I'm a generator idiot....

OK, with the windstorm a few weeks ago I lost power. My own tree fell on the main line at the pole and I knocked out the whole neighborhood. (If my neighbors didn’t love me before…) I ran out to get a portable generator, which I had planned to do years ago but never got around to. The previous owner wired in a complete transfer switch, either in preparation for a power outage or to deal with frequent outages, so I figured this was going to be a half hour of generator prep and then full power. Not so much. Anyhow, here’s my dilemma.

The generator basically came with a nifty little power cord / plug station which has a 4 prong from the generator to about 4 standard 110 3 prong outlets. Great for plugging in extension cords but nothing to hook into my transfer switch / box. I’ve looked around thinking I’ll just buy the cable to connect but I’m finding that a 4 prong to 3 prong setup just doesn’t seem to exist. I’m sure there’s a reason why. Here’s what I have in the garage:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37091[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37092[/ATTACH]

This appears to be the plug end I need to go into the box:

http://www.bestmaterials.com/images/cs6364-large.jpg
So do I have to take the 4 prong cable I bought and chop off the end and buy the 3 prong plug to wire that in somehow? Help a noob out please.

The 4 prong basically has two grounds, a ground that goes to the box and one that is local. You can buy a 3 program end and twist the two grounds together.

That style end should just unscrew. Take out the two retainer screws and it’ll give you access to the wires. Buy a new end and wire it back up.

Yeah, kinda figured it was headed in this direction.

I’ll enter noobie question here to. Whats an approximate cost to do a transfer switch set up?

I’m only a weekend electrician but I would think a day for an electrician to install x his (or her…or insert gender here:_________) hourly rate + cost of switch, which depends on number of circuits desired to power.