Generac GP15000E - 15,000 Watt Electric Start Portable Generator (49-State)

What you are looking for is a whole house manual transfer switch. The size switch would be dependent on your incoming amperage from the utility company. The most common size is 200A and the following switch is the most popular.

Reliance-Controls-TWB2005DR

This switch would be installed immediately after the electric meter so the generator can power your entire panel through the switch. You will need to manage the circuits in the electrical panel so you do not overload the generator and it is recommended that all circuit breakers are shut down when connecting a running generator (never want to connect or start a generator with any electrical loads present).

You would then also need the proper 50A power inlet box to plug the generator into using a 50A generator power cord. The following models are recommended....

50A 25 Foot Power Cord

50A Power Inlet Box

Please note that portable generators are not designed to be left outdoors without proper coverage as they are not water proofed.

We recommend you consult with a certified electrician who is familiar with your local electrical codes for installation.

Thanks for your inquiry.....Generator manufacturers do not offer conversion kits or permanent enclosures for portable generators.

We at Power Equipment Direct do not recommend converting your gasoline portable generator to an alternative fuel and doing so will void the manufacturer’s warranty and may cause damage to the generator itself. These conversions are not recommended by any of the generator manufacturers.

Gasoline has an Ignition Point of 475–536 °F. When a generator is manufactured to run solely on gasoline these temperatures are taken into consideration and the engine components are made to handle these temperatures.

Propane (LP) has an Ignition Point of 920-1020°F and Natural Gas (NG) has an Ignition Point of 900–1500°F. These higher temperatures will cause damage over time on any “gas only” powered engine.

The following guidelines cover Honda engines (Also applies to other engine manufacturers) modified to run on fuels other than the one for which they were designed, such as converting an engine to run on propane (LP) or natural gas (NG).


• Honda gasoline engines are certified to operate on unleaded fuel with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher, containing no more than 10% ethanol (E10).

• Any change to the original configuration of a certified Honda engine is a potential violation of the Clean Air Act prohibition against tampering (40 CFR §1068.101(b)(1)). The tampering prohibition is important because poorly designed and installed modifications can increase emissions.

• The Clean Air Act prohibits anyone from removing or rendering inoperative any device or design element installed on engines in compliance with regulations. These actions are considered tampering, which carries a civil penalty up to $37,500 for each engine or equipment in violation.

• Engines converted by a third party (OEM, dealer, converter, etc.) to run on a different fuel type must be recertified with the EPA on the new fuel to comply with applicable emission standards. The third party must recertify under a new family and notify Honda to not include the modified engines in the original family.

• Converted engines to be sold for use in California must meet CARB requirements and the converter must obtain approval from CARB. EPA certificates or tampering exemptions will not satisfy the requirement for CARB certification.

• Once certified, the third party must remove the Honda emission control label and apply a compliant emission control label for the new fuel indicating the new certifying manufacturer. Honda will no longer assume any responsibility as the certifying manufacturer.

• The Honda Distributor's Limited Warranty does not extend to parts affected or damaged by the conversion to or use of fuel other than the fuel for which the engine was originally designed.


• Honda offers V-twin engines specifically designed and certified for use in LP/NG applications. The engines incorporate special design features that address the higher combustion temperatures and reduced lubrication to the valve guide area (since it is a dry fuel, not liquid). Please contact your sales representative or distributor for additional information.


Disclaimer: The guidance provided is intended for Honda dealer/distributor informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You must contact the appropriate certifying agencies if you require information on how regulations apply to your specific application.

The regulations and additional information can be found at these web sites:

EPA Regulations

CARB Compliance

Thanks for your inquiry.

We at Power Equipment Direct do not recommend converting your gasoline portable generator to an alternative fuel and doing so will void the manufacturer’s warranty and may cause damage to the generator itself. These conversions are not recommended by any of the generator manufacturers.

Gasoline has an Ignition Point of 475–536 °F. When a generator is manufactured to run solely on gasoline these temperatures are taken into consideration and the engine components are made to handle these temperatures.

Propane (LP) has an Ignition Point of 920-1020°F and Natural Gas (NG) has an Ignition Point of 900–1500°F. These higher temperatures will cause damage over time on any “gas only” powered engine.

The following guidelines cover Honda engines (Also applies to other engine manufacturers) modified to run on fuels other than the one for which they were designed, such as converting an engine to run on propane (LP) or natural gas (NG).


• Honda gasoline engines are certified to operate on unleaded fuel with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher, containing no more than 10% ethanol (E10).

• Any change to the original configuration of a certified Honda engine is a potential violation of the Clean Air Act prohibition against tampering (40 CFR §1068.101(b)(1)). The tampering prohibition is important because poorly designed and installed modifications can increase emissions.

