Quick verdict
The 310CRK is the pre-wired manual transfer switch kit that turns a portable generator into safe household backup: ten circuits, 30 amps, an outdoor power inlet box and a generator cord in one package. An electrician installs it in an afternoon. It is the right choice for generators up to about 7500 watts and the standard against which other kits are judged.
Strengths
- Pre-wired 10-circuit, 30 amp switch simplifies installation
- Kit includes outdoor power inlet box and generator cord
- Wattmeters on the switch show load per leg
- Isolates the house from the grid, protecting line workers
- Reliance has made these switches for decades
Weaknesses
- Requires an electrician and permit in most areas
- Ten circuits means choosing which loads matter
- 30 amps limits it to generators around 7500 watts
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Missing Piece of Generator Ownership
A portable generator in the garage does nothing for the furnace, the well pump or the lights until it is connected to the house safely. The Reliance Controls 310CRK is the kit most electricians recommend for that job: a pre-wired ten-circuit, 30 amp manual transfer switch, an outdoor power inlet box and a generator cord. Installed beside the main panel, it lets you move ten chosen circuits from grid to generator with a row of switches, isolating the house from the utility lines in the process.
This review is based on Reliance’s specifications and on owner and electrician feedback rather than on our own installation.
How It Works
The electrician moves ten circuits from the main panel to the transfer switch. In normal use they run from the grid. During an outage you start the generator, plug the cord into the outdoor inlet, and flip each circuit’s switch to generator. Two wattmeters show the load on each leg so you can balance it and avoid overloading the generator. When power returns, flip the switches back.
Choosing Circuits
Ten circuits force a decision, which owners find clarifying: furnace, refrigerator, freezer, well pump or sump, a few lighting circuits, the kitchen outlets and the internet. Electric ranges, dryers and central air are beyond a 30 amp switch and most portable generators anyway.
Installation
The pre-wired design, with a flexible conduit of labelled wires ready to land in the panel, is why electricians like it. Owners report installation in two to four hours and a modest bill. Work inside the main panel requires a licensed electrician and a permit in most places, and the inlet box is mounted outside where the generator will run.
Generator Pairing
The 30 amp L14-30 connection matches the outlet on most 5000 to 9500 watt portables, including the Westinghouse WGen9500DF and Champion dual fuel units. Larger generators can be used but are limited to 30 amps through this switch; Reliance sells 50 amp kits for those.
Build Quality
Reliance has made transfer switches for decades and the 310CRK is a mature product with a reputation for lasting the life of the house. The metal enclosure, meters and switches are robust.
Common Owner Complaints
The need for an electrician and the ten-circuit limit. Both are inherent to the product rather than faults.
Alternatives to Consider
A generator interlock kit for your panel brand is cheaper and powers any circuit, at the cost of manual load management. Reliance’s 50 amp kits suit larger generators. A standby generator with automatic transfer is the premium, hands-free route.
Verdict
If you own a portable generator and have not installed a transfer switch, the 310CRK is the purchase that makes the generator useful. It is safe, well made, electrician-friendly and fairly priced. Buy it with the generator, not after the first outage.
Full specifications
Reliance Controls 310CRK 10-Circuit 30 Amp Transfer Switch Kit FAQs
Cords cannot power hardwired loads like a furnace or well pump, and running them through doors in a storm is miserable. A transfer switch powers chosen circuits from the panel safely.
It involves work inside the main panel. Most jurisdictions require a licensed electrician and a permit, and the pre-wired design keeps that bill modest.
An interlock lets the generator feed the whole panel through a breaker; a transfer switch isolates specific circuits. Interlocks are cheaper; transfer switches are simpler to operate and show load.
Any with a 30 amp L14-30R outlet, such as most 5000 to 9500 watt portables. Larger generators are limited to 30 amps through this switch.
