looking for an interlock kit

michmike · Sep 11, 2019

hi all,

we have a very old house which also happens to have a very old breaker box. I can't for the life of me identify the proper interlock kit for the model of the breaker box I have.

thanks for any advice.

[automerge]1568223862[/automerge]
I could not post all the details on the original thread, so adding it here .

my breaker seems to be a Federal Pacific one. see pics above.

the site nooutage dot com says they don't have them either for my breaker box made by federal pacific.

are my only options to go the transfer switch route, find an outdoor one like TRC1005CR from Reliance Controls, or don't backfeed the generator into the house and instead run cables to the portable AC and Fridge as and if when needed. I don't want to create my own interlock kit (which would be very easy with some sheet metal) since it would not be up to code.

Megawatt · Sep 12, 2019

michmike said:
hi all,

we have a very old house which also happens to have a very old breaker box. I can't for the life of me identify the proper interlock kit for the model of the breaker box I have.

thanks for any advice.

View attachment 52082

View attachment 52083
[automerge]1568223862[/automerge]
I could not post all the details on the original thread, so adding it here .

my breaker seems to be a Federal Pacific one. see pics above.

the site nooutage dot com says they don't have them either for my breaker box made by federal pacific.

are my only options to go the transfer switch route, find an outdoor one like TRC1005CR from Reliance Controls, or don't backfeed the generator into the house and instead run cables to the portable AC and Fridge as and if when needed. I don't want to create my own interlock kit (which would be very easy with some sheet metal) since it would not be up to code.

Federal pacific has been out of business for years I don’t understand what you mean by interlock kit but if you start doing your on modifications on your panel that is a big no- no. By the looks of your service it needs to be upgraded, then you can incorporate your generator to the loads you want to run

michmike · Sep 12, 2019

i figured that's the route i need to take. i may get a sub-panel and install the interlock kit there. an interlock kit allows you to safely/reliable switch between generator power and main power.

MJPD29 · Sep 12, 2019

I see now the interlock kit is what I would know as a changeover switch

Megawatt · Sep 12, 2019

michmike said:
i figured that's the route i need to take. i may get a sub-panel and install the interlock kit there. an interlock kit allows you to safely/reliable switch between generator power and main power.

Good luck EATON- CUTLER HAMMER

michmike said:
i figured that's the route i need to take. i may get a sub-panel and install the interlock kit there. an interlock kit allows you to safely/reliable switch between generator power and main power.

We call it a transfer switch not interlock but good luck

davesparks · Sep 12, 2019

Matthewd29 said:
I see now the interlock kit is what I would know as a changeover switch

Kind of but not exactly, the interlock kits in the US are basically sliding piece of metal which prevents either the main switch or the generator mcb from being switched on at the same time.
You have to turn one off and slide the interlock across before turning the other on.

Megawatt · Sep 12, 2019

davesparks said:
Kind of but not exactly, the interlock kits in the US are basically sliding piece of metal which prevents either the main switch or the generator mcb from being switched on at the same time.
You have to turn one off and slide the interlock across before turning the other on.

Dave I even went to Generac school but I didnt know what he was talking about

davesparks · Sep 12, 2019

Megawatt said:
Dave I even went to Generac school but I didnt know what he was talking about

I ended up finding out about them by accident whilst looking for something else online.

michmike · Sep 12, 2019

Matthewd29 said:
I see now the interlock kit is what I would know as a changeover switch

yep, that one. thanks!
[automerge]1568326291[/automerge]
what davesparks said is accurate. interlock is just a mechanical switch that goes in your main breaker box that allows you to block both the generator backfeed and the main power to be on at the same time.
a transfer switch is an additional box that does something similar with a few caveats. it can only accomodate a limited number of breakers and it is a lot more expensive
[automerge]1568326292[/automerge]
what davesparks said is accurate. interlock is just a mechanical switch that goes in your main breaker box that allows you to block both the generator backfeed and the main power to be on at the same time.
a transfer switch is an additional box that does something similar with a few caveats. it can only accomodate a limited number of breakers and it is a lot more expensive