Recoveryhill
Gold Member
In the Islands we are subject to catastrophic failure of the electrical grid due to hurricane damage and suffer from frequent failures of the municipal power due to grid, mechanical and operational errors. Keep in mind that none of us can depend on other utilities, like on the continent, to provide power when our generation capacity is down.
Stand-by generators are required.
For larger commercial and very large residential sites, diesel generator packages with automatic transfer switches are the norm. There has been a trend (more money than brains) for smaller residential users to install diesel packages with too much capacity. It is bad for equipment to run a generator at say, 30% of load. A minimum of 60% or more should be achieved.
The best, most economical solution for residential and small commercial sites is a gasoline powered unit in the range of 5 to 10 kW and a manual transfer switch that provides load shedding and powers essential services. Based on years of experience with these units, Honda GX powered gensets are the only way to go. They are fueled and treated with Stabil and most are run monthly out of need, or exercised monthly as is recommended. I have run a 13 HP GX coupled to a 6.5 kW generator for going on 8 years and have accumulated just shy of 1,000 hours. I change the oil and fuel filter annually, keep it covered and done. Choke, one pull and it starts, every time. I power refrigeration in my main kitchen and in a guest apartment, water pump, hot water heater, outlets in living room (s) and kitchen (s) and lights everywhere but bedrooms with 6,500 Watts.
No desire to stoke any arguments but around here Kohlers, Briggs and no-name engines such as those in Generacs are not preferred, only Honda Commercial engines. Automatic transfer is simply not necessary for residences and 10 Kw should be sufficient for most homes unless you use electric heat or need to provide power to devices that use very large amounts of current.
Stand-by generators are required.
For larger commercial and very large residential sites, diesel generator packages with automatic transfer switches are the norm. There has been a trend (more money than brains) for smaller residential users to install diesel packages with too much capacity. It is bad for equipment to run a generator at say, 30% of load. A minimum of 60% or more should be achieved.
The best, most economical solution for residential and small commercial sites is a gasoline powered unit in the range of 5 to 10 kW and a manual transfer switch that provides load shedding and powers essential services. Based on years of experience with these units, Honda GX powered gensets are the only way to go. They are fueled and treated with Stabil and most are run monthly out of need, or exercised monthly as is recommended. I have run a 13 HP GX coupled to a 6.5 kW generator for going on 8 years and have accumulated just shy of 1,000 hours. I change the oil and fuel filter annually, keep it covered and done. Choke, one pull and it starts, every time. I power refrigeration in my main kitchen and in a guest apartment, water pump, hot water heater, outlets in living room (s) and kitchen (s) and lights everywhere but bedrooms with 6,500 Watts.
No desire to stoke any arguments but around here Kohlers, Briggs and no-name engines such as those in Generacs are not preferred, only Honda Commercial engines. Automatic transfer is simply not necessary for residences and 10 Kw should be sufficient for most homes unless you use electric heat or need to provide power to devices that use very large amounts of current.
