How to know where to place generator docking stations

Generator docking stations have rapidly become a common piece of equipment to accompany generator installations. The increased use of docking stations can be attributed to owners’ desire for increased resiliency and because of recent code requirements in NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC).

NEC Article 700.3(F), titled “Temporary Source of Power for Maintenance or Repair of the Alternate Source of Power,” requires that emergency systems with a single generator “include permanent switching means to connect a portable or temporary alternate source of power, which shall be available for the duration of the maintenance or repair.”

Figure 6: This configuration places the docking station between the generator and the generator distribution panelboard. Courtesy: Andrew Varilone, SmithGroup

A typical location to place a docking station in the electrical system is between the generator and the generator distribution panel (see Figure 6). This configuration is ideal for situations where the docking station can be physically placed near the permanent generator location. Particular attention should be paid to the quantity and location of circuit breakers, which are specified integral to the docking station.

It is recommended that the docking station be specified with a circuit breaker configuration that fully isolates the generator conductors from the temporary generator source. Specifiers should also consider whether a load bank connection could also be beneficial to the installation, as it is relatively simple to upgrade a generator-only docking station to a dual-purpose (generator/load bank) docking station.

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