When the power goes out in your home and you want to use your portable generator to power you home, you will need a way to transfer the existing circuits from your utility service to your generator.  This is where the interlock kit comes in.

 

     The conventional method of doing this is known as a "transfer switch."  A transfer switch is an inherently double throw switch.  This means that it is a switch that has two positions and can only be in one position at a time.  It cannot be it both positions at the same time and it cannot be in neither position at any time.  A transfer switch can be manual or automatic.

 

     Transfer switches are very reliable and have been used for many years.  However, installing a transfer switch can be a costly project for a home owner.  It involves installing a new box, hopefully somewhere close to your main breaker panel or you generator inlet.  Also, depending on the size of the switch, you may be limited to how many circuits you can transfer to your generator. 

 

     An interlock kit can be a less expensive way to acheive the same goal.  When you use an interlock kit on your main breaker, you can send your generator power directly to your main box.  This allows you the ability to choose which and how many circuits that you will transfer power to.  Although interlock kits are custom designed for each brand and type of panel, the good news is that they are available for almost every residential panel.