Whole house generator

[DelSc]

Just want to relate a story of a home that burned to the ground with an auto genset...

...Just because it is automatic doesn't mean it is fool proof.

Good point, ours sits outside in an enclosure, so we have to clear from around the air intakes after a heavy snowfall.

 

[doddsjzi]

I'm certainly not disputing your conclusions but propane most surely contains sulfur. I spent over a year working in a R&D lab of a major fuel cell manufacturer trying to develop a cost effective way to remove sulfur from propane. We could buy propane that was free of sulfur but it was a special order. The objective was to develop a fuel cell that could run on propane. Commercial fuel cells generally run on natural gas which is much cleaner than propane. We had to separate all test equipment that has been exposed to regular propane due to the sulfur. The sulfur in the gas was so sticky there was no easy way to clean out test equipment after regular propane had been run through it. I had never thought of a gas as being sticky until I worked that project.

On top of whatever sulfur is originallly present in propane, a sulfur-containing mercaptan is added to most propane so that leaks can be noted by the odor it produces, as propane is pretty much without odor otherwise.

 

[KubB2700]

I have a 15 KW Generac Guardian System with automatic transfer switch installed about 4 years ago. Runs on propane, air cooled, 990CC V twin....NO PROBLEMS and it has been a lifesaver in winter and summer when power has gone out for days. Since de-regulation of the energy utilities quality of service and mean time to repair during power outages have gone to ****. After many years of using a portable generator, extension cords and the requirement for someone to be home to power the generator up to drive the sump pump, and fridge I just got tired of the hassel. I wouldn't be without it. I have central air, well and septic and sump pumps and have NOT HAD ANY ISSUES with an air cooled generator.

 

[ssgtibbetts]

Excellent points, all. So what I am gathering from this conversation is, any generator set up will work as long as the wattage and connections are correct. The deciding factor is how much you are willing to spend. Propane/NG or diesel seem to be prefered and air cooled works fine to a point.
Kuboto, Cummins, and Onan are in a relationship and the only thing that everyone seems to agree on is, that not having power sucks.
Have I missed anything?
I really would like to have a generator backup system though so I appreciate everyones input.

 

[Travelover]

..........Have I missed anything? ..........

Once you drop ten grand or more on something that you only use once or twice a year, you need to brag about it the rest of the time to make it worthwhile. :laughing:

 

[Larry Caldwell]

If you want something different, India is exporting Lister diesels, which would run fine off of stove oil. You can get a pre-built unit

Lister Type 13,500 Watt Diesel Generator with Electric Start (12 kw unit)

or buy a separate engine and gen head and build your own.

Listeroid Diesel Generator (project)

The two cylinder Listeroids are pretty impressive, and will run on almost anything.

 

[aczlan]

Anyone have a good link to a good load calculator?

We are looking at getting one of the Aurora diesel generators to power the whole house, but I am not sure if we would need in the $1200 5kw continuous/6.5kw peak size or the $4500 9kw continuous /10kw peak size.

Aaron Z

 

[tmajor]

Her is one link .. Northern Tool. Most of the generator sites have them .. to some degree.

 

[aczlan]

Her is one link .. Northern Tool. Most of the generator sites have them .. to some degree.

Thanks

Aaron Z

 

[barbqranch]

I took a different approach than many. I installed a manual transfer switch, which was easy because the main panel is on the barn, and all the house power goes through a single 100A breaker. I also bought a PTO generator. Had to build a frame for it, but that was no problem. About every 5 years we have a 3 day outage, most others are only an hour or so. It takes a good 15 minutes to remove mower and install generator, usually in the rain, but it does the job and I always have fresh fuel and don't worry about an engine that has been sitting 12 months.