220 volt A/B switch for a generator?


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Old 07-05-12, 10:00 AM
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220 volt A/B switch for a generator?

I currently have a sub pannel for my generator. Two of the switches are wired for the well pump and I have none left for the central AC.

My neighbor does this (and it works): when on the generator, he turns off the power to the well...disconnects the power leads...hooks them to the AC box..turns the power back on.

For my 5500 generator it's either the well or the AC, but not both. I don't want to mess with swapping wires and my wife certainly won't.

Does anyone make an A/B switch where I could take the leads from the generator panel to the well, intersect them and route them to the A/B box. Then, it's either well or AC but never both.

thoughts?


thanks,

Will
 
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Old 07-05-12, 10:30 AM
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I do not think your 5500 watt generator will run your A/C. You have less than 25 amps of power available. A starting A/C will draw several times its running current while starting.
 
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Old 07-05-12, 10:37 AM
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I wouldn't attempt to run central AC off a generator, only a window unit.
 
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Old 07-05-12, 10:38 AM
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I thought that too but his 6000 runs it just fine.

Mine is 5500 continuous and 8500 peak/startup.

I suppose I could hard wire it up one time and see if it trips the breaker on the gen : - )

I should add it's a pretty small central AC unit.
 
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Old 07-05-12, 02:27 PM
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You will need to do some load shedding to ensure that only the A/C has power and you are not trying to run anything else.
 
 

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