Tommy, got good news and bad news. If your panel is like mine, you can add another main 150A breaker inside and in series with outside main (that's the good news). The reason they started putting the main shutoff outside in its own sub panel (I believe) was for Fire and Rescue so they could quickly disconnect without going in. The panel knockout comes out and a new 150A breaker goes in and then you can use the interlock with a 2 pole breaker at the top. It is minimal rewiring if you are already using that position. Bad news is the breaker is about $125.00, but with interlocks and etc., we could do the whole job for around $225. It will be code and safe. I can help you do it. I think I will do mine also so I am code compliant for whole house as well as my small gen transfer switch.
edit....not bad news anymore.. just got the breaker on Amazon for $67.00 and I ordered the interlock... both for $119. All you 'd then need is your connector box . Probably all less than $200.00 Note. the interlock kit will take 4 to 6 weeks to come in according to Amazon. We should just plan a Saturday and do yours when they come in. Just make sure your panel is Square D / Homeline or QO and looks like mine. It should work.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0068 ... UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CO ... UTF8&psc=1The new breaker will bolt down down and incoming wires will go in the breaker's terminals in the same fashion. Litterally a 10 minute job.
This is my panel. You can see the knockout for the inside master breaker. I need to move the red gen breaker wires to the top and the 2 pole breaker at the top's wires down to bottom and then install the mechanical interlock previously shown.. and we call it done. You can see the lockout I have on my gen breaker so no one turns it on either way on accident. I just have to make sure to go outside and disconnect main and put the lock on it before before that is flipped. It is manual and not exactly code since it is possible to have both on at same time if you don't know what you are doing. The interlock prevents that.
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The new breaker will just bolt in and be in series with outside breaker so that is actually good for the Fire Rescue folks if ever needed and double protected.
- 150A Main.jpg (66.64 KiB) Viewed 3439 times
This is my back feed inlet I installed before the 2006 hurricanes. Once I have the interlock installed, I will need to change the gender so I don't have to use a suicide cord. I did the opposite gender so if someone turned on the breaker with the main, the exposed contacts would not be hot. It is under the front entry way . Gen locks down with chain.
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