Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: RTSE4ME]
#3128382
03/11/23 11:44 AM
03/11/23 11:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,439 Warren, MI
71TA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,439
Warren, MI
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We just moved to a house on an island. Has city water and gas but no sewer. Just had septic redone in Dec. Ouch. Anyway the house, built in 2000, has a 22KW Generac generator. SO NICE. A tad noisy but the central air muffles it Setup to start on the first Sat of the month to do a quick test and warm up. Have had the power go out like 3 times in 1-1/2 years and its GREAT not having to worry. Only bad thing is when the island loses power we dont get internet or cable TV (first world problems). Luckily the cell phoine tower is 1000ft away on the "main land") so I can cast Dave Chappelle from my phone. Even though mine says Generac all over it, it also has Siemens on it too. If it's Siemens (German) it has to be good.
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: Powerflow]
#3128387
03/11/23 12:05 PM
03/11/23 12:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,995 Rio Linda, CA
John_Kunkel
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,995
Rio Linda, CA
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Make sure there is enough gas pressure in your area to support a generator. Residential gas pressure should be enough to run a generator but the proximity to the gas meter is critical. Long runs of pipe limit the KW rating of the generator.
The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: John_Kunkel]
#3128406
03/11/23 12:48 PM
03/11/23 12:48 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,486 Michigan
oldjonny
Don't argue with me.
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Don't argue with me.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,486
Michigan
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While Generac has become a 'standard', the are not all they are cracked up to be. I have had two of their standby generators. First was an air cooled 12KW. It, along with 6 others within a couple miles of me, all blew up (and I mean blew-up) in a storm we had. Generac tried to use "Act of God" as the reason to not warranty any of them. After a long battle with them and lots of threats, they decided to give us all our money back for the units. Problem with them was that they had not planned for a quick temperature change in a high humidity environment (go figure...they are supposed to be a 'standby' unit for when there are extreme weather conditions). Inlets to the carbs apparently iced over from the humidity and rapid temperature changes. So, we investigated changing them to Liquid-Cooled versions. At the time, they offered a 20KW unit that was supposedly using a Mitsubishi based 4-cylinder engine. So, we figured that should at least be a worthwhile power plant with fewer issues. Until after got them and found out that they were a Mitsubishi KNOCK-OFF engine, made by Chery Motors based out of China. Immediately after installing them, started having issues with them Broken flywheels, starter failures (found out that the starters were essentially Ford V-10 engine starters and that by NOT using the Generac 'brand' starter, they actually did not fall apart), Radiator caps blew off (again, found out they were sourced to some Russian or Croatian company and made from cast pot metal that fractured). I still have my 20KW, but I still keep a standby generator (portable) for my standby generator (makes a whole bunch of sense....right?)
I have a buddy that just installed one of the Kohlers. Looked to be a very well built unit. Will have to see how that one holds up and functions. I installed a Briggs and Stratton 12KW air cooled at my parents almost 6 years ago. Seemed to be a well built unit. So far, zero issues with that generator.
Not a huge Generac fan. They are cheap (relatively speaking) and marketed as lifesavers.....not so sure I would agree. I would suggest you look around and do your homework. Lots of options out there.
Never, ever argue with an IDIOT. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with their years of experience
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: RTSE4ME]
#3128468
03/11/23 03:38 PM
03/11/23 03:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,486 Michigan
oldjonny
Don't argue with me.
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Don't argue with me.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,486
Michigan
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I have been looking at Kohlers in the 10-12k range. The 2 things I want during an outage is well pump and a/c(2 ton heat pump).Don't care about heat or lights. My current generator is a portable7500W Generac works great except it won't start heat pump not enough starting amps.(i think it is called rol-loc amps?) My neighborhood is a mix of houses from small like mine to mcmansions and most all the bigger homes have large 20k+ generators so I would think gas pressure would be fine. On the GAS LOAD SHEET they do want to know Gas Pressure Requested Its worth checking with your gas supplier. Where I am, they install two variants of gas meters. Depending on the size of generator, the smaller meter sometimes is not big enough for the house and generator. Worth the ask
Never, ever argue with an IDIOT. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with their years of experience
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: moparx]
#3128518
03/11/23 05:35 PM
03/11/23 05:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,299 New Jersey
Powerflow
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,299
New Jersey
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don't forget to install a cutoff unit on the generator or house service box so it doesn't backfeed into the electric lines. the electric company guys kind of frown on getting "bit" when working on the lines to restore power. A Service Entrance transfer switch disconnects the house from the incoming utility. You can also accomplish this if you put a fused disconnect in the line coming from the utility pole to the breaker box in the house. You just have to remember to manually open the disconnect every time you run the generator. The Service Entrance transfer switch does this automatically.
