Thinking about a standby generator... (update see #49)

[loutent]

With all the storms and bad weather lately, we have been considering getting a generator installed - specifically a Generac natural gas unit - probably 10KW - haven't decided exactly. With winter coming on I can see the possibility of power outages with no heat - not pleasant.

So I was wondering if anyone here has a standby (not interested in gasoline powered) and how you like it as far as reliability, noise factor etc. Also if you could pass along if you installed it yourself or not - I would definitely have the gas hookup done professionally but the electrical seems doable.

Any input or comments appreciated.

Lou

 

[GaryS]

Good thread. Or at least a good topic for one. After watching the city, state, and federal government fail the people of NY and NJ, a lot of people are thinking about this.

I think a natural gas one with a tank so you aren't depending on the integrity of buried pipes is a good idea. A friend of mine has a gasoline powered 5500 watt generator and it takes about 15 gallons per 24 hours.

If you have oil heat maybe a diesel powered one so you can use home heating oil in a pinch.

I'd love to hear what people with experience installing and using generators think.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Lou, Just one thing to consider. I'm assuming you use NG for your primary heating system. How dependable is your NG provider? If the NG is interrupted a standby generator will not do you any good. Perhaps a Propane system with a large tank, something that will last a week or more, is something to consider.

 

[epj]

I have just what you are contemplating except mine is 8kw. Runs the heat and everything else fine. Won't handle ac. Following a tornado in our town the gas was cut off due to thousands of gas leaks. I found that I could have temporarily converted to
Propane after the fact. Too bad I didn't know. Power was out for more than a week.
I've bad battery problems. Finally ditched the internal charger and went to a trickle charger from Wally World. No more problems. BTW this is a known problem with Generac.

 

[loutent]

Lou, Just one thing to consider. I'm assuming you use NG for your primary heating system. How dependable is your NG provider? If the NG is interrupted a standby generator will not do you any good. Perhaps a Propane system with a large tank, something that will last a week or more, is something to consider.

That's a great consideration Steve - although we have never been without NG in the 25+ years we've lived here a propane tank might make sense. We do have NG furnace. Thanks!

 

[novalty]

My brother has a Generac that runs on propane. I don't think it is more or less noisy than a portable. Besides the benefit of it kicking on automatically, I am not overly impressed. From the way I understand the hook up, you are restricted in the number or breakers that the unit will power--maybe it was just his installer, but it seemed like he said 8 breakers could be run the way it wired in. Another big downside I see to it is need. The reason I say that is after he installed it the first time it kicked on was during a summer evening, it was the weekend and he was visiting relatives. The power went out around 8 PM, and kicked back on sometime in the morning like 4. So his generator kicked on and ran all night, and he had no benefit except it used up propane.

 

[C.S.63]

2 co workers have them and have no complaints at all, professionally installed and both propane/LPG.
These are a very nice feature ecspecially if you are building a home. I had wished I had thought of it in 2000 when we bought our home. Then again living in Eastern North Carolina Those types of generators are useful if you do not have to worry about flooding. Myself we still are relying on portable generators but mainly for lights in evening, tools, charge cell phones etc, Oh and the big one to run the well pump for necessities.
The plus side to portable generators is if you need to evacuate and you take it with you when you return to devistation certain repairs could possibly be made or make living amongst the devistation a tad easier.
After seeing the devistation and Death from Katrina folks needed to try and prepare minimum 5 days self reliance pending health.
I understand you cannot prepare for the type of major confligration that breezy point and the Rockaways endured (clothes on your back and loved ones in tow)

 

[ChuckS1]

Just make sure you get one with more capacity than you think you need. I'm looking at one, too, and going for at least 15KW if not 30KW that runs on propane. This will be for the whole house.

 

[Comrad]

I always thought a NG generator was a good idea until this week in NJ when they started shutting the gas off in badly damaged neighborhoods. So if you had a house to heat after Sandy you would now be out of luck with NG generator. I run a Honda on gas and that became a small problem but Honda is so efficient I was able to haul in enough fuel from upstate NY. My standby is enough to run the furnace, a TV, coffee pot and a few lights. Considering how bad some had it, we are living in luxury. Power was out for 7 days.

 

[thndrchiken]

I had to pick up my generator in a pinch on Tuesday, got lucky and Cabelas in Hamburg, PA had them. It's a Champion 3500/4000 watt, running 6-8 hrs per day for the boiler, box freezer and refrigerator and a couple of lights used about 2 1/2-3 tanks of gas (approx 12 gallons). I'd say it really depends on your needs, to get a full fledged back up with the disconnector installed you'll be looking in the 3-4 grand ballpark on the low end. I personally prefer to have a portable that can be used and transported as required. A friend has a propane unit that he runs off of 20 lb cylinders and noise wise is a little quieter, exhaust is about the same, but I think I like the ability to siphon off the truck tank in a pinch if needed. Most places to get propane around me had no power so they weren't open.

