Electric Switch Mount

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I am getting ready to install a transfer switch to my incoming service panel. This way I can plug in my generator or Bob Cat to power the house during outages. I found a 200 amp switch from Home Depot for $350. My incoming service panel is 200 amps, so by code I needed to go with this size. Besides, if I decide to upgrade to a whole house generator later I will be already set. I know I could have gotten one that would handle the output from the generator for less, but still was thinking about the possible future upgrade.  I needed a way to mount it on the power pole next to the service panel for ease of install. It is made mostly from scrap I already had on hand. The main angle iron is 2"x2.5"x1/8". The curve sections that will bolt to the pole is made from a piece of 8" pipe that I cut in half, then cut one of the halves in two and drilled three 3/8" holes for 2.5"x3/8" lag bolts. The diagonals are some 3/4" 14 gauge angle iron I bought for another project, but since I knew I bought more than I needed I used some for this. I had taken a picture of one of the welds but it came out blurry so I did not include it. After everything is hooked up and working, I will then build a generator shed near the pole to protect the generator from the weather, especially when it is running. The Bob Cat & the generator I have both put out 8000 watts, which is enough to run most of what I will need. I can pick and choose what to power during an outage, but can keep the well on, and essential circuits. My main heat sources are all natural gas except the clothes dryer, and we have enough clothes to last many days without having to use that. The only thing that I know will draw too much current with the rest of the household use is the outside A/C compressor unit. But I have another 6500 watt generator I can hook up to that if the need arises and let if power that by itself. The last pic is where the mount will go. You can see I burned some of the paint from the switch box, but I will fix that before I get this all finished. Attached Images
Reply:Well, I finally got this installed and wired in. Now I will be able to safely power the house during outages. I went ahead and bit the bullet and hired an electrician to do this and I acted as his helper. I wanted to make sure I had it all done to code so the electrical inspector would not have any reason to disapprove of the install. As it turned out, this was probably a good decision as he had some tools for this that I don't, that made for a neater install. I probably would have done some things a little different and from what he was saying I would have had a violation of code. Even though some seem trivial to me as to why, but I guess most of the things written in to codes are there for a reason. While he was at it I had him install a light and switch to the incoming line so when I am running the genset I can have the light on, and when power is restored the light will come on. When I switch back to the grid I can turn off the switch when I shut down the generator so the light does not stay on 24/7 during normal conditions, only flip the switch on when on the genny. I can look out the window from time to time to see if the light is on and know when to shut down the generator. Now to build a generator shed to put the generators in to run them during outages. I got 20 80Lb. bags of Quikrete to build the slab. That's the project for today, build the form, put in the steel reinforcement, mix, pour and finish. I'm gonna be a tired puppy by this afternoon, wish I had an electric cement mixer. Attached Images
Reply:Nice, money well invested. If you were 1,000 miles closer I would bring my old Monkey Wards electric mixer over. The thing is awesome, about 40 years old, and has original motor. Does 4 bags at a time. Have fun mixin !
Reply:Nice install and good call on the "whole house" transfer switch capacity. MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Nice, money well invested. If you were 1,000 miles closer I would bring my old Monkey Wards electric mixer over. The thing is awesome, about 40 years old, and has original motor. Does 4 bags at a time. Have fun mixin !
Reply:Here's the pix of the start of the slab for the generator shed. I used some bar grating I had left over from previous projects, that were odd size or too narrow for much else than steel reinforcement in concrete. I dug a hole near each corner about 8-9" diameter and 20" deep and inserted some bar grating, then welded other pieces across the tops of them. All the bar grating is welded together all the way around. The areas lacking bar grating were filled in with 3/8" rebar, wired together. Don't think I need to worry about this cracking anytime soon. It is a 4" slab, 5'x5.5', with the holes it took 19 80 lb. bags of Quikrete to fill. After all this sets up, and cures enough it will be on to building the shed on top. But I doubt there will be much welding involved there. Attached Images