Cheapest way to connect portable generator to shipping container.

I am having a 40' shipping container delivered this week and plan to wire in some lights and outlets inside. I currently have no grid power available on my land, and plan to use a portable generator outside of the container and wire it in to power the lights and outlets. I am just having a hard time deciding what route to take. I would really like to have a weatherproof plug on the outside of the container that I can just plug the generator into and then on the inside have a breaker box to connect all of the lights and outlets. I just need to know the best way to make that connection that is at least somewhat safe. Can I just install a small breaker box and install a waterproof 240 plug on the outside and run wiring directly from the plug to the busbar on the breaker box? Should I use a manual transfer switch as my breaker box and just not use the wiring out that would typically go to a breaker box on the grid? Please keep in mind this is just temporary until I have my house built and just need something to get me by until then. Thats why I don't really want to pour thousands of dollars into this thing really want to be all in under $500 for the breaker box, plug, and wiring. submitted by /u/FartinDarton [link] [comments]

Mar 31, 2025 - 20:40

I am having a 40' shipping container delivered this week and plan to wire in some lights and outlets inside. I currently have no grid power available on my land, and plan to use a portable generator outside of the container and wire it in to power the lights and outlets. I am just having a hard time deciding what route to take.

I would really like to have a weatherproof plug on the outside of the container that I can just plug the generator into and then on the inside have a breaker box to connect all of the lights and outlets. I just need to know the best way to make that connection that is at least somewhat safe. Can I just install a small breaker box and install a waterproof 240 plug on the outside and run wiring directly from the plug to the busbar on the breaker box? Should I use a manual transfer switch as my breaker box and just not use the wiring out that would typically go to a breaker box on the grid?

Please keep in mind this is just temporary until I have my house built and just need something to get me by until then. Thats why I don't really want to pour thousands of dollars into this thing really want to be all in under $500 for the breaker box, plug, and wiring.

submitted by /u/FartinDarton
[link] [comments]