Generator feed back
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ronjhall
Super Star Member
The Generac line of home generators are good. Watch HD and their contractors that install them. If you are going to install it yourself. Make sure it is done right. I purchased a Briggs & Stratton unit 3 years ago and very happy with unit and install. Our system is totally automatic switch over and runs on NG.
Last I heard B&S is now the owner of Generac. In my area of the country you can find the Generac line of home generators cheaper from a local business than at HD. They have qualified installers and proper supplies to install.
Last I heard B&S is now the owner of Generac. In my area of the country you can find the Generac line of home generators cheaper from a local business than at HD. They have qualified installers and proper supplies to install.
kenmac
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MCS
New member
if you need a portable unit (15k is oversized) if you want a permant installed standby generator than even 15k maybe overkill. I am a electrical contractor and install alot of standby's. 12k will take care of 90% of people (13k now they keep changing sizing on me) generacs web site has a load damand chart on it to find the size you need. also DO NOT let HD install it. Last week they couldn't spell electrician and this week they is one.
Call a local contractor. also Generac are the budget minded genny's then B&S then Kato light. I have a 13k generac at my home now and 100 Amp auto transfer switc hand for 2 years now (used once, for 2 hours).
Call a local contractor. also Generac are the budget minded genny's then B&S then Kato light. I have a 13k generac at my home now and 100 Amp auto transfer switc hand for 2 years now (used once, for 2 hours).
RonMar
Elite Member
MCS has some good advice. That is a lot of generator for your typical home. A 15KW generator is going to have a 30HP engine and requires a lot of fuel to run it for any length of time. If it is a natural gas powered unit, that probably won't be as big an issue. You might have trouble feeding a large gasoline powered unit if you have an extended power outage in your area. Most gas stations don't have generator power and can't pump gas. I heard of people driving 60 miles to get fuel in the sattle area during the big storme 2 years ago.
In the case of backup power, IMO, Less is more, particularly if you are having to haul the fuel for it. Pare down what you absolutely need to power to remain safe and relatively comfortable, and use the online charts to decide what size you actually need.
As for generac, I have worked with some, and they are OK. I have had issues with support from a contract installer, but found excellent support from a larger generac dealer. Probably the biggest trouble with these small size home units occurs after about the 96 hour point during their first real power outtage. Being an air cooled engine, they burn a little more oil than a water cooled engine. After about 4-4 1/2 days, they run low on oil and shut down. You need to be able to check things like this, as during a power failure, the tech support is stretched pretty thin... Onan also markets similar sized units, mostly Honda powered, and they perform pretty well also.
In the case of backup power, IMO, Less is more, particularly if you are having to haul the fuel for it. Pare down what you absolutely need to power to remain safe and relatively comfortable, and use the online charts to decide what size you actually need.
As for generac, I have worked with some, and they are OK. I have had issues with support from a contract installer, but found excellent support from a larger generac dealer. Probably the biggest trouble with these small size home units occurs after about the 96 hour point during their first real power outtage. Being an air cooled engine, they burn a little more oil than a water cooled engine. After about 4-4 1/2 days, they run low on oil and shut down. You need to be able to check things like this, as during a power failure, the tech support is stretched pretty thin... Onan also markets similar sized units, mostly Honda powered, and they perform pretty well also.
Highbeam
Super Member
No kidding, 15k is huge. Only needed if you have a specific requirement like running a heater for the survival of your livestock. Keeping your milk cooler cold at a dairy or something.
Your home's refer, your lights, a well if you have it, can be run with a standard 5000 watt genset with smart technique and only use 0.5 gallons per hour of gasoline.
I don't have a well and have found that my 3000 watt genset is sufficient for all of my needs. The little and quiet genset makes 220 to feed through my transfer panel to any circuit I choose. Uses much less fuel and is quieter.
If I had a 15k genset I would run the hot tub, the water heater, bake a cake, etc. A total waste.
Your home's refer, your lights, a well if you have it, can be run with a standard 5000 watt genset with smart technique and only use 0.5 gallons per hour of gasoline.
I don't have a well and have found that my 3000 watt genset is sufficient for all of my needs. The little and quiet genset makes 220 to feed through my transfer panel to any circuit I choose. Uses much less fuel and is quieter.
If I had a 15k genset I would run the hot tub, the water heater, bake a cake, etc. A total waste.
EastTexFrank
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15K is basically a whole house generator, which is great if that is what you want. But, as someone else said, the problem is always having enough fresh fuel around to the keep the beast running for ever long your power is normally out. The quantity can add up in a hurry.
I have no experience with Generac but they seem to make OK generators from all accounts but again it depends how many hours you will be using it. If it was being used often, then I would probably look for something else because a generator is one of those things that when you need it, you need it to work.
Personally, I'm like Highbeam, I subscribe to the less is more philosophy. My 3800/5200 watt surge genny meets my needs but we don't lose power very often and usually not for too long. 3 days is the longest period we've been cut off and with a little management I can run 3 fridges, 2 freezers, lights, etc., for a week easily with the fuel I keep on hand. I even have a big honking inverter that I can hook up to the tractor or the truck and burn diesel if the outage is longer than that.
It all depends on your particular circumstances and what you want to achieve but generators seem to be one of those things that people tend to oversize or undersize. Getting it just right takes a little planning and common sense.
I have no experience with Generac but they seem to make OK generators from all accounts but again it depends how many hours you will be using it. If it was being used often, then I would probably look for something else because a generator is one of those things that when you need it, you need it to work.
Personally, I'm like Highbeam, I subscribe to the less is more philosophy. My 3800/5200 watt surge genny meets my needs but we don't lose power very often and usually not for too long. 3 days is the longest period we've been cut off and with a little management I can run 3 fridges, 2 freezers, lights, etc., for a week easily with the fuel I keep on hand. I even have a big honking inverter that I can hook up to the tractor or the truck and burn diesel if the outage is longer than that.
It all depends on your particular circumstances and what you want to achieve but generators seem to be one of those things that people tend to oversize or undersize. Getting it just right takes a little planning and common sense.
SnowRidge
Elite Member
B&S purchased Generac Portables in 2001. That seems to be a different company than Generac Power Systems, which says it is a privately held company.
Generac Portable Products
Generac - About Us
LBrown59
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I think I could store enought in this .
It's also why I'd go with a diesel Gen.
The 3 drums hold 140 gallon plus I have 7 other 30 gallon drums and 2 or 3 extra 55 gallon drums.
With a rig like this keeping the gen supplied in a power outage wouldn't be a problem.
Flatheadyoungin
Veteran Member
do most of you buy big and just run the whole house as normal (easy, quick, no interruption of life style, use a lot of fuel, expensive initial cost)?
or do most of you buy a medium sized genny (less fuel, less initial cost) and just switch what you are powering, manually? like, say, run the refer for a while, then switch to the freezer, then maybe the forced air furnace, then maybe the hot water heater......this is how i've done it....just as needed, don't let the genny run the whole time......get up in the morning and "charge" everything....
yeah, depending on your budget, life-style and maintaining your comfort level, 15 seems huge!
good thread
or do most of you buy a medium sized genny (less fuel, less initial cost) and just switch what you are powering, manually? like, say, run the refer for a while, then switch to the freezer, then maybe the forced air furnace, then maybe the hot water heater......this is how i've done it....just as needed, don't let the genny run the whole time......get up in the morning and "charge" everything....
yeah, depending on your budget, life-style and maintaining your comfort level, 15 seems huge!
good thread
It does not necessarily have to be real big, to run everything. A good 5500 watt unit, with a good surge capacity, will run a lot of stuff.
like I said, you would not believe me if I listed it all, I run the everything, except the central air. However; I do run a window a/c in my den.
kenmac
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I no longer install generac generators. When I did & someone wanted the entire house to operate(A/C) included. I always installed a liquid cooled generator. At that time generac offered a 15 KW liquid cooled mod. I think they now, only offer the liquid cooled mod in 20 KW. I only installed the N.G./ LP type
RonMar
Elite Member
With some carefull planning, you can do quite a lot without much power. The real kicker is that some loads have a huge startup surge load, and you have to have enough generator capacity for that. My largest surge load is the small well pump. I have a generator with enough spinning mass to start it easilly though. The generator only puts out 3KW continous and is driven by a 6HP diesel engine. I power the following thru my main panel with that 3KW capacity:
Well pump
Reefer
Freezer
Pellet stove
All electric outlets and any/all lighting I may want. They are all CFL's or florescents so their combined electric load if they were all on at once is only a few hundred watts. At night, this load typically has a few lights on, the entertainment center and perhaps a computer. If the well pump isn't running, I typically have a 1500-2000W surplus.
At meal times, I shutoff the feed to the garage so wellpump and freezer will not apply load uncontrollably. This allows me to run up to 2 small stove top burners at once, and/or a small toaster oven or the microwave. I use a 240V-120V step down transformer to spread the microwave or toaster oven load across both 120V legs to keep the generator balanced. This same transformer can also be used to power the washing machine if I need laundry done.
You will note I didn't mention hot water. At 4500W for a single element, it is above my generator capacity. But I planned for this when I put together my system. The diesel engine is liquid cooled. Instead of a radiator to dissipate the heat, I have a flat plate heat exchanger with a 120F thermostat on the secondary outlet. The engine delivers between 1/4 and 3/4 gallons per minute of 120F water depending on engine load. This 120F water is backfed into the top of the hot water tank to maintain 1 tank full of hot water. The cooler water coming off the bottom of the tank passes thru a fan-coil unit and back to the heat exchanger. Once the tank is at full of 120F water and warmer water starts comming out the bottom port, the fan coil starts dissipating the excess heat, between 6000 and 18,000 BTU/HR either into my home or outside, as needed. It may take between 1 and 3 hours to heat the tank fully depending on generator load. But you can do a lot with a full 50 gallons of hot water. Since the heat in the cooling system is normally wasted outside, the hot water and the space heat if used, are basically free...
