Why Every Homeowner Should Think About a Backup Generator

One of the most common calls we get are from clients continually dealing with power outages. I don’t want to name towns, but if you live in one of these areas, you already know the issues! The power’s been off for hours, food is going bad in the fridge, the sump pump’s not pumping out rain or melting snow in the basement, and the kids? Well, no power for video games and worse yet–no internet or everyone! It’s usually around this moment when someone says, “I should really get a backup generator.”

I’ve seen people try all sorts of DIY setups: extension cords snaked through windows, cords running between floors, or even worse — connecting a generator directly into a wall outlet (what’s known as back-feeding).

That last one is a serious hazard. It can send power backwards through your electrical panel and out onto the grid, which can electrocute utility workers or destroy your generator once power is restored. I’ve literally gone into homes and suggested that homeowners cut the caps unsafe home-made generator back up cords. Some of these have even had 2 male ends leaving exposed electrical prongs that can create a deadly short if dropped in a watery basement floor or shorted by a homeowner’s hand or worse–a pet! Even if it doesn’t cause an accident, it’s rarely a reliable or code-compliant way to power your home.

That’s where a generator interlock kit comes in. It’s a small mechanical device installed right on your main electrical panel that ensures your home and the utility can’t be powered at the same time.

Here’s what it does:

1. It physically prevents you from turning on your main breaker and your generator breaker at once.
2. It lets you safely feed power from your generator into your existing panel — so you can use your regular circuits instead of running cords everywhere.
3. It’s far more affordable than a transfer switch, but still meets code (when installed correctly).

In other words: you can safely power your fridge, lights, furnace, wifi, or well pump — all through your normal breakers — without the danger of back-feeding the grid. Basically, you can pretty much do anything at home except laundry and electric range depending on what devices are in use. You can even choose what breakers to use to prevent tripping! Need heating systems, or AC working, done! Need to wash clothes? Done! Simple choose what circuits to power off and on.

An interlock kit is a great middle ground for most homeowners:

• Simple – No need for complicated rewiring.
• Affordable – Usually a few hundred dollars installed, compared to thousands for an automatic transfer switch.
• Flexible – You choose which circuits to power based on your generator’s size.

The main thing to remember is that an interlock kit doesn’t make your system automatic — you’ll still have to:

• Turn off your main breaker,
• Engage the interlock,
• Start your generator,
• Turn on the generator breaker and circuits you prefer to have powered up.

But for most folks, that’s a small trade-off for peace of mind during a storm.

Stag Electric can provide you with whatever level of service you need for this. In addition to advice of location and capacity, we can do everything from a simple interlock kit and generator inlet all the way up to complete white glove service that includes delivery, fuel canister, fluorescent safety-colored generator cord and reviewing initial start up!