Automatic whole house generator systems.

[oldnslo]

In my area if no transfer switch the power company will come by and pull your meter if you have a generator running to insure no power feedback into the grid. Not sure how this is handled in other areas. I have a Briggs & Stratton LP whole house with auto switch over. Sure is simple. Agree on sizing is a real problem since trying to determine peak load and running loads is a real challenge.

 

[LittleBill21]

In my area if no transfer switch the power company will come by and pull your meter if you have a generator running to insure no power feedback into the grid. Not sure how this is handled in other areas. I have a Briggs & Stratton LP whole house with auto switch over. Sure is simple. Agree on sizing is a real problem since trying to determine peak load and running loads is a real challenge.

how would they know if the transfer switch is inside?

 

[jaydee325]

how would they know if the transfer switch is inside?

Easy, power company is notified of legitimate transfer switch installs via licensed electricians/permits. Lineman supervisor driving by hears/sees a generator running, checks back to office and if no record, it's assumed no switch, so meter comes out to protect the lineman.

 

[LittleBill21]

Easy, power company is notified of legitimate transfer switch installs via licensed electricians/permits. Lineman supervisor driving by hears/sees a generator running, checks back to office and if no record, it's assumed no switch, so meter comes out to protect the lineman.

my guys are too busy eating a hoagie to worry about that stuff. when power goes down around here, it sounds like sturgis.

 

[CobyRupert]

Pulls the meter if he hears a generator, then checks back to see if paper work has been properly filled for the address (and the specific service at that address) he thinks he hears the generator at?
That is a really really poor way to protect linemen from energized lines.
If linemen’s safety are really dependent on this, there’s so many ways that system could go wrong.


What if generator is only feeding extension cords and not tied into utility, does meter still get pulled?

Who has a household 120/240 generator that can (without overloading) :
- Energize the distribution lines (through the utility transformer) and power up the whole neighborhood, or
-Feed the faulted lines and keep running? That is, shorted by the storm or shorted together by the lineman working on them.

I suppose if you live at the end of the road, and only your power is out and utility is working on the lines, a scenario could exist where you could power your isolated “island”. But if your island is more than a few neighbors, you genny isn’t going to power the grid.

 

[coobie]

We have decided to have a whole house generator installed. The automatic kind that comes on when the power goes off. So I have called the Generac dealer about 3.5 miles from our house. It will be a month before they can come out for a consultation and between six and eight months before I can get a generator. Cost for an 18kw, 20kw, or 22kw system will be roughly between $8,000 to $10,000.

In the 2009 ice storm we made do with a 4000w portable. We had two fridges, one freezer, one TV and cable box, a few lights, and one small oil filled heater running off it. Not all ran at the same time. We rotated the utility room fridge and freezer and didn't run everything at one time. Heated the house with two sets of gas logs and used the electric heater only at night in the hallway near the bedrooms. The last two weeks we added a small 2000w that took some of the load. I got a Gencor 10,000w a few years ago for the electric start because my wife could not pull start the others. We have used it twice this winter. Once after the tornado, the other last week during a small ice/snow event.

I have several problems that must be solved. If something happened to me my wife would have a very hard time dragging the generator up to the house from the shop. She would also have a hard time pulling the fridges and freezers out and connecting them. Another problem is all the cords strung out all over the house. Another is the fact that when we need a generator it is usually cold as a well diggers rear end. And we are both 67 and are looking to be prepared for our older years. Also we usually have family come here because of our natural gas logs and water heater. There are several more smaller issues but those are the main ones.

I thought about just having a transfer switch installed and putting the Gencor in a semi-permanent location within a box like enclosure. Then memories of setting an alarm for every four hours to fill the little 4000w up with gas make me think that might not be such a good idea. Even though the 10,000 will run for over six.

I am looking at Generac because there are several locals selling and servicing the units. Anybody have any negative experience with them?

RSKY

Owned our 22kw generac LP whole house gen.going on 12 years now, not one issue with it.My how Prices has gone up ours installed was $4850.We use full synthetic oil and filters changed once per year.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Our friends & neighbors put in a Generac system last Summer and 500 gallon propane above ground tank. They haven't had any problems, it automatically starts up and runs I'm guessing once a week for 15 minutes or so, probably does that for test purposes.
If you lose power frequently I'd certainly consider it. We almost never lose power, especially after I bought a 9kW "portable".
I'm thinking if you have medical problems like our neighbors insurance may cover some of it? I bet it would also add value to your home.

 

[oldnslo]

how would they know if the transfer switch is inside?

I believe code in this area is that auto switch gear must be outside next to gen set. This was approximately 9 years ago so code could have changed by now. Even with certified licensed installation had to get permit and inspection before could be put into service. Power company has come by three times that I know of to verify switch gear was operating properly during power outage.

 

[ericm979]

In my area if no transfer switch the power company will come by and pull your meter if you have a generator running to insure no power feedback into the grid.

That seems kind of harsh for the guy powering his fridge and a couple lights using extension cords and a portable generator.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

In my area if no transfer switch the power company will come by and pull your meter if you have a generator running to insure no power feedback into the grid. Not sure how this is handled in other areas. I have a Briggs & Stratton LP whole house with auto switch over. Sure is simple. Agree on sizing is a real problem since trying to determine peak load and running loads is a real challenge.

It's the same where I live. If you tickle a linesman, they will pull your service and you don't get it back until you have brought the whole house up to current code.