If a portable generator already lives in your garage, one compact electrical project lets it do far more than feed extension cords: a generator inlet box on the outside of the house and an interlock kit at the panel. Together they let you power the circuits you choose (lights, refrigerator, fans, internet) straight through your home’s own wiring. Thomas Edison Electric installs generator inlets, interlock kits, and portable generator transfer switches for homeowners across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, from our office in Jupiter, FL (license EC13015487).
What an inlet box and interlock kit actually do
The inlet is a weatherproof connection point mounted outside, the “generator plug for the house” people search for. A heavy-gauge cord runs from your generator to the inlet, and from there power feeds a dedicated breaker in your panel. The interlock kit is a machined plate on the panel face that lets that generator breaker switch on only after the main breaker is off. That one mechanical sequence keeps generator power flowing to your home and keeps it from traveling back out toward utility lines, protecting the crews working to restore your neighborhood and protecting your generator when grid power returns. It is also how the National Electrical Code (Article 702, optional standby systems) expects a portable hookup to be built, which is why inspectors approve interlocks and pass on improvised cords.
Interlock kit vs. portable generator transfer switch
Both solve the same problem and both pass inspection; the difference is where the switching happens. An interlock kit uses your existing panel and lets you decide, storm by storm, which breakers to run. A portable generator transfer switch is a small separate panel with a fixed list of circuits chosen ahead of time. We usually suggest the interlock when a listed kit exists for your panel model; when one does not (or when you prefer a fixed, set-and-forget circuit list), the transfer switch is the better tool. Either way, we confirm what your panel supports before quoting.
30-amp or 50-amp inlet?
The inlet should match your generator’s largest outlet. Most mid-size portables offer a 30-amp twist-lock (L14-30); larger units add a 50-amp outlet. A 30-amp inlet comfortably covers the essentials, while a 50-amp inlet paired with a bigger generator can pick up more of the house, sometimes including a cooling zone. We size the inlet, breaker, and cord together so every piece matches.
What installation involves
- Confirming a listed interlock kit exists for your panel’s make and model (or planning a transfer switch instead)
- Mounting the weatherproof inlet box where the generator can sit with good airflow and a sensible cord run
- Wiring the inlet to a dedicated generator breaker and fitting the interlock plate
- Pulling the permit and scheduling the inspection: our office handles both
- A walkthrough at the end: startup order, which breakers to run first, and how to store the cord
Works with the generator you already own
There is nothing to buy from us except the electrical work. Bring the generator you have. We check its outlet type and rated wattage, then build the hookup around it. One note for planners: whole-home standby generator installation is not a service we offer yet. It is coming, and our inlet and interlock customers will be the first to hear when it launches.
What affects the cost
You get a written quote before any work begins. The factors that shape it: inlet amperage (30 or 50), your panel’s make and condition, the distance between the inlet location and the panel, interlock kit versus transfer switch, and your city’s permit requirements.
Common questions
Can I plug my generator into a dryer outlet instead? That shortcut skips the equipment that keeps generator power and utility power separated, the very thing that protects utility crews and your appliances, and no inspector will approve it. An inlet and interlock deliver the same convenience the code-approved way.
How long does a generator interlock kit install take? Most are finished in a single visit of a few hours, with the inspection scheduled afterward on your city or county’s calendar.
Will it run my air conditioning? That depends on the generator, not the inlet. Central air asks a lot of a portable unit, while window or portable cooling plus the essentials sits comfortably within a 30-amp setup. We walk through the wattage math with you before install day.
Ready before the next outage
Call (561) 462-2800 or schedule online. Many customers pair this project with home battery backup for automatic coverage in the first minutes of an outage, or an electrical panel upgrade when the panel needs room for a generator breaker. Serving Jupiter, Tequesta, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Stuart, and Port St. Lucie, FL.