Control wires and clearance questions

[JeffB]

I am going to be installing the 16KW 5244 in the next week or so and have a few questions. I have a deck that is about 12' high and wraps around most of the house including over the power panels.

Initially I wanted to install the generator under the deck so it could be within the 3' or so needed for the supplied wiring. Now I am thinking I should push it out further from the house about 10' and run the wires underground.

I am assuming I would still use the outside connection box that came pre-wired to the generator. Replacing the power cables from the box to the generator seems easy enough, just rip out the short ones and replace with longer ones.

But what about the control wires? Can I remove the factory wires from the transfer switch and run new wires from the transfer switch in the house all the way to the generator? Or does it need to have a connection point in that outdoor connection box?

Second question. I need to mount the transfer switch further than 2' from the service pannel. What type of conduit do I use for that. Also, the room I am installing it in is drywalled and has the service panel mounted flush. How can I neatly run the conduit from the transfer switch which will be mounted outside the drywall to the service panel in the wall?

Third question. Where can I find info on required clearances from the generator and windows, doors and the propane regulator?

Thanks
Jeff

[Kelly Myers]

When we have to do an "away from a wall" install, we simply sink a 4x4 post into the ground behind the generator. This is where we attach our j-box that is connected via sealtite to the generator.

From there, you can run your PVC down and to the house. The n1/n2 23/194 connector that comes in pre wired whip does make it easy to install, but it is not necessary by any means. We use wirenuts all the time in place of that connector.

If you exceed 24" in the seal-tite length from the transfer switch to the main panel, you will have to adjust the raceways per code.

Once you exceed 24", you have to refer back to the NEC TableC6(a) Maximum number of compact conductors in liquidltight flexible nonmetallic conduit. You can no longer run one single 1 1/4" whip, but you will have to switch to using three seperate conduits.

Because different areas of the country have different local codes, I will suggest you contact your building/electrical inspector for your particular situation.

[JeffB]

How many conductors pass throught the 24" conduit? What gauge are they?

[JeffB]

Because different areas of the country have different local codes, I will suggest you contact your building/electrical inspector for your particular situation.


I just got off the phone with the building inspector and I suspect he has no clue what he is talking about. He said the generator needs to be 15 feet from any window or door and the generator exhaust needs to have an exhaust flue that rises 2 feet above any window nearby. I told him that these just exhaust out the side and he wouldn't believe me. He started talking about the Mechanical Code and mechanical permits which I didn't think applied in this instance.

My understanding is NFPA 37 says 5 feet from a window, and I realize that it could be further based on location, but i just didn't get the warm fuzzy feeling that he even knew what a guardian generator was.

Now I don't know what to do.