and GA Power were actually surprised to see that I went this route and actually left here smiling... Here are some pics of the finished job.

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Great post! Looks like you painted it in place. Any tips on that? Did you spray or brush, tape off the inlets, etc?

Also, I've seen a few ask, but didn't catch the answer, what size breaker are you running this to?

 

[liebsce]

I now have my MEP-803A set up for portability with a custom made trailer. It's also able to supply the house through a meter base installed automatic transfer switch.

 

[Daybreak]

View attachment 653300View attachment 653301
I now have my MEP-803A set up for portability with a custom made trailer. It's also able to supply the house through a meter base installed automatic transfer switch.

Howdy,
You will like that setup. I have a larger Transconnect and a Generlink. Both have worked great so far without any issue.

 

[Glockfan]

View attachment 653300View attachment 653301
I now have my MEP-803A set up for portability with a custom made trailer. It's also able to supply the house through a meter base installed automatic transfer switch.

Man, that is a real slick transfer switch. In all honesty, my 200A manual switch is very much overkill. I would highly recommend your exact setup and may even go with the same at our cabin. If you don't mind, could you tell me where you purchased the meter base interface?

Your setup looks very neat and simple and would be perfect for someone wanting to keep their genset install portable versus static.

 

[Haoleb]

Nice trailer too. Sure beats the heck out of the M116A3 monstrosity mine is bolted to.

 

[Glockfan]

Liebsce if I could find a single thing to criticize with your trailer, I would say that I myself would have went with LED lights. Other than that, beautiful work man! Since your set is portable, if you had enough tongue length on the trailer, you could incorporate a small power distribution panel and make it real easy to run a suitable power cord from your distro box to your transfer switch.

Get a good wheel chock type trailer lock because it will be easier to steal than a static install. I am not criticizing your work at all. Everything looks sharp! Great job man!

 

[TrailLifeBill]

Glockfan - Did you ever consider putting hardware cloth over the vented openings of the generator case. I think it would keep the mice out. Those little suckers can ruin anything once they get inside and start chewing wiring. I've had my phone lines chewed through three times at the outside phone box in winter. The hardware cloth is heavy screening with 1/2" square openings if you're not familiar with it.

Thanks for the reminder!! No mice here, but dang squirrels are everywhere (and winter's approaching so they'll be looking for new places to bed down).

 

[lonesouth]

I would add that a bumper on the rear would provide better protection for the generator and a set of fenders to prevent the tires from kicking water/dirt onto the generator would be worth looking into. Nice work BTW.

 

[Daybreak]

Howdy,
I have a Generlink which was sourced from my local utility and was installed in about 5 minutes. 30 amp style.


The PSP Products Transconnect unit I have is 200 amp. It also was sourced through my local utility.

 

[JRM]

I looked at a setup like that, strait into the meter but our local power company wanted a monthly charge for the thing, so drywall went down and a interlock went in

 

[rustystud]

Thanks for the reminder!! No mice here, but dang squirrels are everywhere (and winter's approaching so they'll be looking for new places to bed down).

No kidding ! I found a mouse nest in my Subaru's manifold yesterday and we drive this thing everyday ! My wife had complained about some engine noise so I took a look. Found a bunch of twigs and leafs and rags and other stuff wedged in there. For some reason this year is really bad with all the little critters ! Wish that "bobcat" would come back ! I'd actually feed him this time !

 

[Guyfang]

We have problems with martins here. They get up into, and on, your car and chew up anything rubber. I have had several antennas destroyed, and my son has replaced his spark plug wires several times. In fact, you would have a hard time finding a car antenna around here that doesn't look like it was chewed on. If you don't have a garage, you will sooner or later have this problem. Nothing seems to work against them.

 

[Another Ahab]

We have problems with martins here. They get up into, and on, your car and chew up anything rubber. I have had several antennas destroyed, and my son has replaced his spark plug wires several times. In fact, you would have a hard time finding a car antenna around here that doesn't look like it was chewed on. If you don't have a garage, you will sooner or later have this problem. Nothing seems to work against them.

I get it that martens cause problems for the MV owner, but to be fair we got to recognize the problem we make for the martens.

It's inevitable, they're going to lose the battle; it's only a matter of time. What're you going to do?!

 

[Guyfang]

I have a garage!

 

[Another Ahab]

It's like their last ditch campaign to inflict damage on the enemy!

It's a lost cause but they mean to go down with a fight (them, the rats, the mice, and all them "wire-biters").

They just happen to pick MV-owners, so that's who gets suckered as they go down fighting. The End.