• The Clean Air Act prohibits anyone from removing or rendering inoperative any device or design element installed on engines in compliance with regulations. These actions are considered tampering, which carries a civil penalty up to $37,500 for each engine or equipment in violation.

• Engines converted by a third party (OEM, dealer, converter, etc.) to run on a different fuel type must be recertified with the EPA on the new fuel to comply with applicable emission standards. The third party must recertify under a new family and notify Honda to not include the modified engines in the original family.

• Converted engines to be sold for use in California must meet CARB requirements and the converter must obtain approval from CARB. EPA certificates or tampering exemptions will not satisfy the requirement for CARB certification.

• Once certified, the third party must remove the Honda emission control label and apply a compliant emission control label for the new fuel indicating the new certifying manufacturer. Honda will no longer assume any responsibility as the certifying manufacturer.

• The Honda Distributor's Limited Warranty does not extend to parts affected or damaged by the conversion to or use of fuel other than the fuel for which the engine was originally designed.


• Honda offers V-twin engines specifically designed and certified for use in LP/NG applications. The engines incorporate special design features that address the higher combustion temperatures and reduced lubrication to the valve guide area (since it is a dry fuel, not liquid). Please contact your sales representative or distributor for additional information.


Disclaimer: The guidance provided is intended for Honda dealer/distributor informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You must contact the appropriate certifying agencies if you require information on how regulations apply to your specific application.

The regulations and additional information can be found at these web sites:

EPA - EPA

CARB - CARB


The run times will always vary based on the actual load put on the generator.

It is not recommended to connect to 2 separate panels via the generators outlets due to causing off balanced loads on the alternator and damaging the generator and possibly the equipment you are connecting to it.

CAUTION: EQUIPMENT DAMAGE – Balanced Load

Failure to properly limit and balance the load applied to the generator will cause the generator to produce low voltage and may damage the engine generator set. It may also cause severe damage to the loads connected to the generator at that time. Improper loading of the generator set constitutes abuse and will not be covered by warranty.

The Classic Accessories X-Large cover has been fit tested and fits the Generac GP15000E generator perfectly.

DB, manual transfer switches and automatic transfer switches may sound similar, but they are actually nothing alike. If you purchase a standby generator, you'll need to get the automatic transfer switch. Otherwise, the generator won't be able to sense when power goes on and off.

As for your manual transfer switch, here's the kit that we recommend with the GP15000E:

https://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Generac-6296/p8535.html

The generator charges the battery when in use and the generator should be started every 7 days per the owner's manual. This properly lubricates the engine, keeps fuel moving through the carburetor to prevent clogging and it charges the battery.

Otherwise, you need to follow the long term storage process according to the manual and then us a trickle charger on the battery to keep it charged.

Any 50A outlet, receptacle, cord or switch has a maximum of 12,500 watts....Amps x Volts = Watts.

The other items needed to tie this generator to your home would be a manual transfer switch, a power cord and the outdoor power inlet box. Pricing for the installation can vary by location and unfortunately we cannot provide a cost. See links below for recommended installation models:

Manual Transfer Switch - 50A

25 Ft Generator Cord - 50A

Power Inlet Box - 50A

Yes, the TRC1005C operates the same as the Kit50-25SB except the Kit includes the breakers, power inlet box and power cord. All of these items would need to be purchased when selecting the TRC1005C.

Generac uses 10W30 in their kits that get sent with the portable generators.

Charging of the battery in the generator is done when the unit is not in operation. The provided charger is plugged into a 120V wall outlet and the other end goes into the designated plug-in on the control panel.

The unit may be backfiring due to the gasoline quality. It is always best to use clean fresh fuel as fuel can go bad within 30 days. The only other option would be to have a certified Generac service center check the unit for you to see if the carburetor is out of adjustment.

The best way to connect to your home panel and have the ability to use all your circuits is to use a manual transfer panel based on the amperage size of your existing panel. (100A or 200A) This transfer panel would be mounted between your meter and your main panel breaker so you have control of all of your circuits. You still need to control them according to the load without exceeding the maximum of 12,500 watts through the 50A outlet. In a normal situation no one normally uses anywhere near 12,500 watts at any one time. The link below will show you some of the switches we have to give you more options.

100A Transfer Panels

200A Transfer Panels

The 50A outlet on the Generator is 120/240V which does provide the 120V you are looking for and a maximum of 12,500 watts can be run through the 50A outlet. When the generator is sized properly at 80% of the generators output capacity the 50A outlet is sufficient enough for emergency usage.

Portable generators are normally stored inside and the B&S 30471 comes with a float style battery charger which is plugged into the generator when not in use. This allows the generator battery to have a sufficient charge when the generator is needed to start.

An OHV (Overhead Valve) engine is compact designed and generally makes the unit operate quieter. The Generac OHVI (Overhead Valve Industrial) engine is built robustly with premium power and high performance and comes with a fully pressurized oil lubrication system and spin-on filter.