Most likely it needs to be on 240 volt. If the transfer switch use the L14 then it should be 240 volts.

Agree. And I doubt Alton can give you your answer definitively.

This whole issue centers on the transfer switch--what it accepts for input and how it is wired. At the cheaper, lower-capacity end of x-fer switches, some are "120V only" and, from the circuits you've described, you're right on the cusp in terms of sizing.

L-14 (four wires) implies 240V to me. Keep in mind that when something is described as "120/240V", it suggests a 240V feed such that 240V circuits can be wired using both poles, and 120V circuits can be derived by using only one pole. It doesn't necessarily mean "take your pick".

Assuming that the x-fer switch also accepts L-14, I agree with joed: 240V.

Thanks so much for your answers, Yes the transfer switch does have the L-14 also. The transfer switch is a Honda with 6 throw switchs or poles. The previous owners of our house had it installed the winter before, I've yet to try it out, just ordered the cable, plan to do a dry run with the Mrs to make sure all is well. It's wired to the furnace fan, a few lights and the Fridge circuit. The little alton is a 3500 watt, we really want a Honda but it was not in our budget this year. Power goes out many times a winter here in the Northwest for 1-2 days at a time. So far the little Alton has done well on our camping trips, we used it with our pop up trailer with no issues. Thanks for the help again.

Rick

Hi Rick. Living in Sooke on Vancouver Island I also had to buy a backup generator following last winter's severe weather. The position of the switch on the voltmeter has no effect on the actual voltage of your circuits. The generator consists of two windings coupled together at one end which is called the neutral. The voltage between the end of each winding and the neutral is 120V. The voltage between both outside ends of the windings will be twice that, or 240V. Your 4 wire cable going to the transfer switch consist of the two winding ends, the neutral and a ground wire. If you look at the cable plug face you will see a face: two eyes, a mouth, and a round hole in the forehead. The round hole is the ground (green wire), the mouth is the neutral(white wire), and the two eyes are the winding terminals. The switch on the meter allows you to measure actual voltage between one eye and neutral (when in 120V position) or between both eyes (when in 240V position). As the circuits you want to supply are all 120V circuits just leave the switch in the 120V position. Hope this was helpful.

I picked up a used one and would like to know if anyone knows where I can download a manual. There is not much information for them out there. It looks as though the oil was overfilled because when I checked the oil, it poured out. What kind of oil and how much do they use? Any help would be appreceated.

Thanks

The oil level should be embossed on the side of the crankcase somewhere. Usually with the universal litre symbol next to it.

Typically you'd use non-detergent 30w oil in an air cooled engine without an oil filter. If it will be used in very cold temps you can use 10w-30.

Rick, sorry for hiiiilaaaking ur thread, could you pls share how the Alton generator is working for you?
yes, http://www.altonindustries.com/index.asp
you can find details of alton products, I have one sitting my garage for emergency.
these have low oil shutoff and as petey said, a good non-detergent oil, 10-30 will be fine for all weather.

The Alton is a clone of an old (but good) Honda design.

One interesting thing about this design is the 120V/240V switch. Most small generators only allow you to draw half the total rated power from any given 120V outlet - one plug is on each phase. In 240V mode this is how your generator works - both legs of the L-14 are hot and each leg can only draw 1500 watts max.

In 120V mode, only ONE leg is hot. The generator field coils are in PARALLEL, so you can draw all 3000W from one 120V outlet.

Basically, since your transfer switch has the L-14 plug, use the 240V setting and keep in mind your maximum wattage is per leg - you can't draw a full 1800W load, for instance, on a 120V circuit connected to the transfer switch.

Sorry it took so long to get back to this, I lost the link and found it by doing a search, LUCKY! Anyway, thank you all so much for you feedback, there is not much out there on the web about these little generators. So I'm guessing to get the most out of it I need to run it in the 220 mode or I'll be dead on one leg? The 1800 on each leg should be ok, The 6 circuits on the transfer switch are split in two, the only real loads I have are the Refridgerators. I'll just have to cycle them because they put both the garage fridge and the house fridge on the same leg of 3. The balance of my load is the gas furnace fan, a couple of lights upstairs and if we really get greedy the microwave in the kitchen. There is also a circuit for the family room tv and light, but I'm not sure yet about running the tv on it. Any comments? As for how it's performed, well I have used it several times out camping this summer with my pop up trailer, we just used it to charge batteries and let the ladies dry there hair, Ha! But it's worked well. Not as noisy as I thought it would be. I have not hooked it up to the house yet, we have been fortunate this year to not lose power for more than an hour. I was kind of waiting until I have the proper setting as well for the voltage. My next project is to build a cover or well vented enclosure as it rains all the time here and I don't think that would be a good combo to have it sitting out in the rain.
Also , for the person who needed a manual, if you still need it, email me at rickdyke@msn.com and I'll scan it for you. Not much to it, it's pretty generic. But handy. Also, I did have a leaking fuel tank the first time I used it, I called Alton at the number in the manual, they sent me a tank free of charge , had it within 3 days of speaking to them. Not bad to deal with at all.
Thank you all again for so much information and help

Rick

Rick you are probably already aware of this about building the enclosure, but I'd make sure it's well away from the house, or at least not near any windows or doors. There's been a number of CO poisonings from generators run too close to the house. Especially if you have a basement. Obviously, it's also a good idea to have a CO detector mounted in the house if you are running one. Since you have a gas furnace, hopefully you already do.

Kevin