Generator Selection?

[grsthegreat]

"They take a unit designed for emergency ..... occasional.... use and try to use it for primary off grid use". thumbsup:
That's it in a nutshell, or "duty cycle ". I've heard that an oil change is required for 24hs of continuous run time for many of the 3600 rpm air cooled screamers. That is not unusual 'round here. I lucked out with my unit @ $4500 - 1057hrs sitting on the 200g base tank. That's no automatic switch gear, but one less item to give you problems and fine for our needs.

Actually, its check oil every 24 running hours, but replace oil and filter after 200 running hours or every 2 years whichever occurs first.,... at least for the generacs

 

[grsthegreat]

that package of filters and parts just arrived.....yah. what usually took 5 days took 2.5 weeks. miserable Covid

 

[daugen]

GRS, do the Generac 22kw units have an external oil cooler?
I was always impressed by how much air mine flowed through the unit, so if oil temp is managed, with synthetic oil, even 3600 rpm
should not be a problem. Of course I did kill some plantings in my flower bed from all that hot air blasting out...

 

[grsthegreat]

Yes, its a small oil cooling unit located in front of engine down low by fire wall.

 

[ultrarunner]

Even the big guys are slammed...

Have Onan/Cummins 150 standby rated that I have serviced since 1995...

Two years ago the authority having jurisdiction decreed factory trained annual service with load bank required... No more in house service using measured building load at 37% of rating going forward... Inspector said the only way I could continue is to be certified.

Unable to get a Saturday or Sunday service this entire year with Cummins saying they simply don't have anyone available and business hours service is out 11 weeks last I checked... too busy installing new units and maintaining rentals with CA fires and public safety power shutdowns.

 

[Diggin It]

Just now got a FedEx notice for a package from Generac with a scheduled delivery date of Sunday. (Sunday?)

.

 

[ultrarunner]

FedEx and Post Office and Amazon etc deliver Sundays here... just a parade of trucks all morning.

It was last Sunday morning at 11:30 when my car was ransacked by a person in a Brand New Jeep pirating porch deliveries. Twelve and counting in this little neighborhood and pics of the Jeep show it is really loaded down in back...

Following delivery trucks has become a new way of life and property Crime is almost never prosecuted.

Package thefts have become so prolific high value medical items now come with tracking chips.

 

[ultrarunner]

GRS...

Power scheduled to off minimum 24 hours and my retired friends with multiple medical needs need a whole house generator.

They asked me to ask you what model would you recommend for standby and if you have any SF Bay Area referrals?

Modest home with natural gas cooktop, space heat, water heating.

Electricity needed for battery operated medical devices, refrigeration, convenience lighting, furnace blower and single electric oven.

Due to medical condition the plan is to add 2 mini-split room A/C in future.

I pointed out Generac is updating some models and their need is low but basic residential gas meter/line also has limitations.

Is there a sweet spot in the Generac air-cooled line for them. At this point cost is secondary as being homebound getting gasoline and even going out to start their Honda 3000i makes then dependant on others...

 

[grsthegreat]

With split system heat pumps i would not go below the 16 kw current line, which will soon be 18kw. Seeing as hes all gas appliances i see no issues with loads you stated. Nat gas always cuts the output some with the generators anyways. Without the mini splits a 13 (soon to be 14kw) would probably work. Going bigger is always preferable because no one knows what may be added in future, that and a larger gen operating at 25-50% output gets better fuel efficiency than a small unit running full out. Last power outage we had lasted 14 hours and my 22kw averaged 5.8 kw and burnt 19.66 gal of fuel. Outage was mostly during the daytime and normally I would not have even run it except the wife had her quilting group meeting going on in basement. Have to keep her happy.

if the current ac system is a heat pump, you may need a 22kw, but it would depend on tonnage of unit and age of unit.

 

[ultrarunner]

With split system heat pumps i would not go below the 16 kw current line, which will soon be 18kw. Seeing as hes all gas appliances i see no issues with loads you stated. Nat gas always cuts the output some with the generators anyways. Without the mini splits a 13 (soon to be 14kw) would probably work. Going bigger is always preferable because no one knows what may be added in future, that and a larger gen operating at 25-50% output gets better fuel efficiency than a small unit running full out. Last power outage we had lasted 14 hours and my 22kw averaged 5.8 kw and burnt 19.66 gal of fuel. Outage was mostly during the daytime and normally I would not have even run it except the wife had her quilting group meeting going on in basement. Have to keep her happy.

if the current ac system is a heat pump, you may need a 22kw, but it would depend on tonnage of unit and age of unit.

Thank you... TBN always makes me look good...

16 to 18 kW...

Is this something a typical residential gas meter can power?