A Manual Transfer Switch for GFCI and Bonded Neutral Generators

Posted on February 23, 2021February 26, 2021 by Josie — 18 Comments

WINCO portable generators are designed with a bonded neutral, the neutral and ground tied together inside the panel. This allows the generator to be safely used in portable configurations.

Whenever you connect a portable generator to a building’s electrical system the NEC code requires you to brake the neutral to ground bond on the generator. This creates a new risk if the portable generator is used as both a home back-up and mobile power source since changing the neutral to ground bond should be left to an experienced electrician.

To solve this problem Winco only offers manual transfer switches for our portable generators that are compatible with bonded neutral generators. An additional benefit of these switches is that they also work with our models that provide full panel GFCI protections.

WINCO offers the Reliance XR series manual transfer switches.

The Reliance XR series are three pole manual transfer switches. By switching the neutral these manual transfer switches meet the NEC code allowing direct connection of bonded neutral generators and are compatible with GFCI protected switches.

	XRK0603D	XRK0606D
Amps	30	60
Circuit Breaker Slots	Single: 10 Tandem: 18	Single: 10 Tandem: 18
Panel	Indoor	Indoor

Check out our help topic on which type of transfer switch is right for you.

You can find all of the manual transfer switches we offer here.

I hope you found this helpful!

What does a carbon canister do?

Older models of generators would come with a vented fuel cap to allow the fuel tank vent to adjust to changes in temperature. The vented fuel cap would let air and evaporated fuel (hydrocabons) escape into the air. In an effort to reduce emissions the EPA required fuel tanks to no longer allow evaporated fuel to escape into the air. This article gives an explanation of the different parts of the fuel system that make this possible.

What happens in the tank?

To trap the hydrocarbons inside the tank we converted from plastic to steel fuel tanks. The plastic was permeable allowing hydrocarbons to escape though the tank wall. In addition, the vented cap was replaced with a non-vented sealed cap.

Plastic fuel tanks with vented fuel caps allow pressure and hydrocarbon to escape

Steel fuel tanks with non-vented fuel caps do not release pressure or hydrocarbon

What did we do to release the pressure?

If the tank is not vented, in hot weather it will bulge out and in cold weather collapse in. Eventually this would rupture the tank defeating the purpose of trying to prevent fuel from evaporating. The solution was to install a separate vent in the tank that leads to a carbon canister. This allows the tank to vent and the carbon canister catches the hydrocarbons and lets the air escape. If liquids get inside the carbon canister it will be ruined. To protect fuel from splashing out of the vent a slosh valve is provided that automatically closes if liquid splashes against it.

Where do the hydrocarbons go?

The carbon canister will store the hydrocarbon and only the filtered air will be released. Once the engine is started, it creates a vacuum and will pull the hydrocarbon through the engine, burning them through the normal combustion process.

Get to Know the YourGen Meter

After watching our video on starting and loading your generator, you will want to know if your are properly balancing your 120V loads. We designed our YourGen advanced hour meter to monitor the power levels of each leg. It also shows voltage, frequency and run time. Watch our video to see how this great feature works.

You can find all of our available portable generators here!

Starting and Loading a Portable Generator

When you purchase a WINCO portable generator, getting to know how to properly start and load it is very important. That is why we made his quick video showing you the basics. We hope you find it helpful!

Be sure to read the operator’s manual for your model and make sure you have a good understanding of how to use your WINCO generator.

You can find all of our available portable generators here!

WL22000VE Circuit Breaker Upgrade

Posted on January 20, 2021January 21, 2021 by Josie — Leave a comment

Sometimes, a vender discontinues an item, which happed to us with an 80 amp shunt breaker. This breaker disconnects the power of the Anderson connector when the cover is opened when a plug is not in place on our WL22000VE-03/B model.

We transitioned from the 80 amp to a 100 amp, 80% rated breaker. This change had us increase the wire size to match the new breaker maximum rating.

Let’s compare the WL22000VE-03/B with the new version, the WL22000VE-03/C.

	WL22000VE-03/B	WL22000VE-03/C
Engine	B&S Vangurd 993CC	B&S Vangurd 993CC
Running Watts	19,000	19,000
Running Amps @240	79.2	79.2
Main Line Circuit Breaker	80 Amps	100 Amps
Est. Run Time	4.5 Hours	4.5 Hours
Motor Starting	6 HP	6 HP
Receptacles	(2) NEMA 5-20 20A 120V (1) CS6365 50A 120/240V (1) NEMA L14-30 30A 120/240V Anderson Connector 120A 120/240V	(2) NEMA 5-20 20A 120V (1) CS6365 50A 120/240V (1) NEMA L14-30 30A 120/240V Anderson Connector 120A 120/240V
Dba	79	79

The costs will remain the same going forward. We still offer the WL22000VE-03/A with the GFCI protected panel with split distribution for customers that do not need all of their output from one receptacle. This product remains unaffected.

Please evaluate your installation practices for compatibility with this change.

Have questions on circuit breakers? Check out our circuit breaker help topic here.

– BIG DOG