I flipped through their catalog and found a picture of what they're calling their "convenience outlet". It doesn't call for a suicide cord (thank goodness), but it has blades that are de-energized until the panel breaker is closed...which can't be done until the main is opened; so that's safe.
I wish that they had called it something else, like a "generator input receptacle" to stop the average homeowner who finds this product from thinking that this is justification for cobbling together the dangerous 'backfeed the dryer outlet' trick.
This seems to be safe when properly installed, but I don't always trust that the installations will follow the instructions as methodically as the manufacturer would like.
I could easily see the HO removing or bending the plate that allows only 1 breaker to be closed at a time. It also only works with specific breaker locations, so the panel will need to have the branch breakers relocated. If this ever needed work, I can hear the same comments that are on this forum coming out of the mouth of the guy who has to fix this if it ever fails.
Besides, the cost of the interlock kit, special generator cable, wiring device and panel rework is pretty high; high enough to scare off many of the 'cheap' HO market. Remember how often we see a $1 million house with an owner who doesn't want to 'waste' $100 on a safety-related item. Personally, when all is said and done, I'd rather have a standard transfer switch installed...but that's just me.
