We heat our home with propane and the plan included hooking into our 500 gallon propane tank for fuel to the generator. Never would have to worry about running out of propane and shuffling smaller tanks around.
Home Generators, Choices, Pros & Cons, Needed?
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We heat our home with propane and the plan included hooking into our 500 gallon propane tank for fuel to the generator. Never would have to worry about running out of propane and shuffling smaller tanks around.
My c.1960 Onan diesel genset
Here are some pics of my little beast. It was originally a marine unit to be used with a keel-mounted cooler but although being in the "Pacific NorthWet" there isn't quite enough water to accommodate that, so it was fitted with a rad and 12v fan which is powered off a 12v PSU.
To aid with cold-weather starting (NO LAUGHING FROM THE GUYS IN THE MIDWEST!) I made a little heater unit from a 4" duct booster fan and a 50W ceramic heater bulb, which runs in the box during the winter. Even when it dropped to 15ºF a few days ago it was still 18ºC (65ºF) in the box and the genny started up with only the slightest whiff of smoke.
There are two, 8" fans, one in the bottom of the box and one in the top. I keep the top one blocked when not in use (as you can see from the pic) and I put an old quilt over the whole thing.
The battery is in a wooden box next to the genny, sitting on some rigid insulation and has a trickler charger on it 24/7.
It's all a very "hands-on" setup but so far very reliable. The only thing that has failed is the engine shutoff relay so I made up a manual plunger and mounted it over the shutoff lever. Cummings still has PDFs of manuals, too. I fire it up every month or two to make sure it runs OK but it has probably had less than 200 hours on it since I got it nearly 6 years ago. Haven't even changed the oil. I'm no diesel mechanic, though, so if anything does go wrong I'll need professional help.
Here are some pics of my little beast. It was originally a marine unit to be used with a keel-mounted cooler but although being in the "Pacific NorthWet" there isn't quite enough water to accommodate that, so it was fitted with a rad and 12v fan which is powered off a 12v PSU.
To aid with cold-weather starting (NO LAUGHING FROM THE GUYS IN THE MIDWEST!) I made a little heater unit from a 4" duct booster fan and a 50W ceramic heater bulb, which runs in the box during the winter. Even when it dropped to 15ºF a few days ago it was still 18ºC (65ºF) in the box and the genny started up with only the slightest whiff of smoke.
There are two, 8" fans, one in the bottom of the box and one in the top. I keep the top one blocked when not in use (as you can see from the pic) and I put an old quilt over the whole thing.
The battery is in a wooden box next to the genny, sitting on some rigid insulation and has a trickler charger on it 24/7.
It's all a very "hands-on" setup but so far very reliable. The only thing that has failed is the engine shutoff relay so I made up a manual plunger and mounted it over the shutoff lever. Cummings still has PDFs of manuals, too. I fire it up every month or two to make sure it runs OK but it has probably had less than 200 hours on it since I got it nearly 6 years ago. Haven't even changed the oil. I'm no diesel mechanic, though, so if anything does go wrong I'll need professional help.
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Jon651
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I won't speak to brand names, as any brand one person likes will be panned by another, and so on...
As for size, add up the max wattage of everything in your house you want to run and add 50% (for starting "surge"). That's the MINIMUM size of generator you want. You can always buy bigger and "catch up" with your usage requirements, but if you start out too small you will have to pay - more - later.
Always, always, ALWAYS have your generator (whatever kind you get) professionally wired into our house service with a transfer switch. Whether it's simple manual-throw switch or a fully automatic one it needs to be done right. NEVER try to backfeed a generator into a 220 outlet like that for your clothes dryer - you will be asking for more trouble than you could possibly want. A lot of this has to do with "balancing" your gen's load, and depending on where your dryer plug is located you may need an excessively-long cord to reach it.
As for fuel, if you already have either propane or natural gas service to your house then buy a gen that uses that fuel. Gasoline and/or diesel are my last choice because not only are they dirtier but the fuel does spoil - usually just before you want to use it! If you choose an LP gen but don't already have an LP supply, the larger the tank you install the better. The small BBQ grill-sized tanks will ice up and will not last long, but a large tank buried up to it's neck will stay golden.
Good luck!
As for size, add up the max wattage of everything in your house you want to run and add 50% (for starting "surge"). That's the MINIMUM size of generator you want. You can always buy bigger and "catch up" with your usage requirements, but if you start out too small you will have to pay - more - later.
