Power & Panels
Generator Installation
Keep the sump pump, furnace and fridge running when the grid goes down, with a hookup that's safe for you and for the line crews working outside.
Running extension cords from a generator through a window works for a lamp. It doesn't run a furnace or a sump pump, and back-feeding a panel through a homemade cord can energize the utility lines and seriously hurt a line worker. A proper generator connection lets you power the circuits you choose from one safe connection point. Voltline Electric Co. installs connections for portable generators and hooks up permanent standby units.
What's included
- Circuit planning — we match what you want to keep running (sump pump, furnace, fridge, a few lights) to what your generator can actually supply.
- Inlet box — a weatherproof outdoor inlet so the generator cord plugs in outside the house, away from windows and doors.
- Interlock or transfer switch — the device that makes it impossible to feed power back into the utility lines.
- Standby hookups — wiring and transfer equipment for a permanent natural gas generator, with the gas line run by a licensed gas fitter.
- Permit and inspection — the ESA permit is filed and the work is inspected.
- Walk-through — we show you how to switch over safely, in the right order, before you ever need to.
Portable or standby?
A portable generator with an inlet and interlock is the most affordable way to ride out an outage, but you have to be home to start it and you'll be refuelling it. A standby generator starts on its own within seconds and runs on natural gas, which matters most when nobody is home to start the sump pump in a storm. For both, a whole-home surge protector protects electronics when the power comes back.
Want a ballpark first? Price a generator hookup in the instant electrical estimate.
Before the next outage
Install the hookup before you need it. In a storm, nobody can get a permit, an inspection or parts quickly, and that's exactly when the sump pump has to run.
What affects the cost of generator installation
Generator hookup prices depend on the setup: an inlet and panel interlock is the simplest, a transfer switch with selected circuits costs more, and a standby generator hookup costs the most. The distance from the panel to the generator, the number of circuits, a dedicated sump pump circuit and the gas connection (by a gas fitter) all affect the total.
Generator Installation questions
Why can't I just plug the generator into an outlet?
A cord with two male ends can back-feed the utility lines, which can seriously injure line workers and damage your equipment. An interlock or transfer switch prevents that.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to run. A sump pump, furnace fan, fridge and some lights are well within the reach of many portable units. We help you size it before you buy.
Where can the generator sit?
Outdoors, away from windows, doors and vents, because of carbon monoxide. Standby units have clearance requirements from the manufacturer that we follow.
Does a standby generator need a gas permit too?
Yes. The gas connection is separate work done by a licensed gas fitter. We coordinate with them so the electrical side is ready when they are.
Where we offer generator installation
We provide generator installation for homeowners in Windsor, LaSalle and Tecumseh. See what to expect in your area:
Wired right. The first time.
See a ballpark for your job in about a minute, or book a visit for a written, itemized quote.