Generators & backup power
Backup power that's wired in right.
Wyatt Electric installs standby generators, transfer switches and portable generator hookups for homes in Harford County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City. We size the system to what you need running in an outage, pull the electrical permit and stay with the job through inspection.
- ★5.0 · 12 Google reviews
- 4 Master Electricians on staff
- Licensed & insured
- Veteran owned
- 5.0 stars12 Google reviews
- Since 198640 years in business
- 4 MastersMaster Electricians
- Veteran ownedLicensed & insured
- ESGR 2010Above & Beyond Award
The short answer
What does it take to add a backup generator?
Three decisions: what has to stay on in an outage, which generator can carry it, and how it connects to your panel. A transfer switch or interlock keeps generator power off the utility lines. In Maryland the connection is permitted electrical work, inspected by your county or the city.
- A list of the loads you can't do without: well pump, sump pump, furnace, fridge, medical equipment
- A load calculation, so the generator isn't too small or bigger than you need
- A transfer switch or interlock, never a cord plugged into a wall outlet
- An electrical permit and inspection in all three jurisdictions we cover
- A panel with room for the connection, or a plan to make room
- A spot outside that suits the unit, set with your installer before anything is ordered
What's included
One crew from sizing to sign-off.
Generator work is part load math and part panel work. We do both, so nothing falls between two trades.
Load calculation and sizing
We add up what your house draws and what you want running in an outage, then size the system to it: essential circuits only, or the whole home.
Transfer switch or interlock
We install the device that keeps generator power and utility power apart: an automatic or manual transfer switch, or an interlock kit on the main panel.
Standby generator wiring
For a permanently installed unit, we run the circuit from the generator to the transfer switch and connect it to your panel to code.
Portable generator inlet
If a portable generator is enough, we add an outdoor inlet box and an interlock so you can run selected circuits safely, with no extension cords through a window.
Permit and inspection
We file the electrical permit with Harford County, Baltimore County or Baltimore City, and the job isn't done until it passes inspection.
A walkthrough before we leave
We show you how the switchover works, what's on backup and what isn't, and label it at the panel so anyone in the house can follow it.
How a generator install works
Four steps, start to switchover.
- 1
We look at the panel and the loads.
We check your panel and service, and list what has to stay on: heat, well and sump pumps, refrigeration, anything medical.
- 2
You choose the setup and the price.
Standby or portable, essential circuits or whole home. We explain the options and the price before anything starts.
- 3
We pull the permit and do the wiring.
The transfer switch or interlock goes in, the generator is connected, and every backed-up circuit is labeled.
- 4
Inspection, then a live test.
After the inspector signs off we run a switchover with you, so you know what happens the next time the power goes out.
Transfer switch types
Three ways to connect a generator.
Every safe generator hookup does one job: it makes it impossible for generator power and utility power to meet. Here's how the common options compare.
Automatic transfer switch
- How it switches
- Senses the outage, starts the generator and moves the house over on its own, then switches back when utility power returns.
- Usually paired with
- A permanently installed standby generator.
- Good to know
- Works when you're away from home. Can cover the whole house or a set of essential circuits.
Manual transfer switch
- How it switches
- You start the generator and flip the switch yourself.
- Usually paired with
- A portable generator, or a standby unit on a budget.
- Good to know
- Powers a fixed set of circuits wired through the switch.
Panel interlock kit
- How it switches
- A sliding plate on the main panel that lets the main breaker or the generator breaker be on, never both.
- Usually paired with
- A portable generator plugged into an outdoor inlet.
- Good to know
- Usually the lowest-cost safe option. You choose which circuits to run, within what the generator can carry.
| Connection | How it switches | Usually paired with | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic transfer switch | Senses the outage, starts the generator and moves the house over on its own, then switches back when utility power returns. | A permanently installed standby generator. | Works when you're away from home. Can cover the whole house or a set of essential circuits. |
| Manual transfer switch | You start the generator and flip the switch yourself. | A portable generator, or a standby unit on a budget. | Powers a fixed set of circuits wired through the switch. |
| Panel interlock kit | A sliding plate on the main panel that lets the main breaker or the generator breaker be on, never both. | A portable generator plugged into an outdoor inlet. | Usually the lowest-cost safe option. You choose which circuits to run, within what the generator can carry. |
Plugging a generator into a wall outlet with a double-ended cord can backfeed the utility lines and endanger line workers. Every option above prevents that.
Google reviews
What our customers say.
“They show up early and they work. They are professional, clean, and friendly. All my questions and concerns were addressed while they were on the worksite.”
“They show up on time, explain everything clearly, and do top-quality work every single time. It’s such a relief to have electricians we fully trust and we won’t use anyone else.”
“We have called Wyatt Electric twice, once in 2020 and again just recently. They fixed all of our problems and left our home clean, even after installing a ceiling fan in my daughter's bedroom.”
Generator questions
Before you book.
Do I need a permit to install a generator?
Yes for the electrical side. Connecting a generator to your home's wiring through a transfer switch or interlock is permitted electrical work in Harford County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City. We pull the electrical permit and handle the inspection.
What size generator do I need?
It depends on what you want running. Covering a few essential circuits takes far less than running the whole house, central air included. We do a load calculation first so the generator matches the job.
What's the difference between a transfer switch and an interlock?
Both keep generator power off the utility lines. A transfer switch is a separate device that moves selected circuits, or the whole house, to the generator. An interlock is a plate on your main panel that physically stops the main breaker and the generator breaker from being on together.
Can I run my portable generator through my panel?
Yes, with the right hardware. We install an outdoor inlet and an interlock or manual transfer switch, so you plug the generator in outside and run the circuits you pick. Never backfeed through a wall outlet.
Do power outages really happen often enough to bother?
Single summer storms have knocked out power to more than 114,000 customers in central Maryland at once. If you're on a well, a sump pump or medical equipment, even a short outage matters.
Will my panel need an upgrade first?
Sometimes. An older panel that's full, or one that's in poor shape, may need work before a transfer switch or interlock can go in. We'll tell you after we've looked at it.
How do I get a price?
Book a visit online or call 410-557-8557. We look at the panel and talk through what you need backed up, then give you the price before anything starts.
Where we work · Generators & backup power
Three jurisdictions, one crew.
Each one has its own permit office and code edition. We work in all three and pull the permits ourselves.
- Harford CountyJarrettsville, Bel Air, Fallston, Forest Hill and the rest of the county.Electrician in Harford County
- Baltimore CountyTowson, Hunt Valley, Phoenix, Monkton, Sparks and the rest of the county.Electrician in Baltimore County
- Baltimore CityRowhomes and older houses across Baltimore City.Electrician in Baltimore City
Related services and guides
Often paired with backup power.
- Panel & service upgradesReplacing old or full panels and upgrading service, permitted and inspected.
- EV charger installationLevel 2 charger circuits, with a check that your panel can carry the load.
- Repairs & troubleshootingTripping breakers, dead outlets, flickering lights and small jobs.
- Sizing a whole-home generatorEssential vs. whole-home loads, starting surges, and how the transfer switch changes the size.
- Generator vs. battery backupRun time, big loads, noise and upkeep: how a generator and a battery compare.
Book a visit
Before the next storm.
Let's size it right.
Book online in about a minute, or call or text 410-557-8557, Monday–Friday, 7am–6pm. We confirm by text, and a licensed electrician shows up in your window.
Burning smell, sparking or no power? Don't book online. Call now: 410-557-8557