Automatic whole house generator systems.

[ROUSTABOUT]

I've not heard bad about generac. I mostly fool with big farm generators like 125000 watts. But I'm around electricians that install generacs on houses. They surprisingly know very little about how they work. Can't find the problem when things aren't working right. I fixed the last one with an 800 dollar part. That sounds high but the man was ready to buy another lightly used one for 30,000 dollars. I guess that's why he keeps me around. Them young electricians have my number and call me when they have a problem. They don't know much about the generators except they work or don't work.

 

[grsthegreat]

The price difference on the Generac website for a Guardian 14kW unit and a 24kW unit is $1600. That differential will probably be eaten up by the requirement to install a sub panel with select circuits to be run or by the smart load management system using a 14kW unit vice running everything with the 24kW (example).

Also, here is an example of convenience. Just before last Christmas, my wife called me and said the power went out and the generator was running. She said she was baking Christmas goodies and drying clothes in the drier and asked me what should she do. I said to just restart the oven and the drier and enjoy her cooking passion!!

actually, hooking up the 16 ckt switch is even easier in some cases than the whole house, as yo dont need to kill utility power or move service feeders. also, 14 kw will be hydraulic valves and use maybe 25% less gas flow.. or there abouts.

 

[ray66v]

Everybody's generator needs are different. A generator needs to maintain basic living services of heat/cooling, sanitation, water, and lighting. Your 5.5k unit would run most well pumps, but if someone also has a pumped septic system, will it run both the well and septic pump at the same time? It obviously would not run a well pump and 4600w water heater at the same time.

In the SE where they get whacked with 90% humidity and days without power, lack of AC can be life threatening. In the West, if you have alternative (wood/NG) heat, you only need a generator and fuel maybe 4 hours a day, and that's only a convenience. 19th century tech kept houses livable with no electricity at all.

My personal opinion is that generator buyers are like pickup buyers. Some people need a heavy duty rig that's going to carry a load, others get by fine with a Honda Civic. Everybody needs to evaluate their physical plant. I know a dairy farmer with a 200kw 3-phase generator, and he still has to load manage and keep a 5000 gallon diesel tank mostly full. He even has a backup backup generator. He's milking over 1000 cows, and can't afford to go down.

Not sure how I lost you, But, I was not asking about anyone else's needs.

For the record: No, I don't have a well pump.

Yes, my 5500 watt generator runs my septic system, my sump pumps, and all my other general needs.

During a power outage, the least of your concerns should be powering a septic system that would otherwise have to fend for it's self anyway, if the power was out. The way my system is built, the discharge sump probably holds 500 gallons, and then has a gravity overflow if things got really bad. So, if I need the power to run a window A/C, because it was oppressively hot, the load from the septic system, is easy to shed.

As I said though, my generator runs my whole house to suit me. Sorry, that it seems most generators can't perform at that level. But, mine does. And, it has done the job for days at a time when I needed it too. So, I don't wish to debate that.

I believe these standby units are often oversized, to meet unrealistic demand calculations, and high sales commissions. However, I also do realize that some people actually need a 20k unit. And, I also realize that I don't.

 

[grsthegreat]

actually, its more economical to run a 22kw generator at half power than to run a 16kw maxed out. it all depend on the load. summer load is far different than winter loads. i have had people complain about their generators shutting down under loads..but no one has complained to me about their generators humming away for 3 days during an outage.

 

[ponytug]

@grsthegreat I believe you about the relative efficiency. Can you point me to the specific power plots for the Generac generators? I was curious, and I can't seem to find them myself.

 

[grsthegreat]

Im not sure what you mean by power plots

 

[Fxfymn413]

I found a 10 year old 17Kw Generac with around 150 hours on it on CL for $600.00 including the transfer switch so my buddy went and bought it. The seller said it is not producing power and he had it diagnosed as needing a stator or rotor which I'm pretty skeptical about. He is awaiting his new generator so it will be awhile until we get our hands on it, but my bet is it is not anything that catastrophic.

 

[grsthegreat]

Hopefully its not. One thing not worth replacing is rotor and stator set. If you can find one there way too expensive to blow on a 10 yr old machine. But it could be something as easy as brushes.

if they dont know anything about these units, he can purchase a diagnostic manual online. Very helpful in step by step repairs.

 

[Jchonline]

I am probably going with a Champion, something like this with our new house.

 

[gstrom99]

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.

If there is a power outage, the power company has time to come pull your meter? and how would they know about it?