automatic tandby generators

JohnCt · Jun 21, 2004

I considering installing an automatic standby generator at the house in Vermont. Thinking of using the generac or briggs & stratton 12kw generator, any comments pro or con would be appreciated. thanks. John

boustany · Jun 21, 2004

Think of natural gas or propane as fuel because they don't go bad. Nat gas can be unlimited unless the distribution system goes down, which I think doesn't usually happen even in huge blackouts like last summer. Not an option for me.

Check out. I haven't used them but I've read lots of positive comments from those who have.

http://www.electricgeneratorstore.com/

BubbaJr · Jun 21, 2004

John, for what it's worth we had a 10KW generator with a B&S engine. We had problems from day one with it starting. We had the control panel set up to run it for 20 minutes every 2 weeks. I had to go out and manually start it several times between the auto start cycles just so it would start at the required time. They had their service guys out here on a bi-weekly basis trying to figure out what was wrong. They even got their "expert" up here from Georgia, and he could'nt come up with an answer either. I finally got so fed up with it that I went back to the dealer and we worked out a trade-up for a new unit with a Honda engine. We haven't had a bit of trouble since.
Good Luck /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

BillyP · Jun 21, 2004

Natural gas, propane or diesel but not a gas powered automatic standby generator. Gas goes stale way to quick for this type of use.

GaryM · Jun 21, 2004

I have the Generac 12KW unit with the 15KW free upgrade. Air cooled two cylinder running on Propane.

Had a power failure while the electrician was making the final hookups. Flopped the switch and it started right up and ran for four hours without a hitch.

Pros:
Fair value for the money.
Installed fairly easy, although the leads from the generator to the transfer switch might be too short depending on your installation.
Doorstep delivery from the Electric Generator Store.

Cons:
Not as quiet as a liquied cooled unit.
Transfer switch only holds 12 breakers. Could use more.

I can put up with the noise as I watch TV while everyone else is in the dark.

DocHeb · Jun 21, 2004

I have a Generac 15kW Natural Gas, liquid cooled unit installed out at the farm. We're not there full time, so I needed something for automatic backup for the heat, etc. I have been very happy with it. Last August during the big blackout I loaded the whole family, drove by and picked up the FIL from Assisted Living, and stayed there for several days.

Consider a 1800 rpm unit rather than a 3600 rpm engine - doesn't seem as much as a screaming banshee.

This generator is relatively quiet - you can talk in a normal voice while standing next to the unit, but you know it's running. My buddy has a Kohler with an additional sound enclosure. You can't hear it at all from the house, and when you stand next to it all you hear is a hum. $$ more than my Generac, however.

IrTxRx · Jun 21, 2004

I have the benefit of hindsight and TBN to inform me I made the wrong $1000 purchase of my gas powered generac. Can I inquire if this can be converted to propane power, how much and how much does a 7500kw (12,500 surge kw) propane generator cost?

thanks

SPIKER · Jun 21, 2004

Most any engine can be converted and I'm sure you can get the kit right form gentrac as then make them for nat gas, gas and propane... so seems to me a kit shouldn't be TOO much but you may end up in the 150 buck range easy enough as a retro fit setup...

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

GRUMPA · Jun 21, 2004

We have an ONAN 1966 that we bought way back, it had been used once. Its only a 5kw unit but thats all we need. It runs on propane and I wouldnt advise anything that uses a liquid fuel. Just make sure you get a 1800 RPM generator they well last so much longer, and ours is set up on auto, meaning if our battery bank gets to low the inverter will turn it on automatically to charge the battery bank, hold a charge for a predetermined time and then shut off, so far so good only been in use for a year, and not to mention we dont go up there every weekend either.

On a side note you didnt mention if where you want to use it is hooked up to the grid. If it is a special switch will have to be installed so if the power ever goes out, the line guys wont get shocked when they're trying to get it back up again.

Oh and one more thing. What we did for the noise was sink 2-55gal drums in the ground with a whole lota holes in them, running the exhaust to the one and them a 1" steel pipe to the other. Back filled the hole with big rock( we have no shortage of those at our ranch) covered the whole thing with corogated metal then dirt. We cant hear it running we have to look at our gauges in the house to tell if its running or not.