So with this setup, A 55 gallon drum of diesel will allow me to operate 12 hours a day for just about 20 days, and have basically all the normal comforts except the use of the electric dryer on any other setting but air dry.
Less is more(and easier to achieve) if you plan carefully...
Well pump
Reefer
Freezer
Pellet stove
All electric outlets and any/all lighting I may want. They are all CFL's or florescents so their combined electric load if they were all on at once is only a few hundred watts. At night, this load typically has a few lights on, the entertainment center and perhaps a computer. If the well pump isn't running, I typically have a 1500-2000W surplus.
At meal times, I shutoff the feed to the garage so wellpump and freezer will not apply load uncontrollably. This allows me to run up to 2 small stove top burners at once, and/or a small toaster oven or the microwave. I use a 240V-120V step down transformer to spread the microwave or toaster oven load across both 120V legs to keep the generator balanced. This same transformer can also be used to power the washing machine if I need laundry done.
You will note I didn't mention hot water. At 4500W for a single element, it is above my generator capacity. But I planned for this when I put together my system. The diesel engine is liquid cooled. Instead of a radiator to dissipate the heat, I have a flat plate heat exchanger with a 120F thermostat on the secondary outlet. The engine delivers between 1/4 and 3/4 gallons per minute of 120F water depending on engine load. This 120F water is backfed into the top of the hot water tank to maintain 1 tank full of hot water. The cooler water coming off the bottom of the tank passes thru a fan-coil unit and back to the heat exchanger. Once the tank is at full of 120F water and warmer water starts comming out the bottom port, the fan coil starts dissipating the excess heat, between 6000 and 18,000 BTU/HR either into my home or outside, as needed. It may take between 1 and 3 hours to heat the tank fully depending on generator load. But you can do a lot with a full 50 gallons of hot water. Since the heat in the cooling system is normally wasted outside, the hot water and the space heat if used, are basically free...
So with this setup, A 55 gallon drum of diesel will allow me to operate 12 hours a day for just about 20 days, and have basically all the normal comforts except the use of the electric dryer on any other setting but air dry.
Less is more(and easier to achieve) if you plan carefully...
LBrown59
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I would buy a diesel generator because I am set up with this and can store all the fuel I'd ever need to run a generator for a long long time in case of a power outage.
These 3 drums will hold 140 gallon of fuel.
I also have 2 extra 30 gallon drums and 1 extra 55 gallon drum for this set up.
L . B .
Last edited:
RonMar
Elite Member
I attached a pic back in this Generator HP discussion, post #34.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/113740-hp-needed-genny-4.html
This of course was a do-it-yourself generator based on a lister CS clone slow speed engine. built with off the shelf parts. It was a fun project, but is most definitely not a turn-key genset. It was about the most efficient way i could maintain my accustomed lifestyle when the comercial power goes away...
atgreene
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If you're in a cold climate, 15 kw is not a big generator. Around here 2-3 days w/o power is common with an ice storm. To run a deep well pump, some lights, boiler, refridge/freezer, stove, washer and the regular day to day stuff the extra $1000-2000 to do it up right is well worth it. Make sure you figure it on worst case conditions, seen a lot of houses undersize and after 3 days taking a shower and washing clothes becomes a little more necessary, especially if the nearest laudromat with power is 20 miles away on ice covered roads. At 5 degrees f, nothing is overkill.
Just my 2 cents from my own experience.
Just my 2 cents from my own experience.
vic4news
Gold Member
I just got my utility power back last night after 5 days. I have a 5000 watt generator (actually rated at 4600 watts) and run my well, oil fired water heater, oil fired furnace, 2 refrigerators and rear projection tv and stereo with no problem.
The generator usually is running about 1/2 load. After I start the generator, I do turn on the breakers one at a time so that everything doesn't try to start up at once. Also, if I use the electric griddle or microwave, I make sure that the oil burners and 1 fridge is off.
I ran the generator for about 50 hours this week and used about 25 gallons of gasoline.
Vic
The generator usually is running about 1/2 load. After I start the generator, I do turn on the breakers one at a time so that everything doesn't try to start up at once. Also, if I use the electric griddle or microwave, I make sure that the oil burners and 1 fridge is off.
I ran the generator for about 50 hours this week and used about 25 gallons of gasoline.
Vic
Amen. Unless you have unusual circumstances, I can't figure out why you need 15kw, for temporary power?
Previously, I had an ALL ELECTRIC HOME. It had a demand power meter on it. Even in the winter when the electric heat was on, with little effort, I was able to keep the demand at about 7kw.
A 5500watt generator, with a good surge capacity, can easily keep most anyone comfortable in even an extended power outage.
I used to worry about over loading it, I now I just dump the whole load on it at once, and it has no trouble with it, and my stuff does not have any trouble with it either.
But Hey, If you can afford the 15kw unit, and want to buy it, go for it.
