How to Connect Power to Your Container Office: Step by Step Tutorial with Video

Disclaimer: Only use a licensed electrician to connect power to your container office.

When your mobile office rental arrives, you’ll want to have it powered and operational as soon as possible. Not connecting power to your mobile office will make working uncomfortable, as you won’t have lights, heat or air conditioning. You also won’t be able to power a computer or connect an internet modem. This will delay your work and limit your ability to connect with clients, co-workers and vendors. That’s a massive problem for any business.

We want to make using your portable office as easy as possible. With this guide, you’ll be able to quickly set up your office container so you can manage your business comfortably and without delay.

Learn how to connect power to your container offices the right way by following the simple steps in this article.

Connecting Power to Your Mobile Office Container

Step 1: Open the Panel Box and Remove the Dead Front

1. 1. Locate and open the panel box on the side of your container office.
   2. Remove the two screws on the dead front with a flathead screwdriver.
   3. Pry off the dead front by sticking your screwdriver in the small opening at the bottom and pressing down on it. This will expose the connections that your wires will attach to.

Step 2: Identify Generator Cables and Accompanying Connections

1. Identify the large black cable with four wires on one end from your generator. There will be two “hot” wires, one black and one red. These wires bring power from the power supply to the load, which in this case is our mobile office’s power grid. You’ll also have a neutral wire (white), which brings electricity from the load back to the power supply, and a grounding wire (green).

Important Tip: Do not attach either of the hot wires to the lug on the top right (neutral). Doing this will result in problems for you and your mobile office. If these wires are switched, your air conditioning unit might not have enough power to function, along with any other high-draw appliances.

2. Attach the black wire to the connection on the left by sticking it in the top of the lug, as shown in the graphic above.
3. Tighten the holding screw after you’ve housed the wire to ensure a secure fit.
4. Connect the white neutral wire to the top right lug. This is the one we didn’t want to connect our hot wires to. This wire carries the circuit back to the original power source, completing the circuit. Repeat step 3.
5. Attach the last hot wire, the red wire, to the connection farthest to the right. Repeat step 3.
6. Connect the green grounding wire to the bottom left lug, entering it from the right. Repeat step 3.

Step 3: Replace the Dead Front and Close the Panel Box

1. Ensure all the wires are connected to the correct lug.
2. Close the box by replacing the dead front and the two face screws.
3. Check that your portable office is providing power to its lights, air conditioning unit, and any other appliance connected to an outlet.

Now You Can Get Back to What Your Organization Does Best

If you have additional questions, your knowledgeable representative will be happy to assist you. Contact us and we’ll find a solution for you.
Check out our rental options to plan your company’s next office container rental with Southwest Mobile Storage. From pipe and gorilla racks that make storage a cinch — to desktops and folding plan tables for developing your next project from ideation to completion, we’ve got everything you need to put your business vision into action.
Learn More About Setting Up Your Container Office:

• HOW TO CHOOSE A GENERATOR FOR YOUR CONSTRUCTION PORTABLE OFFICE RENTAL
• 3 WAYS TO SETUP A MOBILE OFFICE
• HOW TO BETTER ORGANIZE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IN STORAGE CONTAINERS