Don’t Get Left in the Dark! Install a Generator Inlet with Breaker Interlock Before the Next Outage

Power outages can strike anytime—whether from severe weather, rolling blackouts, or unexpected grid failures. When the lights go out, having a reliable backup power solution can mean the difference between comfort and chaos. There are several ways to integrate a backup power system into your home’s electrical setup, each offering different levels of convenience and control. Let’s explore the one main option.

Generator Inlet with Breaker Interlock – Simple & Cost-Effective

A generator inlet with a breaker interlock is one of the most straightforward and affordable solutions for connecting a portable generator to your home's electrical panel. This setup allows you to safely back-feed power into selected circuits without the risk of backfeeding into the grid.

How It Works:

• A power inlet box is installed outside your home and wired to your electrical panel.

• A breaker interlock kit is added inside your panel to ensure that the main breaker and generator breaker cannot be on at the same time (preventing dangerous backfeeding).

• During an outage, you simply connect your portable generator to the inlet box with a power cord, flip the interlock, and select which circuits to power.

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Pros:

✅ Affordable solution

✅ Uses your existing electrical panel

✅ No need for extra subpanels or breaker modifications

✅ Safe when installed properly

Cons:

❌ Manual setup—requires you to connect and start the generator

❌ Limited to the circuits you can manage with the interlock

❌ No automatic switching

Estimated Cost:

💰 $500– $1,500 (including installation, inlet box, and interlock kit)

Generator inlet with Breaker interlock