Marilyn Girard
Owner and master electrician
Marilyn takes the calls, makes the visit, writes every quote and holds the license on every job.
Inlets, interlocks and standby power
Three ways to keep the furnace running when the power is out
Ice and snow take down lines, and a long rural line takes its time coming back. Pick the one that sounds like you. We look at your panel and your generator and say plainly what fits.
Which sounds like you?
- A few things: furnace, fridge, well pumpAn inlet on the outside wall and a small switch for those circuits. You plug a portable generator in.
- Most of the house, my own wayAn interlock plate on your main panel and an inlet outside. You choose which breakers run, within what your generator can carry.
- All of it, with nothing to haul outA permanent generator on a pad that starts itself when the power goes. Most work, most cost.
- I'm not sure yetSend a photo of the panel and the outside wall, and we'll tell you which one.
The jobs
What we wire
Cabins, farms and houses at the end of a long line. Each job has its own page.
Portable generator inlet
A weatherproof inlet box outside, wired to a transfer switch, in 30 or 50 amp to match your generator.
See the jobPanel interlock
A plate on your main panel that keeps the utility and the generator from being on together.
See the jobTransfer switch for chosen circuits
A small panel for the furnace, the fridge, the well pump and a few lights.
See the jobStandby generator hookup
The wiring and the automatic transfer switch for a permanent generator. A gas fitter runs the gas.
See the jobWell pump and furnace circuits
A dedicated circuit and a way to feed it, so water and heat come first.
Service mast and meter base after ice
When ice or a tree pulls the mast loose, the repair, the permit and the call to the utility.
The steps
Before the next one
The ice-storm checklist
Ice brings down limbs and lines, and on a rural road the line can stay down a while. Four things are worth knowing before it happens.
Run a portable generator outdoors, well away from windows, doors and vents.
Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. That is what the inlet is for.
Stay away from wires on the ground. Call your utility, and 911 if there is fire.
If ice pulled the service mast off the house, don't touch it. Call your utility first, then us.
How a job goes
From the first text to the first test run
- 01
Step 1: You text a photo
The panel, the outside wall where the inlet would go, and the label on your generator. We read them before we drive out.
- 02
Step 2: We visit
We open the panel, look at the wall, and write down what you want to run: furnace, well pump, freezer, lights.
- 03
Step 3: You get a written quote
It lists the parts, the permit and what isn't in it. Nothing starts until you've read it.
- 04
Step 4: Permit
We pull the electrical permit where one is required and book the inspection.
- 05
Step 5: We install and label
Every breaker that can run on the generator is labeled, and the inlet gets its cover.
- 06
Step 6: We test it with you
We run your generator under load while you watch, and leave a one-page list of what to switch off first.
The price
What it costs, in plain words
We price a generator hookup after we see the panel and the wall. A few things move the number the most.
How far the inlet sits from the panel
Whether an interlock kit is made for your panel
A 30 amp or a 50 amp inlet
For standby: the pad, and how far the electric and gas have to run
Who comes to the door
Two people, one truck
Marilyn does the visit and writes the quote. Shelby is on the truck. Nobody else turns up.
Shelby Zielinski
Helper
Shelby does the mounting, the pulling and the cleanup, and reads every breaker label back with you at the end.
Whose license is on the work
License
Electrical Contractor
MI Lic. 000000 · Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Lets the business take electrical jobs and pull permits for them.
Check it yourself
Look it up
Search the license number on the state's license lookup before you book. The class and the holder show there.
What people say about the inlets and the checklist
“We have a camp off a two-track, and the line is long. Marilyn said an inlet and a small switch for the furnace and the pump was all I needed. It was a smaller job than I'd braced for.”
Marty B.Camp owner near Big Bay
“She told me the interlock kit I'd read about doesn't fit my old panel, and we did a switch for the barn and the house instead. She said so before she quoted.”
Alan T.Homeowner in Negaunee
“Shelby labeled every breaker while I stood there, and we ran the generator for a good while before they left. The page of what to switch off first is on the fridge.”
Julie R.Homeowner in Chocolay Township
Sample reviews.
Where the truck goes
Marquette County and the west end of Alger County.
Marquette County
- Marquette
- Harvey
- Negaunee
- Ishpeming
- Gwinn
- Skandia
- Big Bay
- Champion
- Michigamme
- Republic
- Palmer
Alger County
- Munising
- Au Train
- Chatham
- Trenary
We don't go east of Munising or into the Keweenaw. Two people and one truck can't cover that much road in winter.
Questions before you call
Do I need a permit, and who pulls it?
Usually, yes, for an inlet, an interlock or a standby hookup. We pull the permit and book the inspection where one is required, and the fees are lines on the written quote.
Can I plug my generator into a dryer outlet?
No. A cord with a plug on both ends can send power back out onto the line and hurt you or a lineworker. An inlet and an interlock or transfer switch are what make it safe to feed the house.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want to run. We add up the furnace blower, the well pump, the freezer and the lights before we say a size. A well pump takes more to start than to run.
Do you come out in the middle of an outage?
We don't answer overnight, and there are two of us. Calls during an outage are returned in the order they came in. For fire, smoke or wires down, call 911 and your utility first.
Are you licensed and insured, and how do I check?
Yes. The license line is in the footer of every page. Search the number on the state's license lookup, and ask us for the certificate of insurance.
How do I send photos?
Text the panel, the outside wall and your generator's label to (906) 555-0100, or use the button at the top of any page.
Text us a photo of the panel and the outside wall
That's usually enough to tell you whether you need an inlet, an interlock or a standby hookup, and what the visit will look at.