What's your experience with 7500 watt generator?

[Steelstring]

Another thing to look at is how you are hooking up. Our place had one of those hated double male dryer cords which we promptly cut an end off. We have since put a generlink switch in and makes the whole process easier. Just need to leave the water heater off and there is no need to worry about what breaker does what just use the switches like you normally do.

especially considering we're the only one on the transformer around here its a big pain to keep steady power

I ordered a Generlink switch from the electric co-op today. With Hot water heater off and the heat pump turned off, I am probably good to go. Are you on a 7500 watt genset as well?

 

[merrickvilleguy]

well close enough ... a gp7000 7000/8750 ... get 10-11 hrs with whatever load my house generates (about 40kwh a day with the water heater and chicken stuff running)

was able to run my 2 1/2 ton heat pump off it ... but probably couldnt run much more than that ... i have since moved to a propane furnace ... won't be an issue any more

 

[oldnslo]

Just ran a rented 7000 watt unit for two days and it would not run the electric water heater and well at the same time. Other than those two items it ran the rest of the house with ease.

Fridge, freezer, lights, garage doors, toaster, microwave, well all at the same time with no problem. Could shut off the well and run the water heater. the shut off the heater and take a shower so the well would run.

To run everything would be a 10 K or larger since I also have electric stove. Took about 8-9 gallons of gas per day running from 5:00 AM through 9:00 PM.

 

[tsteahr]

Years ago I had a 5500/6500 surge gas unit. It would NOT run my well pump and my oil fired boiler at the same time. Well pump was 220v, boiler was 110v. Since the load of the boiler could not be shared by both legs of the generator, one of the generator output breakers would trip when either load would try to start with the other already running.

Remember, each leg of the generator can only produce half the rated output. You have to look at the loads, including the starting currents, and try to distribute them evenly over both legs. You really can't think of a generator as a single unit with a total of X watts. It really is two individual legs, each with a max capacity of X/2. You have to keep within the capacity of each of the legs. Your 220 loads are shared by both legs, but each 110 load has to go to one or the other leg. So you divi up your 110 loads among the two legs as best you can, but it's never perfectly balanced, So if you are driving multiple 110 loads, it is almost impossible to get the max rated capacity of a generator. Hence the need to buy a generator rated a little higher then the sum of all your loads.

I found some motors require their starting current for longer periods of time than others. For example a well pump or a furnace blower motor require starting current for longer than a refrigerator motor. Unfortunately inexpensive portable gas units don't seem to be able to deliver their rated starting current for as long as some loads require.

Be careful buying a inexpensive unit that just meets your calculated requirements. There is risk that it won't deliver the power you need for the duration you need. It sucks to buy a unit, get it home, hook everything up only to find out it won't do the job. Don't ask how I know...

 

[ragkar]

You absolutely need a transfer switch wired up by a competent electrician. If you try to rube Goldberg your generator in, you risk big problems.
One - you're trying to reverse power your neighbors that are on the same transformer.
Two - You risk electrocuting the line repairman.

I have a similar situation as you well pump, septic, microwave, entertainment center, bedroom and loft with computer. I use a 6500 watt generator successfully to power roughly half the house. During an extended power outage I start the generator and then go downstairs and throw switches. I have a procedure taped to the walls and a flashlight nearby.

Here is a website with much useful information including how to estimate your needs and how to hook it up.
Electric Generators Direct - Your Portable Generator and Home Standby Generator Superstore - Power Generators, Gas Generators, Home Generators, Backup Generators, Electric Generator, Portable Generators, Power Generator, Gas Generator, Emergency Gene

 

[psj12]

I could run most everything necessary on mine but some energy management was needed. When we would wake up in the morning and my wife wanted a bath I would make sure the well pressure was up and the coffee made and the turn everything off and turn on the water heater for about 1/2 hour. I would then turn off the water heater and restart everything else including the well pump. She could then draw a nice hot bath from the preheated water heater.

The generator did load up when the water heater was on but continued running well.

I also found using the same method I could pull the high eff. heat pump with the generator if I made sure to pull the emergency heat breakers on the heat pump.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You absolutely need a transfer switch wired up by a competent electrician. If you try to rube Goldberg your generator in, you risk big problems.
One - you're trying to reverse power your neighbors that are on the same transformer.
Two - You risk electrocuting the line repairman.

Number 2 really irritates the line repairman. In this state, there is no legal requirement for the utility to connect to an unsafe installation, so if you tickle a repairman they will disconnect you and make you rewire your entire home before they will hook you up again. You better have a good generator, because it could be months, and thousands of dollars, before you get power back again.

 

[Car Doc]

That's why I put a sign in the main box "generator in use" covering the switch so hopefully some one wont flip the switch.

 

[Financegal]

I have a 7000/8750 watt generator that I also use with a Generlink transfer switch but my home is propane heat and water heater. The electrician tested it all with my generator and said if I toggled the well pump breaker on and off as described by others here I can pretty much run everything else in the house.

I made a mockup of my circuit breaker and shaded in red those circuits I can't use - the electric stove, central air and I'd not be trying to do laundry using washer, dryer, or do dishes in dishwasher. BUT after 5 days, no power during blizzard of 2010, in any future storm I like knowing I'd be safe, warm and could still cook using a crockpot, heat up food in microwave and we have an old Coleman 4 burner camping stove that still works so we'd not starve. Hey compared to a year ago, what I do have would be pure heaven. Around here everyone runs their gens all day and shuts them off nights to save gas.

 

[grsthegreat]

ya, i have a manual transfer switch with twin amp meters and start/stop switch for the genset. this is located in a utility room and has a battery backup emergency light wired in so i can see the panel in a blackout.

Believe me we get lots of them out here in the sticks of Idaho.

I didn't want an auto start panel cause theres no need for it to be running and sucking propane if no one is home. The freezer and fridge can last till i get home. All i or the wife had to do is flip the start button, let the generator idle for 30 seconds, and manually flip the "GENERATOR/UTILITY" breaker....and all is well again.

There have been many a night when its dark for miles around cept for my lights.....i feel so naughty :laughing: :thumbsup: