I want to install an outside power inlet receptacle for my portable generator, to be used in case of a power failure.
In my house I have two breaker boxes: one is the main breaker box. A second one is installed about twenty inches away from and beside the main box. The main breaker box is wired as it should be — two separate hot bus bars, a neutral bus and a ground bus. It also has a ground conductor (heavy copper wire) going to an earth ground. I cannot see to tell how or if the ground bus and neutral bus are tied together; I know they should be.
The second breaker box was installed because the main 200 amp box would not support two heat pumps and all the other appliances. Box #2 has two hots and a neutral, I cannot see a ground for the box. I know if it is considered a sub-panel, the ground and neutral should not be connected together. The breakers in the #2 box are all two-pole. The ground wires from the breakers are hooked up on the (ground – or neutral?) lug strips on both sides of the box, depending on what side the breaker is on.
Now, here is my question-concern: I want to power the blower fan only – from one of the heat pumps. It just so happens that the breaker is located in the #2 box, the one with no ground. Therefore I cannot wire the outside receptacle for the generator into this box, so I have the main breaker box to wire it into. I know the #2 box is wyed off of or spliced into the leads that are going to the #1 box as there is only three wires coming into the house, and there are no wires leaving the #1 box to feed #2 box.
If I wire the receptacle to the main breaker box and connect neutral and the ground together to the ground lug strip, will this create a problem with the circuitry? Also I will be using an Interlock, for the lineman's or anyone else's safety.
Best Answer
I ignored the main power box as a typical portable can only produce a small fraction of the main supply. I put a receptical box inside near where the generator will be outside the house, conduit through the wall and out to the generator. The refrigerator is fortunately near . Then I use temporary extension cords as needed ; a bit of a hassle but but not bad for a couple days a year. I have used it a few times and it was satisfactory ( 2,000 watt portable). I supply a room AC, TV and some lights, phone and PC.