Generator Interlock Kit Installation · Pennsylvania

Generator Interlock Kit Installation in Pennsylvania

A generator interlock kit is a mechanical slide on the main panel that prevents the main breaker and the generator breaker from being on at the same time. With an exterior power inlet, it lets a portable generator power chosen circuits without backfeeding the utility.

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Local notes for 2 Pennsylvania cities

A standby generator on a concrete pad beside a house

Generator Interlock Kit Installation across Pennsylvania

Generator Interlock Kit Installation in Philadelphia, PA

In a Philadelphia rowhome, the hardest part of a generator setup is where the generator can safely run. Attached houses share walls and sit close to neighbors' windows, so the inlet box usually goes at the back of the house where the generator can sit outdoors in a yard or alley, well away from every window and door.

Rowhome panels are often in the basement near the front wall, and service upgrades need coordination with PECO. Adding central air, a kitchen remodel or a basement finish usually triggers a service upgrade.

Generator Interlock Kit Installation in Pittsburgh, PA

Overhead lines running through Pittsburgh's wooded hillsides are knocked out by storms often enough that many homeowners keep a portable generator. An interlock kit and an exterior inlet let it power the furnace, sump pump and refrigerator without backfeeding Duquesne Light's lines.

Steep lots, stone foundations and damp basements shape where panels and wiring can go. Renovations in older neighborhoods almost always uncover wiring that needs updating, and adding central air often requires a service upgrade.

What generator interlock kit installation involves

Plugging a generator into a wall outlet, or a "suicide cord", can send power back onto utility lines and injure line workers. An interlock and inlet box is the lower-cost, code-compliant alternative to a full transfer switch.

With an interlock, you choose which circuits to run during an outage, such as the furnace blower, refrigerator, sump pump and some lights, within the generator's capacity.

Signs to look for

You own or plan to buy a portable generator
Outages in your area last hours or days
You need to keep a sump pump, furnace or well pump running
You want backup power without a standby generator

What moves the price

Interlock kit availability for your panel
Inlet amperage (30 or 50 amp)
Distance from panel to inlet
Generator cord length and type
Permit fees

Generator Interlock Kit Installation in Pennsylvania: questions

Where in Pennsylvania is generator interlock kit installation common?

Our local notes cover Philadelphia, Pittsburgh. In a Philadelphia rowhome, the hardest part of a generator setup is where the generator can safely run.

Who issues permits for generator interlock kit installation in Pennsylvania?

The city or county building department where the home is. Philadelphia: Electrical permits in Philadelphia are issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to licensed electrical contractors. Pittsburgh: Electrical permits in Pittsburgh come from the city's Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (PLI); surrounding boroughs and townships handle their own.

Is an interlock kit legal?

Yes, when it is listed for your panel and installed with a permit; it is a recognized way to prevent backfeeding.

Interlock kit or transfer switch?

An interlock uses your existing panel and lets you pick circuits; a transfer switch has dedicated circuits or switches automatically with a standby generator.

What can a portable generator run?

Typically a furnace blower, refrigerator, sump pump, lights and a few outlets, depending on its wattage.

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