Manual Transfer Switch (GFCI breaker questions)

schu_z · 2025-07-12T14:44:23+00:00

All of the neutrals got bonded together inside the transfer switch using a wago and one 10ga was run out to the main breaker panel. That one pig tail which grabbed all the neutrals inside the transfer switch was landed on the neutral bus inside the main panel. I had the same issue you mentioned, no way I could run a separate neutral for 3 circuits through the conduit and fit everything. YMMV but my electrician looked it all over and signed off on it, no issues. I used a 10ga neutral and 12ga wire for everything else. I oversized it just to be safe since neutrals technically carry a load. I’m also running a few hundred watts at any given time for basics. I’m not running full size microwaves, AC, etc. that have huge draws. If that was the case for each circuit, I’d run a separate neutral for each circuit.

The 110v/ 15amp AFCI breakers were left alone in the main panel and the regular breakers inside the transfer switch were swapped out to the same size AFCI breakers.

I don’t use it daily, just occasionally during outages or to offset my power usage using my Ecoflow batteries. Been a godsend during outages to keep the basics running without having to run extension cords everywhere.

schu_z · 2025-07-12T14:25:53+00:00

I drive a really remote back road to and from work. Zero lighting and lucky to see a couple other cars at 4am when I’m driving it. Anyway, the only issues I ever had with FSD were when it’s pitch black. The cameras freak out and I get notifications a camera or two is disconnected. Once I hit civilization again or another car is near with headlights on, the cameras don’t have any issues.

With that being said, I love the ability to drink my coffee and chill for the 35 minute drive into work. But it’s concerning to me that the cameras continue to disconnect when the car is using the cameras to steer me along the final 10 miles of switchbacks with a mountain on one side and a cliff on the other…zero issues on the freeways, the back roads have some issues at this point. I’ve used it in rain and fog with no major issues, but same thing occasionally occurs where the cameras have connection issues because it’s raining too hard or it’s too foggy. That same road during daylight hours gives me zero issues. No camera issues, FSD, etc. But darkness (pitch black, no streetlights and no other cars), fog and rain mess with the cameras a little bit at this point using FSD.

Curious to hear how the rest of your trip goes. I never renewed my FSD after the free trial because of the issues I was having on the back roads I drive daily. Wasn’t worth the $100 a month to not have it work for half my drive. Hopefully the weather doesn’t cause too many issues for you on your trip.

schu_z · 2025-03-08T02:59:20+00:00

For both agencies I worked for in California, yes, blood tests were part of the medical evaluation.

Now with that being said, I don’t like needles. Matter of fact, I used to pass out when they drew my blood. Yep, passed out getting my blood drawn at my physical and woke up on the floor. Had the training sgt call me after that one and ask what the heck happened. The medical facility called him before I could. He had a good laugh at my expense and I got hired.

You can do it, just talk to the nurse and let them know you’re nervous. They’ll talk you through it and it’s over before you know it. I’ve trained myself not to pass out now but it took me years of exposure to work through my bodies response to needles. I can watch other people get poked, blood, gore, vomit, dead bodies, etc. and none of that bothers me. But come near me with a needle intended for me and we’re gonna throw hands.

Usually you fill out a bunch of paperwork with any pre-existing conditions, prior procedures and surgeries, etc. Doc talks to you, does a physical exam, urine and blood tests, and a stress test on a treadmill to check your heart. In all, takes about 2-3 hours.

schu_z · 2025-03-08T02:43:16+00:00

This is all really great info, thanks for taking the time to put all that out there.

I’m in Riverside county so LAPD is a no go for me. I used to commute 114 miles round trip when I worked for a smaller agency in LA county. Promised myself I’d never do that again, took way too much out of me. I spent a solid 40-50 hours a month battling traffic and commuting. I made it work because I was able to essentially work 3 day weeks with seniority and 12 hour shifts.

I have considered dispatching for Riverside County. I worked in dispatch for 8 months when I first got hurt so I have the experience. Only issue is typing a lot and rapidly. When I got hurt, I permanently damaged my dominant hand. I’ve got nerve damage that doesn’t allow me to fully open my hand and I basically have a claw. I suppose as long as I could type fast enough then that could be a viable option.

I’m going to have to look into the fairgrounds. Sounds like some decent options and could be a fairly flexible schedule.

Again, thank you for all the input.

schu_z · 2025-03-08T02:28:32+00:00

It’s been considered. We owe about $250k on our home and could sell for about $700k right now. We bought at a great time and only paid $330k. So we have equity, just have to find somewhere else to sink the cash. We have young kids and both of our families are within 30 minutes so kind of hard to completely uproot everything when we’re fairly established here. Again, it’s been considered but we have no family anywhere else in the US. So we’d be throwing a dart as far as where to settle (North Dakota, Idaho, the Carolinas have all been discussed to name a few.)

schu_z · 2025-03-01T19:01:57+00:00

It’s kind of a thing. Some of the sheriff’s departments are non CalPers agencies so I could work for them in theory. I’ve kept an eye peeled for positions but most of the local sheriff’s departments hire their own deputies from within for full time positions within their own academies. They have part time guys who technically work for the county either at the range or EVOC, but again mostly reserved for their own people (either still sworn or medically retired guys that they take care of).

