Service · Cape Fear region
Generator installation in Wilmington, NC
Hofer Electrical installs standby generators with automatic transfer switches, and inlets with interlock kits for portable generators, across the Cape Fear region.
- Contractor
- Hofer Electrical LLC
- NC license
- U.35874
- Serving
- New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties
- Call
- 910 352 3649
A home generator keeps power on when the grid goes down. In Wilmington and along the coast, that usually means hurricanes and summer storms. There are two ways to do it, and both have to be connected safely.
Standby generators
A standby generator sits outside on its own pad and starts by itself when the power drops. An automatic transfer switch moves the house to generator power, then moves it back when the grid returns. We size it to what you want to run, from a few essential circuits to the whole house.
Portable generators
A portable generator can run the circuits that matter most, if it connects the right way. We install an exterior inlet with an interlock kit or a transfer switch, so you plug in once at the inlet and never run cords through the house.
What we look at first
- which loads you need during an outage
- panel capacity and where the transfer equipment goes
- where the unit can sit, including clearance from doors and windows
- how the unit will be fueled
- flood risk on the lot
Install it before the season
Waiting for a named storm is the hard way to buy a generator. Permits, inspection and equipment all take time, so the months before hurricane season are the time to start.
Where we do this work
Across New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties, including Wilmington, Castle Hayne, Hampstead, Leland, Carolina Beach. See the full service area.
More detail in our guide: Standby vs. Portable Generators for Hurricane Season in Wilmington, NC.
Quick answers
Should I get a standby or a portable generator?
A standby generator starts on its own and can carry the whole house or the circuits you choose. A portable generator costs less and runs selected circuits, but someone has to set it up and fuel it during the storm.
Can I plug a portable generator into my house with a cord?
Not directly into an outlet. Backfeeding through an outlet is dangerous and can energize utility lines. A portable generator needs an inlet with an interlock kit or a transfer switch.
Does a generator installation need a permit?
Generally yes. Generators, transfer switches and interlocks usually need an electrical permit and an inspection. Hofer Electrical pulls the electrical permit for the work it does.
Related services
Tell us about the job.
Hofer Electrical is licensed and insured in North Carolina. When you call, you talk to PJ, the owner.