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#75334 02/23/07 06:04 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 16
S
Member
Just curious, what’s your thoughts on the Generator Interlocks?

They don't look fail safe to me.
http://www.interlockkit.com/

#75335 02/23/07 07:21 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
Had a similar set-up on UPS system panelboards, but it was "factory" installed, not an aftermarket 'add in'

Mechanical type interlocks have been around for a long time.

This seems like a good idea for a manual transfer setup. Now I ask....is the backfed cb bolted down (or clipped)???

John


John
#75336 02/23/07 08:28 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,716
R
Member
John,
Quote
Now I ask....is the backfed cb bolted down (or clipped)???
you're a trouble maker aren't you? [Linked Image] [Linked Image]


Roger


[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 02-23-2007).]

#75337 02/23/07 08:55 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
Roger:
Now that comment I would expect from Bob (Iwire). Now where is George Little??

John


John
#75338 02/26/07 02:06 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,213
S
Member
Even the high-dollar interlocks can be bypassed with a screwdriver. But we swear by them just the same- sure, I'd like to think nobody is stupid enough to close the tie breaker while the two halves of the switchboard are fed from separated sources, BUT...

So, yeah, I use a lot of interlocks but bypass a lot of interlocks during non-standard evolutions, too. Their purpose is not so much to force the "expert" into a certain sequence but moreso to protect the idiot from blowing something up. I don't have any experience with this brand, but it looks like it could easily save someone the cost of an MTS [Linked Image]

#75339 02/26/07 02:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Idiot proof is only good until the "better" idiot comes along.


Greg Fretwell
#75340 02/26/07 04:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
I'll be giving one of these a try in the next month or so. This interlock offers a few advantages that I can see, namely, my customer does not have to make up his mind which circuits he wants on a separate panel. This interlock is also going to be handy due to a lack of space to mount another panelboard.

That better idiot mentioned above probably lives here in the Mountain State. We seem to lead the nation in the bad categories & trail in the good ones.

Tom


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
#75341 02/26/07 06:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
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Tom:
I doubt that you have the market cornered in 'better idiots'.

John


John
#75342 02/26/07 07:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 558
R
Member
No doubt someone is going to try and defeat the interlock! Why? Someone will probably figure they can TRY and lower their electric bill if they have their generator running at the same time their panel is being supplied off mains power OR they don't want to have their lights go out for that split second when they transfer back from gennie supply to mains supply.
Trust me I know people that would want to do that.. All I say is " good luck" to them!

A.D

#75343 02/26/07 07:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 228
J
Member
Nothing is truly idiot proof, just idiot resistant

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