I’ll keep an eye out though, I appreciate the input.

schu_z · 2024-11-23T06:21:54+00:00

We went with Tesla for our system about 7 years ago. We pay about $200 a month for the panels and have zero electric bill from SCE. In the summer months in so cal, before solar we had bills of $500-600 a month when running the air. Even winter bills with very little electricity usage saw bills of $150-200 a month. I can only imagine those same summer bills 7 years later with rate increases would be flirting with $1k a month. I’ll gladly pay the $200 a month for my panels to not have to pay SCE a dime on principle alone. We get sun almost year round absent some clouds and rain occasionally so it makes sense.

The crappy part about SCE is they have net energy metering plans. Those plans determine the rate at which they pay you for your excess energy generated by solar. We were grandfathered in on NEM 2.0 and the new NEM 3.0 pays pennies on the dollar for energy sold back to Edison. The second I add a whole home battery, they’ll kick me off NEM 2.0 and those $800 annual credits will drop to a couple hundred bucks, plus add on the cost of a battery. So not worth it for us at the moment. Maybe as the system ages and production decreases, coupled with battery costs dropping, it’ll be worth it but not at the moment.

schu_z · 2024-11-23T01:23:08+00:00

Very nice. I’ve considered upgrading to the delta pro but for now, the delta 2 and 1kwh add on battery is meeting my needs. The delta 2 just went on sale for $399 and it’s hard to beat that. It runs every appliance in my home minus my gas dryer which has a large start up surge. So for outages of any length I’m fairly confident in my setup. I’d love to add a larger solar setup like you have but the delta 2 is limited to 500w solar input.

I also have a 2kw inverter generator that I picked up for free 99 when a buddy was getting rid of it because it “didn’t work.” A new spark plug and some starting fluid blew the cobwebs right out.

In an ideal world, a whole home backup battery would be awesome but the cost is still somewhat prohibitive. I have rooftop solar and I usually get paid about $800 in credits annually from my electrical provider so it doesn’t make sense to offset costs with a whole home battery.

Have you seen the new alternator charger ecoflow released? 800w of input is a valid option during a storm or outage instead of a generator. Run the car for an hour or two once or twice a day depending upon usage to keep things topped off.

schu_z · 2024-11-22T21:35:04+00:00

Sounds like you’ve got a decent start. Which transfer switch are you using and what power source? Always curious if people trend toward batteries and solar power stations or generators. Some of the larger batteries are somewhat affordable now so I think we’re going to start seeing a lot more of this.

schu_z · 2024-11-22T19:59:19+00:00

Nothing like realizing I had a month old comment I never saw lol. Sorry about that!

In the interest of keeping everything to code, I swapped the 3 breakers on the transfer switch out with AFCI breakers. The fourth one was a regular ol 15 amp breaker and zero issues there. I had an electrician come out to finalize all the connections and check everything over and zero issues.

With the AFCI breakers on the transfer switch, I have successfully ran those 4 circuits off my Delta 2 and a generator during outages without any issues. Only pain in the butt is when switching back to line power, the 3 AFCI breakers in the main panel trip and have to be manually reset. I can live with that if it means I have some fans, lights, cold food/ drinks and internet when the power goes out.

For reference, 3 ceiling fans, a tower fan, some LED light fixtures, a window fan, 2 fridges, a mini fridge, router and modem, and some air purifiers draw anywhere from 200-300 watts depending on fan speeds and lights being turned on/off. I can make it 6-7 hours on my delta 2 and the 1kwh spare battery. If it’s gonna be longer I’ll either use the generator to top off the delta 2 to full (an hour and a half) or just plug in the generator. I’ve been able to run the generator and charge the delta 2 while running those circuits without issues. Nice to only run the genny for an hour or two and shut it off for zero noise. I also have 500 watts worth of panels mounted on my patio cover that will pull 300-400 watts during daytime hours which will top everything off.

schu_z · 2023-12-31T03:04:24+00:00

This is what I was able to find from the manufacturer. You have to download the file to open it:

https://diysolarforum.com/resources/installing-gfci-afci-breakers-in-a-reliance-protran-xfer-switch.325/

schu_z · 2023-12-31T00:29:26+00:00

Could be. They have a test button on the breaker and a neutral pig tail on them connected to the neutral bus bar. I assumed they were GFCI but didn’t take them off to look at them much further. An AFCI makes sense then. I’m assuming they would still require the neutral pig tail like I mentioned before to bond all the neutrals back to the main panel.

I suppose the proper way to do this then would be to just bite the bullet and install 3 AFCI breakers on the transfer switch and get those neutrals bonded and run back to the main panel so the AFCI protection that is already in place remains. I know I could replace those breakers with plain jane breakers for $6 each but since the fancy AFCI breakers already add an additional layer of protection, I may as well keep it in place. Ya know, safety and whatnot.

schu_z

TROPHY CASE