Always, always, ALWAYS have your generator (whatever kind you get) professionally wired into our house service with a transfer switch. Whether it's simple manual-throw switch or a fully automatic one it needs to be done right. NEVER try to backfeed a generator into a 220 outlet like that for your clothes dryer - you will be asking for more trouble than you could possibly want. A lot of this has to do with "balancing" your gen's load, and depending on where your dryer plug is located you may need an excessively-long cord to reach it.
As for fuel, if you already have either propane or natural gas service to your house then buy a gen that uses that fuel. Gasoline and/or diesel are my last choice because not only are they dirtier but the fuel does spoil - usually just before you want to use it! If you choose an LP gen but don't already have an LP supply, the larger the tank you install the better. The small BBQ grill-sized tanks will ice up and will not last long, but a large tank buried up to it's neck will stay golden.
Good luck!
I looked at Generac, but the contractor doing the renovation on our "new" house said to go with Kohler.
We bought a 14kw that runs on natural gas and it runs every Friday to exercise it. It will run everything in the house. I also liked that the valves are hydraulic and don't have to worry about having them adjusted every so often. We do have a maintenance agreement with the company also. They added a carburetor warmer for easier starting in the winter.
The house had 2 100 amp panels in it, and the dealer suggested we have a 200 amp panel installed, so we did. They installed a whole house surge protector and the transfer switch too.
Haven't had to use it yet, but it's there if needed. Good insurance.
We bought a 14kw that runs on natural gas and it runs every Friday to exercise it. It will run everything in the house. I also liked that the valves are hydraulic and don't have to worry about having them adjusted every so often. We do have a maintenance agreement with the company also. They added a carburetor warmer for easier starting in the winter.
The house had 2 100 amp panels in it, and the dealer suggested we have a 200 amp panel installed, so we did. They installed a whole house surge protector and the transfer switch too.
Haven't had to use it yet, but it's there if needed. Good insurance.
Walter Rego
Member
My house was built in 2018 and a 16kW Generac was part of the build and hard wired into the main panel on the side of the house. In fact it looks almost identical to the setup that ladder13 posted. It runs off of the propane tank that also supplies the furnace and range in the house. I live in the mountains and due to the high fire danger Sou Cal Edison often shuts off the electricity when it is windy. It kicks on automatically when the power goes out, the longest it has ever run was close to 24 hours. I'm sure glad it is there.
The only thing I don't like about it is the noise. It has a 2 cylinder 1000 cc engine and it sounds about like a Harley running at 1200 RPM. And happens to be located at ground level on the same wall as my second story bedroom.
The only thing I don't like about it is the noise. It has a 2 cylinder 1000 cc engine and it sounds about like a Harley running at 1200 RPM. And happens to be located at ground level on the same wall as my second story bedroom.
GypsmJim
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The one thing I DO like about my Genny is the noise. If the power goes out and it fires up at 3 AM, I am awakened and I know there is a problem. If it was quiet I would sleep thru the disaster.
Also, during the day I can here it and I know we're alright.
Some comments about Generac vs. Kohler. I think both are OK. We went with the one that our Master electrician carried.
Our exercise cycle goes off dinnertime on Wednesday. A couple years ago (between maintenance cycles), the on board battery went dead. (old age). I was eating dinner and I said OMG what's wrong? Went out with a test light and of course had the battery replaced the next day. I look forward to hearing it hum.
We have a full house Generac.
It runs on city natural gas. Fires up every Monday morning to exercise the oil.
I need a reliable electric source due to health issues.
This thing is wonderful. We used to have power outages quite regularly.
We have only one 1/2 hour power outage since we installed it in 2004.
It runs on city natural gas. Fires up every Monday morning to exercise the oil.
I need a reliable electric source due to health issues.
This thing is wonderful. We used to have power outages quite regularly.
We have only one 1/2 hour power outage since we installed it in 2004.
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It should be possible to build a 2 x 4-framed, three-sided shed around it, lined with Roxul Safe n Sound with fine mesh over it, as long as there is enough room between the genny and the house and you respect the exhaust outlet and general ventilation requirements. The noise would be attenuated towards the house but still "open" on the other side.
GypsmJim
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Its a "noise". Its not hell-raising. It doesn't make me nervous. It's a constant, so it isn't noticeable. Just like the noisy Cukoo clock ticking in the living room. After awhile you can't detect it any more.
Now, the neighbor's freaking heavy duty tractor is an issue. He cuts the grass and it gets louder and then fades away, and then he comes back around the house and it gets louder again.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I know your in the PNW but if you have unobstructed southern exposure, I'd look into solar tied to a battery like Tesla PowerWall. For shorter duration outage protection, a grid charged PowerWall battery alone.
