Why this matters now The February 2021 freeze took DFW offline for days — and it wasn't the first time, and won't be the last. Our grid is vulnerable to ice storms, summer thunderstorms, and everything else this part of Texas throws at it. A generator inlet box with an interlock kit is the simplest, most reliable way to keep power running when the grid goes down. It's not a whole-home standby generator, but it handles a lot more than most people expect — and it's a lot less invasive than running a whole-house system.
A generator inlet box mounts to the side of your home and connects directly to your electrical panel. A cord runs from your portable generator into the box, then into the panel. The interlock kit locks into the panel alongside your existing breakers and physically prevents you from plugging two power sources in at the same time — that's how backfeeding happens, and it kills linemen working on the line.
Backfeeding is the real danger here. Without an interlock, you could accidentally connect your generator and the grid simultaneously, pushing power backward through the utility lines. That power shows up on poles that linemen expect to be dead. This isn't theoretical — it's the #1 reason utility companies are so aggressive about requiring an interlock and a permit. We install the interlock, pull the permit, and handle the inspection. No shortcuts.
If you've seen a generator hooked up without an interlock, that's a death wish we don't recommend. An interlock is cheap insurance, and most DFW cities require it by code anyway.
A typical 5kW–10kW portable generator through an inlet box can cover the basics during a storm: refrigerator, well pump, some lights, a ceiling fan or two, and maybe the microwave. That's not everything in the house, but it's the stuff that keeps you functional — food doesn't spoil, the water keeps running, and you can charge a phone.
It won't run the whole house. Central AC, a full-size freezer, and electric heat are too much for a portable through an inlet. If you need the entire house covered, that's a whole-home standby generator (we install those too), but an inlet + interlock is the smart middle ground for most DFW homeowners. It's faster to install, cheaper upfront, and doesn't require a gas line run.
An interlock kit with an inlet box costs less, installs in half a day, and works great if you're willing to fire up a portable generator yourself during a storm. A whole-home standby generator sits on a concrete pad, hooks into your gas line, and turns on automatically — it's the hands-off option but it's a big installation with a big price tag.
Grizzly installs both. If you want the inlet + interlock first and upgrade later, that's totally fine. If you want the whole thing from the start, we'll size the panel, plan the gas line, and handle every permit.
Most inlet + interlock installs are a half-day job. We mount the inlet box on an exterior wall, route the conduit to the panel, install the interlock kit with the right breaker, and terminate everything. We pull the permit and schedule the inspection — most inspections go through in DFW cities within a few days.
One thing to know: interlock kits are panel-brand-specific. Generac, Cutler-Hammer, Siemens, GE, Square D — they each have their own interlock hardware. We'll identify your panel brand and have the right kit ready. No guessing.
Every install is different, so the price varies. Here's what drives it:
Call or text us for a free quote — we often get out same-day. Text us a photo of your electrical panel and we can tell you what interlock kit you need before anyone even schedules a visit.
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