 

[Comrad]

They are pricy but I love the Honda eu2000i, one gallon runs about 8 hours. Not a full house backup but enough for comfort in survival mode.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

Just make sure you get one with more capacity than you think you need. I'm looking at one, too, and going for at least 15KW if not 30KW that runs on propane. This will be for the whole house.

After the big freeeze we had in 2006 that knocked out the power for a week when the outside temp never got above 30 we got a 15KW Generac mounted on a slab connected straight to the natural gas line, that comes on automatically if the power is out for more than 10 seconds. When the windstorms knock down trees elsewhere and the power goes out it's large enough to take care of the whole house. Probably even enough for a neighbor to run an extension cord to it, too.

Haven't had to see what happens in a major quake, though. There's an earthquake sensor that shuts off the gas when tripped but it can be reset without having the gas company out to do it. It's set up on a timer to run every week for 15 minutes or so to make sure it's ready to go. It's been 5 years since purchase and it's come on at least once every winter. Time for a new battery, though. It's on order.

 

[Coldshooter]

I would involve a good electrician at some point. Most jurisdictions require a distinct disconnect rather than the main breaker. I have a 6.5kW Honda and had an external plug wired into a dryer circuit. Our house had been converted from electric heat so we have capacity for heating loads. May be an old wives tale but the reason I was told for a disconnect switch is so your generator will not backfeed to the closest transformer which will step up the voltage which is a danger to an unsuspecting lineman.

 

[everReady Rob]

Timely subject.
I have been considering a stand-bye generator. Hurricanes are not a concern where I live but winter storms are. My research indicates that I can have a system for about 2k. I would have the electrical done and do the LP myself with a independent tank and underground lines to meet code. Cost looks like about 2k, a little pricey for something might never use. Usually have power restored within 24 hrs.

Still at thinking stage.

 

[WR Moore]

The backfeed of the electric lines from your generator if the main breakers aren't thrown isn't an old wives tale, it's simple circuitry. While you can get by with doing things manually if you're using a temporary setup, any automatic systems require what they call a transfer switch.

To figure size, multiply the amps of the loads you want to carry by the voltage. That'll give you steady state wattage, you'll need a additional margin for startup loads.

Generac makes quality equipment.

 

[bobojay]

We have a Generac 13kw standby running on propane, which is our primary heating gas. Installed in 2005 by a Home Depot subcontracter (licensed electrician). We have to have electricity here because of foundation water problems.
Anyway, it has worked perfect ever since then, starting once a week for the 10 minute exercise cycle. Occasionally it will take 2 tries to start, otherwise no problems.
It's longest non-scheduled emergency run since then has been just short of an hour, (that we know of), after a summer storm.
I do my own maintenance which is a piece of cake. New starting battery every 3 years, (my choice), 2 qts oil & filter change once a year, air filter & spark plugs every 4 years. Very easy to do.
It has the transfer switch breaker box capability of 3, 220v circuits + 8, 110v circuits for a total of 70amps. It will run our central AC unit if need be.

Drawbacks: no hour meter, also parts from Generac, other than filters and spark plugs, are EXTREMELY expensive if needed.
We'd do it again if the choice came up

 

[ladder13]

I used my Generac 5000 watt for 6 days last week, spent about $200 in gasoline. Gas is expensive around here $4.09 or so a gallon, alot more if you go to the wrong station.
I'm keeping the gasoline powered gen but getting a standby gen as soon as the price gouging dies down. I'm going at least 10K, probably more like 15K, I like my "stuff". No NG around here, well at least in the immediate vicinity, so it's propane.
Getting tired of the constant refilling of the gasoline powered gen, plus the hassle of finding fuel, if we're out for an extended period. I had 20 gals stored up, that's about 2-3 days worth, not enough if gas distribution is affected like last week. Propane seems plentiful around here, and only a phone call away, don't need to leave my "stuff" while hunting for gas.

 

[MajorDude]

I don't personally have a generator (want one!) but one thought I want to throw out here. I have a friend that has a major nat gas whole house generator. He and his wife were out to dinner one night, and when they got home, discovered that there was a power outage in the neighborhood. Everything for a mile was out including street lights and stop lights... except for their house, which was lit up like day including landscaping lights, porch lights and all with the generator chugging away. He said you could their house for a long way off and he is rethinking his strategy. You can really make yourself a target or at least really suddenly popular if there is a serious emergency and you aren't a little discrete!

 

[mkk41]

During Sandy , I only lost power for about 36hrs. But I had gas service. Stove worked , but house heat and hot water had fire , but no pump or controller power. So I'm leaning to a natural gas generator with battery start.

I suppose a tank of propane would do for those outside of NG service areas.

 

[tops]

I was a utility lineman for 40 years and that is not an old wives tale. There have been lineman killed and injured because of this. Larry