Generator hookups that work when the grid does not.
After Beryl, a lot of Houston-area homes found out their generator plan stopped at owning a generator. We install the transfer switch and the plug that make it legal, safe and actually usable.
Portable or standby, the wiring is the job
A portable generator without a transfer switch gets run through extension cords, which is why people end up powering a fridge and nothing else. A transfer switch and an inlet plug let you feed real circuits, and it isolates you from the grid so you are not backfeeding the line a crew is working on.
A standby unit is the other end of it. It sits on a pad, runs on natural gas or propane, and starts itself when the power drops. That one is more work up front and more money, and for a lot of families it is the right answer after a week without air conditioning.
Either way, we size it against what you actually want running. Most people care about the fridge, the sump pump, a few outlets and one AC unit, and that is a much smaller number than they expect.
- Manual and automatic transfer switch installation
- Generator inlet plugs for portable units
- Standby generator wiring and pad hookup
- Whole-home surge protection at the panel
Licensed, bonded and insured. TX Electrical Contractor License #34414.
Generator Installation: common questions
Do I need a transfer switch, or can I use extension cords?
You need a transfer switch to power circuits rather than individual appliances, and it is what keeps your generator from backfeeding the utility line. Extension cords only reach what you can physically plug in.
Portable or standby, which should I get?
Portable costs less and needs you home to start it. Standby costs more, starts itself and runs on gas so it does not need refuelling. If nobody is home during storm season, standby is usually the honest answer.
Can you install a generator I already own?
Yes. Most of our generator work is wiring for a unit the homeowner already bought. We handle the transfer switch, the inlet and the circuits it feeds.
When should I book this?
Before June. Every year the calls spike the week a storm is named, and that is the week nobody has availability. Spring and early summer are quiet.
Want to be ready before the next outage?
We install transfer switches and generator plugs across the greater Houston area. Call and we will size it with you.