RV to power home temp

wa8yxm wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:
This is the one I got. It was easy to install (if you're comfortable messing around with your breakers).

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Reliance-Controls-10-Circuit-30-Amp-Manual-Transfer-Switch-Kit-310CRK/205793178

THough not the EXACT one I used (Different arrangement of switches)

Close enough (Same concept) This is the type I recommend. Let me see if I can find the exact one I used..

Link to Lowes


This one is as close as I can get (the meters at the bottom were different else it's the same box) this is a 30 amp box Mine may have been heavier but frankly 30 amp was the size of the breaker I fed it with 30 amps at 120 volts times two legs that is. only used about half that to keep needed systems in house live. No washer or Dryer or central A/C but all lights save the indicator in the hall TV Kitchen computers and communications and Furnace. that's the biggie. If I have to live with fans to keep cool OK but if the pipes freeze MAJOR ISSUE

Fixed the link. You can replace the circuit breakers in the one Home Depot sells, too. I moved a couple of them around.

30 amps is plenty for me since I have NG and propane fuel. The only thing I can't do is the central air. I had to prioritize circuits so I don't have washer, dryer, dishwasher or microwave (I can run an extension cord to it if necessary). What I do have is most lights in the house, fridge, both furnaces, water heater and most electronics (cable modem, router, switches, TVs, etc.). I also have the kitchen outlets powered up so I have to be careful no one tries to make waffles and coffee at the same time :)

A couple of cautions:
- Your GFCI-protected breakers will no longer be ground-fault protected - protection should be at the outlets. Ditto for AFCI breakers.
- Multi-wire branch circuits (MWB) need to wired to the opposing legs of the switch. I had a few and it was quite the brain teaser to get them wired up properly. BOTH branches of a MWBC need to run through the switch.
- The switch comes with enough cable to wire up your breakers if you place the box next to your main panel. In my case this was nowhere near where my generator was. I had to run about 75-feet of heavy gauge cable to get to the twist-lock connector by my garage.

It was a bit of work but SO worth it in the long run. I can plug in any power source on the side of the house and safely switch on the backup power to 1 or all of the 10 backed-up circuits.