Generator backup connections & changeover switches
When the grid goes down, a properly installed generator connection lets you power selected household circuits safely, without extension leads through windows or unsafe connections to your wiring.
Fixed price quoting. Based in Lyndoch and servicing Williamstown, Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston, Gawler and the wider Barossa Valley.
Why fit a generator connection
A safe connection
A generator inlet on the outside of your home and a changeover switch at the switchboard keep your generator isolated from the grid, so power cannot feed back onto the network.
Power what matters
We assess your household loads so you know which circuits your generator can supply, such as the fridge, freezer, lighting, internet and a few power points.
No extension-lead juggling
Plug the generator into the inlet, switch over and you're running. It's quick and tidy when it's dark and the weather's bad.
Planned around your generator
We match the inlet and wiring to your generator's output and plug type, and talk through what it can realistically run.
What the installation includes
- A household load assessment, so we agree which circuits the generator will supply
- A weather-rated generator inlet fitted in a suitable outdoor position
- A changeover switch fitted at the switchboard so the generator and the grid can never be connected at once
- Wiring for the circuits you have chosen to back up
- Testing, labelling and a walk-through of safe start-up and shut-down
- Compliance paperwork where it is required for the work
Is it suitable for your home?
Generator connections suit most homes, but what you can run depends on a few things we check at the quote:
- Your generator's output and plug type, or the size you are considering
- Which loads you want to run. Fridges, freezers, lights and internet are easy; ducted air conditioning, ovens, pool pumps and electric hot-water elements can exceed a generator's capacity
- Single-phase or three-phase supply
- The condition of your switchboard and whether there is room for the changeover switch
- A safe inlet and generator position outdoors, well ventilated and away from doors and windows
- Any solar or battery system. Many shut down during an outage, so they need to be considered separately
Generator safety
Never plug a generator into a power point or connect it to your home wiring without a proper changeover switch. Always run generators outdoors, well away from doors and windows, because they produce carbon monoxide.
Common questions
What are a generator inlet and a changeover switch?
The inlet is a weather-rated socket on the outside of your home where the generator plugs in. The changeover switch at your switchboard selects either the grid or the generator, and prevents both being connected at the same time.
Can I just plug my generator into a power point?
No. Doing this can send power back into your wiring and onto the network, which is dangerous for you and for anyone working on the lines. A proper inlet and changeover switch is the safe way to do it.
What will my generator be able to run?
That depends on its capacity and on what you want to power. We assess your loads at the quote. Essentials like the fridge, lights and internet are usually straightforward, while high-draw items often can't all run at once.
Will it work with my solar and battery system?
Many solar systems switch off during a blackout, so they don't supply the house on their own. A battery or generator setup needs to be assessed separately, and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Lyndoch and install across the Barossa Valley, including Williamstown, Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston, Gawler and surrounding towns.
Lyndoch & the Barossa Valley
RAV Electrical is based in Lyndoch, so we're close to every town across the Barossa Valley and plenty of places beyond it.
- Lyndoch
- Williamstown
- Gawler
- Sandy Creek
- Cockatoo Valley
- Rowland Flat
- Tanunda
- Bethany
- Nuriootpa
- Angaston
- Greenock
- Seppeltsfield
- Marananga
- Light Pass
- Stockwell
- Eden Valley
- Springton
- Keyneton
- Truro
- & more
Other services
Ready for a fixed price quote?
Tell us about your home and we'll come back to you, usually the same day.