Hmmmm..... that's gonna requre a very different kinda shed... I'll get back to you on that....
Blind Boy
Member
It's -11 deg here in Kansas City, the electricity just went off and the Generac has turned on. We like ours a lot. It's also a comfort to know that if power goes off in the neighborhood and we aren't home that the Generac keeps the alarm system going.
Getting into some serious money here. Powerwall is now $7,500 + $3500 installation cost, according to this article. Still, if I were building a new place with good southern exposure, it would be worth considering.
Yes they can be loud.
The automatic transfer switch is mounted on the outside bedroom wall. If the power goes out and the genny takes off, it makes a lot of engine noise. It is possible to sleep through that. Then when the transfer switch does its thing it sounds like someone took a big hammer and hit the wall, you will not sleep through that.
The way our house is laid out the generator is by the back wall and the 200 Amp panel box in the basement right behind the unit.
So its a bit noisy but its a very reassuring sound. When I had the portable it was in the garage downstairs on the other end of house. The electrician installed box was there and a quick plug in and push the button and we had power coming into handle 6 circuits. Now that unit was noisy! I will trade noise for convenience any day, your results might be different.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Need to look at more than sticker. Gensets are never incentivized. In the OP's state, solar and storage is eligible for state tax incentives that could cover installed costs up to a maximum of 60 percent, up to 7500 dollars. Federal tax credits are 26 percent for that type of system. Do your homework, and it could be a very sweet deal.
I'm curious to those of you that live in flood plains, or whatever they're called. Are there codes as to where it's installed? I know a big 8ft. flood would pretty much mean you lost it all, but say like a flood up to maybe inches to a ft., does it need to be installed elevated a few feet?
My BIL bought a small gasoline one, big enough for furnace, one refrigerator, wife's computer, & a few lights. I hooked up the manual switch for his furnace circuit and he has decent extenion cords for the other. It's an inverter type. Don't know the brand off hand, but it's quiet and very portable.
Just mainly curious about local codes.
My BIL bought a small gasoline one, big enough for furnace, one refrigerator, wife's computer, & a few lights. I hooked up the manual switch for his furnace circuit and he has decent extenion cords for the other. It's an inverter type. Don't know the brand off hand, but it's quiet and very portable.
Just mainly curious about local codes.
We've got some of those incentives here in the city or county. I get ads in the mail weekly. I don't plan on staying here much longer or I'd definitely look into it. (As referenced in post 35 by BWZ.)
Jon651
Member
Down here it's not so much the flooding (or at least as far as I know), but if you're going to have a permanent installation it needs to be mounted in a similar fashion to your AC compressor - affixed to it's own concrete slab (so it doesn't get blown away) at least 3" above grade wherever it sits.
A few years back I had my AC replaced and the installers had to bring in a new concrete pad for the outside compressor (just a large rectangular chunk of concrete) because my original mounting pad shared the same level as my foundation. It was included in the price of the AC install, so I didn't complain. The installer noticed the power inlet for my portable generator and told me if I ever got a fixed installation gen I would have to do the same thing for that.
It could have been just my area, however, as flood zones are given letter designations and since I live near a lake (hey, who in Florida doesn't, right?) it may have been required for me.
I’m reading the posts with interest. We lost power for 5 days after Sally hit us. I had a 1500w gen and a 4000w portable, luckily the weather didn’t turn unbearably hot and I was able to get by with the small gen running refrige, fans and tv plus a few lights. Good thing was a tank (1 gallon) of gas would last around 9 hours. I had a 40 gallon boat tank of spare gasoline but elected not to run the larger gen. I dislike filling the large gen especially then my yard was flooded and the gens were in my flooded shop.
Since then I built this to house the two generators and have converted the larger one to dual fuel, gasoline/lpg since I already have the tank.
I realize this isn’t suitable for everyone but at this time for me I’ll be able to get by ok with outages. The photo was taken several days after the storm, the flooding had dropped quite a bit.
Since then I built this to house the two generators and have converted the larger one to dual fuel, gasoline/lpg since I already have the tank.
I realize this isn’t suitable for everyone but at this time for me I’ll be able to get by ok with outages. The photo was taken several days after the storm, the flooding had dropped quite a bit.
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Good points. I was not aware of thatNeed to look at more than sticker. Gensets are never incentivized. In the OP's state, solar and storage is eligible for state tax incentives that could cover installed costs up to a maximum of 60 percent, up to 7500 dollars. Federal tax credits are 26 percent for that type of system. Do your homework, and it could be a very sweet deal.
