Portable Generator Inlets
& Interlock Installation
Already have a portable generator? A generator inlet box and panel interlock is the safe, code-compliant way to connect it to your home, no extension cords through windows, no backfeeding risk. We install these throughout West Palm Beach and Palm Bay.
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How an Inlet & Interlock Works
An inlet box is a weatherproof receptacle installed on the exterior of your home. It connects through your wall to a dedicated breaker in your panel. When a storm knocks the power out, you plug your generator into the inlet using a heavy-duty cord, flip the interlock to the generator position, and power flows to your selected circuits.
The interlock kit is the critical safety component. It's a mechanical plate that physically prevents the main breaker and the generator breaker from being on simultaneously. This is what prevents backfeed, the dangerous situation where generator power flows back into the utility lines and can kill a lineman working on what they believe is a dead circuit.
This setup is also fully code-compliant, unlike running extension cords from a generator outside, which is both dangerous and technically a code violation.
What It Can Power
Depends on your generator's output (wattage). A typical 5,500–7,500 watt portable generator connected through an inlet can usually handle:
- Refrigerator and freezer
- Lights and ceiling fans
- Phone and device charging
- Sump pump
- Window AC unit (smaller units)
- Microwave
- TV and router
Need whole-home coverage including central AC? Consider a Generac standby generator instead.
See whole-home generator installationFAQs
Inlet vs. Standby Generator, Which Do You Need?
Inlet & Interlock Kit
- Installed cost: $400–$900
- Works with your existing portable generator
- You run and connect the generator manually
- Limited to portable generator's wattage
- Best suited for essential circuits only
- No automatic start, requires you to be home
Good fit if you already own a portable generator and want a safe, permitted connection.
Standby Generator
- Installed cost: $8,000–$15,000+
- Automatic start, no action required from you
- Whole-home coverage including central AC
- Runs on natural gas or propane (LP)
- No manual effort during an outage
- Runs self-tests automatically each week
The Right Portable Generator Size for an Inlet
Generator wattage determines which circuits you can run simultaneously. Use this as a starting point, actual capacity depends on your specific appliances.
| Generator Wattage | What It Can Power |
|---|---|
| 3,500W | Refrigerator + lights + ceiling fans + phone charging |
| 5,500W | Adds a window AC unit + microwave to the above |
| 7,500W | Adds sump pump + more circuits running simultaneously |
| 10,000W | Most home essentials, everything except central AC |
Generator Inlet Installation in Palm Beach & Brevard County
Florida requires a permit for all electrical panel work, including generator inlet installations. This isn't bureaucratic overhead, it means the work is inspected by a county official and documented as part of your home's permit history. We handle the permit application, coordinate the inspection, and you receive a fully documented, code-compliant installation. In Palm Beach County and Brevard County, we're familiar with the local inspection processes and pull permits regularly.
Once the permit is in hand, inlet installations are typically completed in a single day, usually 3–5 hours of work. We serve homeowners in West Palm Beach, Lantana, and throughout Palm Beach County, as well as Palm Bay, Melbourne, and the broader Space Coast area in Brevard County. Same licensed crew, same permit process, both service areas.
Why Extension Cords Are Dangerous
Extension cords overheat under generator loads
Standard extension cords are not rated for the continuous high-amperage loads that generators produce. Running a generator through an undersized cord causes the cord to heat up, and can start a fire inside your walls or on the floor.
Cords through windows create real hazards
Running cords through a cracked window or door lets in rain, insects, and humid air. The cord creates a trip hazard and the window seal damages the cord insulation over time. These are not minor inconveniences, they are ongoing safety failures.
Without an interlock, backfeed can kill utility workers
Plugging a generator directly into a wall outlet without an interlock, sometimes called "backfeeding", sends power back onto the utility lines. Linemen working on what they believe are de-energized lines can be electrocuted. This is why Florida requires a permitted interlock for all generator connections to a panel.