Back Up Home Generator Question

Apparently we supply the country with 25% of its wind energy

 

For those with standby units, do y’all do the maint?


I do.

 

Ahem.

 

Good info. It’s a shame all that % of wind and solar is so unreliable. fundamentally unreliable.

nat gas/coal/nuclear should be the sell.

See, the result of unreliability is harmful to humans, yet we pursue these as reliable.
It’s foolish

 

Don't forget about the renewable OG, hydro!

 

I'm told that there is a lot of red tape around the controls used to run a state-side nuclear power plant - something about upgrading existing controls being disallowed in some ways? Any truth to that? I mean, I'm pretty sure the axe man is no longer literally a dude in the rafters with an axe in one hand and temperature gauge in the other. But I was under the impression that something like swapping out existing controls boards for a computer-controlled control system on older plants isn't allowed - only monitoring the existing controls. But I may be misremembering. I'm all for nuclear plants; just wish we were allowed to recondition spent fuel and actually tap the remaining 6x% of energy in it. Really, I just like the quarky blue lights inside the reactors

 

Fun shit!

 

I grew up in cotton/corn/wheat fields and now when I go out to my Dad's all I see is stupid turbines all spinning at the same time in unison.

 

I do. Oil, filters, batteries, etc

 

Yes, I do as well.

 

The Briggs unit I have takes the same filter as my old 06 sequoia.

 

Gtfo.
That's awesome

 

So what’s the consensus on the Generac Guadian series generators? Northern Tool has them on sale and Generac is offering a 10 year extended warranty.

I was pretty sold on a Kohler unit, then found a Cummins Onan with the cold weather kit built in. Kohler wants $600 for their kit

 

Is everyone using gas generators?

 

Natural gas, yes

 

Hmmm, don't even have natural gas here

 

Most of the generators I’ve been looking at (20kw or so) run off either NG or LP. So if you have a propane tank, that works too.

 

propane is feasible, but you better have a big tank.

 

we buried a 500 gallon propane tank (so 400 gallons max filled). we run our heat on demand water heater, stove, fire place, and pool heater....mainly the water heater and stove. we hooked up the generator to that too. i believe i figured we can run that generator (22kw generac) for 5-7 days depending....but it'll cost us about $1500 if ran to almost empty.

 

I bought a solar powered generator because I can take it with me anywhere and the cost is a sunny day. Hassle babby sitting solar panels to make sure they are always optimized but all in all works out. I need to get a station set up so I can easily hook it up to the home

 

I'm sold on the Generac Guardian series whole-house generator. We have the 22KW and it has been bullet-proof for the last 5 years and all I've done is annual maintenance.

 

Update: The electrician came by today and installed an interlock kit. We re-checked the load of just the heater because I was concerned about the 100A breaker for just that and it came in at 80A (19.2kw) He said sounds about right. No wonder our winter electric bill is the GDP of a small 3rd world country.

Pics of the installation:


The gas company also came out, staked, and measured. He asked me what pressure was required by the Duromax to operate, and of course, I didn't know. After some research, it appears that water columns is how that's measured (huh?) and that I need 7" wc. That's 1/2 PSI and about normal pressure out of a household gas line. Cool - won't have to fork out another $350 to the gas man (extra $ needed if pressure would need to be upped out of the meter).

Anyway, after much discussion, we are gonna go with a DuroMax XP15000HXT tri-fuel setup and primarily run on propane courtesy of a 100 Gal tank and also have NG as a backup energy source should things go long term or full zombie apocalypse. Now I'm researching propane regulators and quick connect fittings.

 

Nice.

As for electric heat, our last house had ceiling heat. I hated it. Our electric bill was atrocious when we kept the heat on at 62 degrees in three bedrooms and a living room; it was downright abysmal when we had company visiting for the holidays. I feel for you. I'm SOOO much happier to have a gas furnace now.

 

I've been looking at a Cummins 20KW unit now. It comes setup with a cold weather kit and is only a few hundred more than a Generac or Kohler unit once you pony up for their respective cold weather kits.

Otherwise, Home Depot has a special on an older 22kw Generac - prolly the same one @NewImprovedRon has.