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Avatar for King's Consulting & Electrical LLC
King's Consulting & Electrical LLC
5.0(
4
)

Serving Portales, NM and surrounding areas

In business since 2015

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

"Kings Electric came to repair an outlet. Mr. Ethan was more than thorough explaining the problem and his workmanship was absolute professional. He fixed the outlet with safety features that our previous contractor did not install and that is the standard in electrical work. Could not have asked for more. Fair pricing, also. Went above and beyond answering questions we had. Thank you. Would highly recommend."
Response time1 day
Response rate89%
Recommended by75%of homeowners
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Generator Install questions, answered by experts

DIY is possible for basic setups. Professional installation ensures safe and proper electrical connections.

As a safety measure, you should always turn off the main breaker while operating your generator’s backup breaker. In addition, you should also switch off all appliance breakers so you don't have a power surge when the main breaker turns back on. And finally, turning off the main breaker prevents back-feeding, which endangers utility workers with the risk of electrocution. Back-feeding could also destroy the electrical circuits of your neighbors if they use the same power network.

It’s usually better to repair your generator if it isn’t working properly, as it will typically be much more affordable and should yield similar results. Generator repairs cost around $300 on average, while installing a new whole-house generator costs around $5,000 on average. The only exception is if you know your generator is reaching the end of its useful life, usually between 30 and 40 years. If you have an older generator, you could face multiple repairs in the coming years, which might mean that a full replacement will be more cost-effective over time.

No, you should never plug a generator directly into a wall outlet in your house. This practice is extremely dangerous, often illegal, and can cause "back-feeding," where power from the generator flows back into utility lines, creating a life-threatening hazard for utility workers. It can also damage your home's electrical system, including appliances like pumps and HVAC fans. If the main power is restored while the generator is connected, it can destroy the generator and cause an electrical fire. To safely connect a generator, you must use a professionally installed transfer switch or an interlocking kit, which prevents back-feeding by disconnecting your home from the utility grid before the generator provides power.

You can determine what size generator you need for a transfer switch by matching the switch to the largest outlet on your generator. Larger generators can power up to 10 circuits, while most 5,000-watt generators can provide power to six circuits. So, if your generator’s largest outlet is 30 amps, you’ll need a 30-amp transfer switch.

The Portales, NM homeowners’ guide to generator installs

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.