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I have an outdoor meter main panel (Eaton MBE2040B200BTS) with the following circuits: 15A and 20A septic, a 30A 120v RV hookup, a 20A outdoor utility outlet, and an Eaton BRS225 Main Lug Kit that feeds my 200A indoor manufactured home panel. I want to put a generator hookup outside for backup power to keep emergency loads like the septic and refrigerator on. I understand the generator won't handle my HVAC, Water Heater, Dryer, or Range so those breakers will be turned off in the house before starting the generator. I plan to use a double pole 30A breaker and this interlock kit. Can I mount an inlet like this directly into the bottom or the side of the meter main panel and skip the additional inlet box and conduit? I have a hydraulic knockout kit with a 2.36" die to make a clean hole.

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Not if it's outdoors

And the electric meter is on it, so I presume it's outdoors.

The reason is NEC requires a weatherproof cover. The same company makes those for $40 more... and you can connect them to the panel with a $3 offset nipple (which gives you 1 axis of freedom of movement to match it to surfaces).

You also have NEC 110.3(B) to contend with: "Use equipment according to labeling and instructions". That is notably applicable to your NEMA 3 rated enclosure, vis-a-vis where on the enclosure a knockout may be located. It also applies to the inlet. "use according to" means all uses are forbidden except the permitted ones.

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  • Yes it's outside. Your answer makes sense. I wasn't aware of the existence of offset nipples. Thanks. Dec 9, 2022 at 21:59
  • Is the in-use cover required on inlets? The Reliance inlet boxes don't have one, for one... Dec 10, 2022 at 4:26
  • @ThreePhaseEel I can't find any support for that, removed. But it definitely needs to be weatherproof. Dec 10, 2022 at 8:05

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