Home Generators

This is the hand model set up. Works great. Just enough to keep a few lights on and power the fridge and run a fan to cool off under. In winter, the nat gas logs heat critical areas. Good advice from Vader!

 

So here's a question (if a dumb question let me know). What strong of a generator would you need to power a home AC (2000 sqf home), refrigerator, some wall outlets and fans?

 

I have a Generac 11KW that runs everything in my house but my GeoThermal system. When I mean everything, everything that is needed in a power outage. Mine runs on propane, I have a 330 gal tank. It starts up once a week for 20 minutes for testing.

I run a sump pump, 2 refigs, 2 freezers, hot water heater, well pump, 1st floor lights and plugs, and bedroom lights. GeoThermal, garage doors, oven (we have a gas stove). Hall lights and upstairs plugs, and a few other misc (outdoor lights etc...) are not connected to generator.

I paid $3k for the Generac 5 years ago. Change the oil once a year and check filters and such. Highly recommend it. I also have a Honda EB3000c as a backup to run sump pump and refrig just in case.

I would think you'd need a 20KW, a 15KW might work but I'd go 20 if I was going to run A/C. The A/C units can take a bit of power to start up, then depending on how hard they have to work they may draw quite bit of current while running. Like I said, I run most of my house, a 2 story 2500 sq.ft (not including the 1300 sq.ft. basement) on a 11KW and have no issues.

 

If you want to run AC, my research has shown you need the big boy, 22kw.

 

Great thread
I am looking at getting estimates for one for phase 2 of my remodel

 

Thanks for sharing your knowledge @vader7071

 

I use a Honda 6500 generator and a whole house manual transfer switch. Does everything but my Air compressor and AC.

 

I have a similar setup but I want to run my AC, and make it easy on my better half to do so. Probably gonna be the Generac 22kw, but I'll wait a tad.

 

I know exactly what you mean I have been thinking of changing mine over for the wife also.

 

After this weekend in NC and I was not home the whole time, well, it's on my top 3 list of big home projects.

 

We need a Tundras.com group buy on the generac 22kw....

If people are serious, I might call a few places and see if we can score a deal.

 

See what you can find, I'd be interested.

 

I’m a Kohler generator dealer. They are a solid generator and in my opinion superior to Generac. Some things to consider are:
Engine - liquid cooled vs air cooled
The liquid cooled engines are far superior but you are really stepping up in price to get one. Kohler only uses liquid cooled 1800 RPM engines above 20kW. All the air cooled engines are 3600 RPM engines. The engine RPM is directly related to the number of poles in the generator. A two pole generator turning at 3600 RPMs will produce 60HZ and a four pole turning at 1800 RPMs will produce 60HZ.

The Kohler air cooled engines use hydraulic valve lifters so no valve adjustment needed. I believe the Generac manual requires valve adjustment after a certain number of hours.

Kohler is built in the USA and use copper windings with the H class insulation. H class insulation is the top heat class so won’t break down as easily due to heat. Plus the copper windings won’t build heat like aluminum does.

Kohler also has excellent voltage/frequency regulation. Which means when you hit the generator with a big load (HVAC) your frequency won’t sag and cause possible appliance damage.

I will be happy to answer any more questions if anyone needs.

Here is a link to Kohler’s website.
http://www.kohlerpower.com/home/index.html

 

I’ve owned both Kohler and Generac in my previous homes. Both were in the neighborhood of 38KW.
Both brands were great in my opinion, just really depends on whose your servicing provider will be. I didn’t necessarily feel one brand was superior to the other. I would check locally to see whose providing the better service between the two and go with that.

Currently on my home, I run a duel fuel generator from Champion. My Panel allows me to allow to feed a generator in, without adding a separate transfer switch in. Had the panel added when I did my heavy-up service done. I’m able to run the A/C with this unit. The nice feature to run duel fuel, is when the power goes down. So does the majority of fueling stations. Plus gas tends to go bad after a certain amount of time even with Stabila fuel additive. Propane never has that problem. Here’s a link for the Champion line. I run 2 of these for work and they are really good work horses
https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100297-8000-watt-dual-fuel-generator/

 

Do you want to offer a discount for a group buy?

 

I would absolutely offer a discount for a group. I’m not sure if it would be worth it though with shipping costs? It is usually better to buy one from a local dealer especially if you ever need service. All that being said I would gladly offer a discount.

 

Anyone have a ROUGH idea how much it costs to have a transfer switch installed?

And while we are talking about it.....a 220v plug for a welder as well. Some day I want to get into welding.
(Pannel is on the exterior wall of the garage)

 

The labor to install a transfer switch will be around $1500 I would think. An automatic transfer switch will be around $1000 and a manual will be around $4-500. These are very rough numbers as the actual numbers can vary a lot depending on your service size and configuration.

 

You don’t need a 22kw generator to run that. You can if your planning on adding more stuff down the road.

My brother in-law runs a generac 17kw, he’s on a 200 amp service. Runs a 3 ton ac unit., has gas heat, so a furnace fan in the winter. 1 refrigerators, 4 ceiling fans. Misc. lights and plugs. He lost power for 3 weeks and his unit ran flawless.

 

Best thing to do on a budget is install a sub panel with an interlock breaker for a transfer switch. Move all the circuits that you want fed by the genny to the sub panel and you have a safe, code compliant install that doesn't risk the lives of the guys working to get your power back on.

A 50 amp running genny will power everything you need for an emergency. If you want luxury pay an EC to install the appropriate equipment.

Back feeding the panel is dangerous, all it takes is one oversight and you could kill someone.....

 

I researched installing a genset several years ago and discovered that the cost of installing was as much as the gen itself. The city required a permit, tapping into natural gas and running a short gas line was over $100 pet foot.

A group buy might make it worth it.

 

Great point you brought up! I was in the same scenario when I moved back into the city limits here as as well. I was planning on changing my fireplace to a gas, and adding a genset. But when the numbers came back for the gas line, I decided on a different result.....place a new liner in chimney flue and kept it wood burning.....Went with a portable genset which is now duel fuel, with electric start. Definitely a more affordable approach.

The other thing most people don’t realize when adding a genset is the gas line you currently have may not be of sufficient size to handle the gas load. Sometimes the incoming line to your home will need to be upgraded as well based on your current consumption and the added use of the genset.

Either way lots of good information everyone has posted

 

Reading all the comments, to run a house on a 120/240v 200amp service, a “direct” conversion puts you at about a 22Kw genset. But that is full bore 100% maxed out. By “load shedding” (turning off what you don’t need), you can get the genset down to 15 to 17Kw.

But, I would get a licensed electrical contractor to come to your house and check things out. Let him run the calculations to make sure it is sized right.

 

Actually running my small 6K a I type. Fits my needs. It's a very simple set-up. We do not get many outages and they usually no longer than 1 hour.

 

Yup, poor man's ats. Works well.