Portable Generator Inlet and Interlock Installation

Quick answer

A generator inlet with an interlock kit lets you plug a portable generator into an outdoor receptacle and power the circuits in your existing panel, furnace, fridge, well pump, lights, without extension cords or a dangerous backfeed through a dryer outlet. It is the most affordable path to real backup power. We install it in about half a day with the permit and inspection included and a fixed price up front.

How it works

We mount a weatherproof inlet outside near your panel, run it to a dedicated generator breaker, and install an interlock plate that makes it physically impossible for the generator breaker and the main breaker to be on at the same time. When the power goes out, you roll out the generator, plug in one cord, flip the main off and the generator breaker on, and turn on the circuits you need.

Why not a suicide cord

Backfeeding through a dryer or range outlet can electrocute a lineworker, destroy your generator when utility power returns, and is illegal. An interlock costs a fraction of a standby generator and solves all of that.

Sizing

A 7,000 to 9,000-watt portable runs a typical home's essentials. If you have a well pump, we account for its startup surge. We label the panel so you know what you can run at once.

What is included

Outdoor inlet in a weatherproof box. Dedicated generator breaker and an interlock kit matched to your panel brand. Circuit labeling so you know what to turn on. Permit and inspection. A walkthrough so you can run it confidently in a storm.

Upgrade path

If you later want a standby generator that starts itself, the panel work carries over to an automatic transfer switch, so nothing is wasted.

Call (208) 352-0662 or book online for a generator inlet and interlock in North Idaho and the Spokane area.
Frequently asked questions about generator inlets and interlocks
What size portable generator do I need to run my house?
Most homes run essentials, furnace, fridge, well pump and lights, on a 7,000 to 9,000-watt portable. We check your loads and tell you exactly what you need.
Is an interlock kit legal and safe?
Yes. A listed interlock kit matched to your panel, installed with a permit and inspection, is a code-approved way to connect a portable generator. Backfeeding through an outlet is not.
Can I run my well pump on a portable generator?
Usually yes with correct sizing. Well pumps have a large startup surge, so we size the generator recommendation around it and label the panel accordingly.

Verify our license yourself

Problem Solved Electric holds Idaho electrical contractor license 072429 and is licensed in Washington. Look up either license on the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses website or the Washington Labor and Industries contractor lookup.

Typical cost

Most 50-amp inlet and interlock installs land between $1,550 and $2,000, including the weatherproof inlet, the interlock kit matched to your panel, the generator breaker and wiring, circuit labeling, the permit and inspection. The generator itself and the cord are extra unless you already own them. A long run from the inlet to the panel or a full panel changes the number, and we confirm a fixed price before we start. Sales tax is added where it applies.