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: Powerflow]
#3128623
03/11/23 10:38 PM
03/11/23 10:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,486 Michigan
oldjonny
Don't argue with me.
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Don't argue with me.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,486
Michigan
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don't forget to install a cutoff unit on the generator or house service box so it doesn't backfeed into the electric lines. the electric company guys kind of frown on getting "bit" when working on the lines to restore power. A Service Entrance transfer switch disconnects the house from the incoming utility. You can also accomplish this if you put a fused disconnect in the line coming from the utility pole to the breaker box in the house. You just have to remember to manually open the disconnect every time you run the generator. The Service Entrance transfer switch does this automatically. A "manual" switch sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Do a legit install. Killing someone or yourself is not worth what you might save by a hillbilly installation.
Never, ever argue with an IDIOT. They will drag you to their level and then beat you with their years of experience
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: oldjonny]
#3128636
03/11/23 11:14 PM
03/11/23 11:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,504 Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
JDMopar
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,504
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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don't forget to install a cutoff unit on the generator or house service box so it doesn't backfeed into the electric lines. the electric company guys kind of frown on getting "bit" when working on the lines to restore power. A Service Entrance transfer switch disconnects the house from the incoming utility. You can also accomplish this if you put a fused disconnect in the line coming from the utility pole to the breaker box in the house. You just have to remember to manually open the disconnect every time you run the generator. The Service Entrance transfer switch does this automatically. A "manual" switch sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Do a legit install. Killing someone or yourself is not worth what you might save by a hillbilly installation. I'm retiring in 20 days from the power company after 44 1/2 years. I'm very thankful to have been taught very early on as a young lineman to watch out for the Ding Dongs with rigged up generators. After the big ice storm right before Christmas in Tulsa, OK in 2007, one of said Ding Dongs dumbassed his disconnect procedure on his huge portable generator when we got the power to his street back on. He forgot to disconnect his generator before he flipped his main breaker back on. He was back feeding the panel with another breaker below the main. It went KABOOMYOW right in hs face, blew up his panel, backfed onto the energized power lines and burnt all of the backlot lines that fed his house and 9 others. After a week of being without power, they had to be out another night because we had to quit in time to drive back to NW Arkansas where our hotel rooms were. One of the lineman came over the radio and said "At least we will be able to get a truck to the pole tomorrow. His neighbors are gonna burn his house down tonight and we can back the bucket truck across the slab and reach the pole!" Thank you to the OP, who intends to do it right!
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: NITROUSN]
#3128706
03/12/23 10:32 AM
03/12/23 10:32 AM
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,016 rust belt
Moparite
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,016
rust belt
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I'm a bit leery of a gas or diesel powered Unit that may sit for long periods between uses. Convert it to propane, This is an option for others where natural gas is not available. Just need a tank big enough for the usage.
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: oldjonny]
#3128716
03/12/23 11:10 AM
03/12/23 11:10 AM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,326 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,326
nowhere
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don't forget to install a cutoff unit on the generator or house service box so it doesn't backfeed into the electric lines. the electric company guys kind of frown on getting "bit" when working on the lines to restore power. A Service Entrance transfer switch disconnects the house from the incoming utility. You can also accomplish this if you put a fused disconnect in the line coming from the utility pole to the breaker box in the house. You just have to remember to manually open the disconnect every time you run the generator. The Service Entrance transfer switch does this automatically. A "manual" switch sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Do a legit install. Killing someone or yourself is not worth what you might save by a hillbilly installation. Not sure what manual switch you are thinking of, but a properly installed and used one will only connect the house to the generator or to utility but not both at once. The only thing manual about it is that you have to throw the switch rather than pay a lot more for one that will throw it for you.
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Re: Whole House Generator
[Re: Sniper]
#3128723
03/12/23 11:25 AM
03/12/23 11:25 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,124 N.W. Florida
Fat_Mike
master
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master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,124
N.W. Florida
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Not sure what manual switch you are thinking of, but a properly installed and used one will only connect the house to the generator or to utility but not both at once. The only thing manual about it is that you have to throw the switch rather than pay a lot more for one that will throw it for you. There are several ways to connect a manual switch. If not used properly, it creates a potentially deadly situation for others. It's not worth taking the chance that someone may not perform that one important step! Automatic switches are cheap, and in my county (maybe even state) they are mandatory.
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