Generator interlock kits, inlet boxes and transfer switch installation for Pinellas and Tampa Bay homes. Plug your portable generator in at an outdoor inlet, flip the right breakers, and run the fridge, fans and lights through your own panel, with no extension cords through windows and no back-feeding.
Request a generator hookup quote
Tell us your generator’s make and model (or its largest outlet), your panel brand, and your city or ZIP. A licensed electrician will call or text you back.
Call (727) 476-7079 to set up a generator hookup · Request a quote online
Three ways to connect a generator to the house
- Interlock kit + inlet box. A sliding plate on the panel cover blocks the generator breaker unless the main is off. You pick circuits at the panel during an outage. Needs a kit listed for your exact panel.
- Manual transfer switch. A small separate panel with its own switches for a fixed set of circuits. Useful when your panel has no listed interlock or is full.
- Automatic transfer switch (ATS). Senses the outage and moves the load on its own. This is the standby-generator setup; it is covered on our generator installation page.
All three do the one job that matters: utility power and generator power can never meet in your wiring.
Does your panel take an interlock?
An interlock has to be listed for the panel make and model, and the generator breaker usually has to sit next to the main. Older panels, obsolete brands and panels with a main in a separate disconnect may have no listed kit. That is when a manual transfer switch or a small generator subpanel is the cleaner answer.
If the panel itself is due for replacement, doing both at once saves a second trip, and many new panels have listed interlock kits. A SPAN panel does not take a portable interlock. See panel replacement or SPAN smart panels.
The inlet box, cord and where the generator sits
The inlet is a weatherproof outdoor connector, sized to the generator’s largest receptacle, usually 30 or 50 amps. We mount it where the generator can run in open air, well away from doors, windows and vents, because carbon monoxide is the biggest danger of portable generators. The cord is rated for the full output, not a hardware-store extension cord.
Inside, the generator breaker is sized to the inlet and fastened with a hold-down so it cannot be pulled loose. We label which breakers to switch, in order, so anyone in the house can do it in the dark.
Choosing what to run
A portable generator will not run everything. Before installing, we go through your list: refrigerator and freezer, ceiling fans, some lights, the garage door, a window unit, well pump, phone and internet, and any medical equipment. Central air and electric ranges usually exceed what a portable can carry. Knowing the list keeps you from overloading the unit when it matters.
Generator work from our job files
In Lutz we installed a generator subpanel beside the main panel, with the feed breaker secured by a hold-down kit, plus the exterior power inlet, conduit and disconnects shown above. It is the same idea as an interlock in a separate box: a fixed set of backup circuits, fed from one inlet, with no way to back-feed the utility.
For standby units, load sizing and the full install sequence, see generator installation. Pinellas homeowners can also see generators in Pinellas County.
Book before the next storm
Hookups are easier to schedule outside an active storm week. After flooding, do not plug a generator into an inlet or panel that took on water; have it checked first. Emergency calls are answered 24/7.
Financing available through Acorn Finance, subject to credit approval. Check your options without affecting your credit score.
Florida licensed electrical contractor EC13014717 · woman-owned · Home Depot preferred contractor · based in Seminole · 2-year workmanship warranty (5 years for Member Care Plan members, who also get 7% off labor and materials) · emergency calls answered 24/7.
Interlock or transfer switch: how we help you choose
An interlock kit is usually the simplest and most affordable way to run your panel from a portable generator, but it only works if your panel model has a listed kit. A manual transfer switch lets you pick a set of circuits and works with almost any panel. We check your panel brand, generator size and the circuits you need before recommending one, and we never back-feed through a dryer outlet.
Licensed electrical contractor EC13014717, woman-owned and based at 6248 Seminole Blvd, Seminole. Workmanship carries a 2-year warranty, or 5 years for Member Care Plan members. Call (727) 476-7079 or request service online.
Do I need a permit? Yes. We pull it and handle the inspection.
Storm guide: flooded electrical: what to do before the power goes back on.
FAQ
Is a generator interlock kit allowed? Yes, when the kit is listed for your panel and installed as permitted work. It is a recognized way to keep the main breaker and the generator breaker from being on at the same time.
Interlock or manual transfer switch: which should I get? If a listed interlock exists for your panel and there is room by the main breaker, an interlock is usually the simpler install and lets you choose circuits at the panel. A manual transfer switch fits panels without a listed kit or homes that want a fixed set of backup circuits.
Can I plug my generator into a dryer outlet instead? No. A double-male cord back-feeds the house without any lockout and can send power out onto the utility lines. It is dangerous for line workers and for you.
What size inlet do I need? It follows the generator’s largest outlet. Many portable units use a 30-amp twist-lock outlet; larger ones use a 50-amp outlet. We match the inlet, cord and generator breaker to your unit.
Do you install transfer switches for standby generators? Yes. Standby generators connect through a transfer switch, usually automatic. If you bought the unit yourself, we can still wire the switch and circuits. See our generator installation page for standby installs.
Do I need a permit for an interlock or transfer switch? Yes. Inlets, interlocks and transfer switches are permitted electrical work. We pull the permit and handle the inspection.
Ready for the next outage? Call (727) 476-7079 or request service online.
Related: Generator installation · Panel upgrades · Whole-house surge protection · 24/7 emergency electrician · Residential electrician