We bought a Briggs & Stratton 7K standby generator for power in our house after losing power twice for approximately 1 week each time in December 2008 and February 2010. The unit is powered by (2) 20# propane tanks.
We also bought a Connecticut Electric 7.5K, 10 breaker transfer switch and had that wired into the appropriate circuits. We tested the Xfer switch with a portable Kohler gasoline powered unit, and it worked great.
We have resolved the first problem - since the purchase of the B&S generator, it has never run. It was brand new and each time we tried starting it the breaker would trip. It took almost 2 years to resolve, but after a few weeks at the repair shop recently, it was determined that it had a weak breaker, which was replaced, and seems fine now.
Here is the problem and I am hoping you can help me understand what to do. I have very little knowledge of electrical stuff, so the easier you can make this to understand, the better...
The B&S generator is bonded. The Xfer switch is bonded. We soon realized that we cannot use them as is, together.
Option #1: Connecticut Electric stated that the generator could easily be unbonded to run with the switch as it is usually removal/disconnection of a single wire.
Option #2:The repair shop (who fixed the unit at no cost because it was still under warranty) stated that they would rather unbond the Xfer switch. They said that since it is a subpanel-type installation, that it is bonded via the main panel anyways, and bonding is not needed at the Xfer switch. Of course, this will cost us money. (I am not currently working).
If you are not familiar with the Connecticut Electric Xfer switch, the connection are made by removing a wire from the breaker and connecting it to the wire from the transfer switch. Then you take the corresponding wire from the transfer switch and hook to the breaker where the original wire was removed. Simple stuff.
My concern was if we tamper with the Xfer switch and ultimately replace the generator, will we have to rewire the Xfer switch again if it is not a bonded generator? The electrician told me that once the Xfer switch is unbonded (as it is presumably bonded via the main panel) we can run any kind of generator - bonded or unbonded without having to worry about it.
First off, I am not clear on what "bonding" even means. To me it sounds easier (and cheaper) to simply unbond the generator and leave the transfer switch alone. The generator also has (4) 110 outlets, that we do not plan on using, but they are there nonetheless. If the generator is only being connected and used when we lose power, what is the best solution?
Option #3: I have also heard that we can simply disconnect the ground wire from the outlet on the outside of the house, so for all intents and purposes it looks like a perfect installation and does not void the warranty on either the generator or the transfer switch. This seems like the easiest, cheapest and all around best solution to me.
Are there pros and cons for each type of solution? The easier you can make this for me to understand, the better as I have zero electrical knowledge once I get past changing the remote control batteries.
We also bought a Connecticut Electric 7.5K, 10 breaker transfer switch and had that wired into the appropriate circuits. We tested the Xfer switch with a portable Kohler gasoline powered unit, and it worked great.
We have resolved the first problem - since the purchase of the B&S generator, it has never run. It was brand new and each time we tried starting it the breaker would trip. It took almost 2 years to resolve, but after a few weeks at the repair shop recently, it was determined that it had a weak breaker, which was replaced, and seems fine now.
Here is the problem and I am hoping you can help me understand what to do. I have very little knowledge of electrical stuff, so the easier you can make this to understand, the better...
The B&S generator is bonded. The Xfer switch is bonded. We soon realized that we cannot use them as is, together.
Option #1: Connecticut Electric stated that the generator could easily be unbonded to run with the switch as it is usually removal/disconnection of a single wire.
Option #2:The repair shop (who fixed the unit at no cost because it was still under warranty) stated that they would rather unbond the Xfer switch. They said that since it is a subpanel-type installation, that it is bonded via the main panel anyways, and bonding is not needed at the Xfer switch. Of course, this will cost us money. (I am not currently working).
If you are not familiar with the Connecticut Electric Xfer switch, the connection are made by removing a wire from the breaker and connecting it to the wire from the transfer switch. Then you take the corresponding wire from the transfer switch and hook to the breaker where the original wire was removed. Simple stuff.
My concern was if we tamper with the Xfer switch and ultimately replace the generator, will we have to rewire the Xfer switch again if it is not a bonded generator? The electrician told me that once the Xfer switch is unbonded (as it is presumably bonded via the main panel) we can run any kind of generator - bonded or unbonded without having to worry about it.
First off, I am not clear on what "bonding" even means. To me it sounds easier (and cheaper) to simply unbond the generator and leave the transfer switch alone. The generator also has (4) 110 outlets, that we do not plan on using, but they are there nonetheless. If the generator is only being connected and used when we lose power, what is the best solution?
Option #3: I have also heard that we can simply disconnect the ground wire from the outlet on the outside of the house, so for all intents and purposes it looks like a perfect installation and does not void the warranty on either the generator or the transfer switch. This seems like the easiest, cheapest and all around best solution to me.
Are there pros and cons for each type of solution? The easier you can make this for me to understand, the better as I have zero electrical knowledge once I get past changing the remote control batteries.