Whole house generator

[Larry Caldwell]

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.

I just retired and finally have time to tinker, so I'm going to build up a PTO generator too. I won't need all the engine horsepower, so I'm going to gear it to run on 350 RPM, which should save quite a bit of fuel. I have a tachometer on the PTO, so setting the correct RPM shouldn't be a problem.

I also have an old 2.5" pump that I'm going to set up as a PTO pump. Judging from the number of belts on the sheave, it was originally about a 15 HP pump, and I assume 1800 RPM, though it might run slower. The impeller housing is almost a foot in diameter. I haven't been able to find any data on it on the web. I have seen similar pumps as boosters in high rise sprinkler systems, so think it will put out a lot of water at high pressure.

I have a little 1" 5 HP Honda pump for fire fighting when the power lines burn up, but there's a world of difference between a 1" line at 50 psi and a 2" line at 100 psi.

 

[daBear]

When I built my house in 2006 we had a 15KW Generac Guardian put in. After less than 100 hours the stator burned up and it would cost $2K to fix it so I junked the whole thing and sold the garbage on Craig's List. According to what I read the stator problem is common with Generac which mine was only guarenteed for two years. Now it is up to three.

I just finished installing a 20KW Cummins Onan, whole house transfer switch and a new load center. This thing is wonderful and quiet. 62 decibles running full tilt. You get what you pay for and this one is guarenteed for 5 years/2000 hours.

 

[Retired Iron Peddler]

When I built my house in 2006 we had a 15KW Generac Guardian put in. After less than 100 hours the stator burned up and it would cost $2K to fix it so I junked the whole thing and sold the garbage on Craig's List. According to what I read the stator problem is common with Generac which mine was only guarenteed for two years. Now it is up to three.

I just finished installing a 20KW Cummins Onan, whole house transfer switch and a new load center. This thing is wonderful and quiet. 62 decibles running full tilt. You get what you pay for and this one is guarenteed for 5 years/2000 hours.

Is that an air cooled Onan?
I'm looking at a 30kw liquid cooled Onan or Kohler. I think the GM 3.0L in line 4-cylinder engine running at 1800-rpm in the Onan will be more reliable and quieter than the GM 1.6L 4-cylinder (timing belt) running 3600-rpm in the Kohler. I have two heat pumps and a total of 16kw of emergency heat strips which come on when the heat pumps go into the defrost cycle.

I own a Generac RV generator in my RV, and from that experience, don't want another Generac product.

Bill

 

[daBear]

Well I hate to dog Generac but I sure took a beating on mine. The service technican said for some odd reason a winding on the stator must have just come loose. Anyway, that is history.

My 20KW Cummins/Onan is air cooled. I would love to have a water cooled unit but they are twice the price. I actually think the water cooled has similar sound levels as this air cooled unit. You can stand right beside this one and carry on a conversation without a problem. It just purrs. Nothing like the 15K I had.

When testing this Cummins/Onan after I installed it I loaded it up nicely and went inside with my garage door still up and went to my bedroom which is next to the generator. With the air condition on in the house I had to listen to hear if this generator was running. Before, I had to close the garage, the bathroom door, the window in the bathroom and a closet door. Then I could stand to sleep if I didn't pay much attention to the noise. BIG difference.

 

[Dogballs]

I've had good luck with the Generac air cooled units so far. I have a 7kw (4 years old) at my house and have installed a handful of others. None have had any problems, but none of them have more than a few hundred hours on them either.

 

[tmajor]

I think, each individual has to make a choice on quality of a generator, depending on their use and dependence.

While I finally bought a generator, I don't expect to use it more than a few times, for the house. Even at that, it would be for the "essentials". I kind of lean toward the "throw away" models. If I have occasion to use it elsewhere, that's fine. I don't really consider the Generac, which I bought, "throw away". ... Kind of in between.

For those, who can't live without power, or they lose power frequently, they might be better off with a more expensive, better unit.

For my "intended needs" and power outage experiences, I can't justify a $2K/plus generator.

 

[Pilot]

Just found out that in Oregon, a propane standby generator has to be at least 10 ft. from the pressure regulator. Won't fit where I had planned, so that makes the decision for me--an 8.5KV portable gasoline unit.

 

[jacuba]

Since most of the people on this site own tractors I am surprised that more of you don't have PTO generators. Why have an expensive genset when a PTO driven unit is much less expensive. I am looking at purchasing a 45KW unit so that I can run the entire house (2 geothermal heat pumps, 220v water well, lights, TV's, 3 refrig, 2 freezers, and our PC's. I was told I should have no problem running it with my JD 5105 (105hp) diesel. If I do I will borrow my Brother in Law's JD 4450. We have plenty of diesel stored on the farm.

 

[whiskywizard]

Since most of the people on this site own tractors I am surprised that more of you don't have PTO generators. Why have an expensive genset when a PTO driven unit is much less expensive. I am looking at purchasing a 45KW unit so that I can run the entire house (2 geothermal heat pumps, 220v water well, lights, TV's, 3 refrig, 2 freezers, and our PC's. I was told I should have no problem running it with my JD 5105 (105hp) diesel. If I do I will borrow my Brother in Law's JD 4450. We have plenty of diesel stored on the farm.

For those who have 1 tractor, they lose its use while running the genny. For me, the generator requires more PTO horsepower than I have.

 

[grsthegreat]

Since most of the people on this site own tractors I am surprised that more of you don't have PTO generators. Why have an expensive genset when a PTO driven unit is much less expensive. I am looking at purchasing a 45KW unit so that I can run the entire house (2 geothermal heat pumps, 220v water well, lights, TV's, 3 refrig, 2 freezers, and our PC's. I was told I should have no problem running it with my JD 5105 (105hp) diesel. If I do I will borrow my Brother in Law's JD 4450. We have plenty of diesel stored on the farm.

I prsonally usually lose power in winter...under snow. I need the tractor to move snow.