Need to upgrade my generator

[chief38]

The Generac XG series is made in the USA and is an EXCELLENT, well built and reliable series. Don't confuse it with the Big Box Store Generac's that are the GP series made in China for Generac.

Honda's are also very good (and quieter) but stupid expensive and too small in KW hour size, IMO.

 

[bgrafsr]

We had a 14KW Kohler installed. Runs on natural gas and runs every Friday at 3PM for 20 minutes. I had a carburetor heater installed due to the cold Northern Ohio winter temps. Company also replaced the 2 100 amp service panels in the basement with a 200 amp panel, a whole house surge protector, and the automatic switch for switching from utility electric to the generator.


It will run the whole house, including the AC.



Total cost was around $9300.00

 

[Kinman]

I highly recommend a Generac with enough juice to run your entire house and shop. We got a sweet deal on a 20K unit that runs off natural gas, the pipeline literally runs through my backyard. I figured a 20K is just loafing and the price difference was not worth haggling over. Generac engines were designed to operate as generator engines, mine has a pre-oiler and heated sump/oil filter. Someone told me they were designed by Caterpillar, it looks like it. When it runs, it is noticeable but not irritating like some, very smooth.

 

[Jessie]

Generac 20k auto which runs the whole house. Kind of pricey but peace of mind when when I wasn’t at home.
When the wife is happy, I’m happy

 

[wheelgun28]

The whole house is the way to go but its not practical for everyone.

So have you guys seen the new behind the meter transfer switch. They pull your electric meter and install this device and reinstall your meter. The gen then plugs into the device at your meter. I dont know that its approved by every power company but its a simple inexpensive to install item.https://www.homedepot.com/p/GenerLink-30-Amp-Meter-Mounted-Transfer-Switch-MA23-N/301961623?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&mtc=Shopping-B-F_D27E-G-D27E-27_3_EXT_CORD_WORKLIGHT_SURGE-NA-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-EXT_CORD_WORKLIGHT_SURGE&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D27E-G-D27E-27_3_EXT_CORD_WORKLIGHT_SURGE-NA-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-EXT_CORD_WORKLIGHT_SURGE-71700000034239050-58700003946878360-92700050456676631&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_6ubzaWm7AIVGODtCh0SuAa5EAQYASABEgIkWPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Golddollar]

I went all in and got the 22K generator that Generac recommended for a house my size. Baltimore is only 45 miles away, and during either an ice storm or Hurricane Sandy a lot of people over that way lost power for a week.

 

[Frank46]

Our house is all electric and no natural gas line to the house. So propane was the only option as the gas company wanted me to foot the bill for at least 300' of gas line, new meter.Have a 500 gallon tank and based on dealers numbers I have power for just a little over 7 days. Still have the old craftsman gasoline generator but at 73 soon to be 74 my days of humping it out of the garage to where it would normally be set up are over. Plus no extra gas on hand to go bad. Wasn't cheap. 10K with the generator and another 3K for the 500 gallon tank and first fill of propane.
Been installed almost two years and runs well. Like I mentioned comes on every Friday for about 5 minutes then shuts down. Takes the same synthetic oil my truck uses so keep a few quarts extra on hand. Generators down here aren't a luxury they are a neccessity as the food we used to throw away over the years was very costly. We have two combo refrigerators and one freezer. So all in the path of Delta take care and be safe. Frank

 

[chief38]

A good general rule of thumb for portable generators is to NOT buy one that does not have an oil filter! Many of the cheap Harbor Freight and bargain generators lack an oil filter - which require more frequent changing of oil and just recirculate unfiltered dirty oil - not good!