Generator Selection?

grsthegreat · Aug 26, 2020

Personally, i have never had a issue with Generac tech support or parts. While parts supply do tun low at times during crisis like current covid19 or hurricane season, i can generally get parts for very old units without issue.

A generac tech gets a different level of tech support than a homeowner thats for sure. I have had very obscure issues resolved over the phone many times.

grsthegreat · Aug 26, 2020

I live in north idaho, and i have never had issues with a propane freeze up....never in 27 years. But i have also never had diesel gel on me. We use winter blends up here.

Diggin It · Aug 26, 2020

I see a couple of dealer/service companies not too far off. I can't afford a full install, but I could handle a service call for them to review my work before energizing if they would be willing.

grsthegreat · Aug 26, 2020

holy ****....i just got an email from Generac. they just opened up a new manufacturing plant to try and keep up with demand. but the wait times on generators is horrible. im sure glad im no longer installing them. on 13kw units its 90-130 days behind, on 16-20 kw its 130 dyays behind, on 22 kw its 90-130 day lag. how is a guy supposed to stay in business with this kind of lag time. i used to be able to order some generators and they would be at my place in about 7-10 days. if i ordered a 16 kw unit now i wouldnt see it until January next year. totally unacceptable. i picked a good year to retire

Oaktree · Aug 26, 2020

grsthegreat said:
Personally, i have never had a issue with Generac tech support or parts. While parts supply do tun low at times during crisis like current covid19 or hurricane season, i can generally get parts for very old units without issue.

A generac tech gets a different level of tech support than a homeowner thats for sure. I have had very obscure issues resolved over the phone many times.

I don't know if the guys I've used were specifically Generac techs, just independent companies that serviced generators. I do recall a couple instances of them getting quite the runaround from the company, ended up getting the info/parts they needed thru a Google search.

Sawyer Rob · Aug 26, 2020

Oaktree said:
I've never had a problem with propane, even in sub-zero temperatures. Diesel? Well we all know how diesel gets in cold weather.

I've never had a problem with propane, then again I lived in Alaska for a long time and I never had a problem with diesel either...

SR

grsthegreat · Aug 26, 2020

Oaktree said:
I don't know if the guys I've used were specifically Generac techs, just independent companies that serviced generators. I do recall a couple instances of them getting quite the runaround from the company, ended up getting the info/parts they needed thru a Google search.

it would be the same thing if a person called ford to get some questions answered about the transmission. they would refer you to a certified dealer. when you call Generac tech support they ask for tech number and dealer number. if you dont have these you are not sent to the smart tech people...believe me. when i call in i get real sound advice. i have had them check into all known issues that cause similar problems, and they give me a good place to start. if i ask, they will mail me the parts i need right then and there if its a warranty issue. if its after warranty, they transfer me to parts dealer and i can order thru them. i really have nothing bad to say about their warranty service. they will even pay me extra travel time if the job is out of my service area.

shooterdon · Aug 26, 2020

When I had the 13kw Generac installed this year, I also added a second 500 gallon propane tank to the one I owned. My cost to rent the second tank is $54/year which seemed like a better option than buying one. The second tank allows me to "stock up" when propane is cheap and gives me a lot more run time if there is a long outage. I never let the tanks drop below 50% as I live in a remote area.

BTW the 13kw uses 1.5 gal/hr at 50% load; so a 500 gal reserve will last almost two weeks if I do not "manage" it. If we expect long outage the unit will be cycled to conserve fuel. It can be stopped and started easily but not remotely. We heat primarily with wood so propane consumption is low even in the winter. A generator will use a lot more fuel than a furnace anyway.

I also have a portable back up generator if the whole house unit were to fail. Like being prepared.

Industrial Toys · Aug 26, 2020

Me too. Back ups for the backups for the back ups for the back ups, I like to say. Maybe at the end of the day, you can make a little tricity.

ctgoldwing · Aug 26, 2020

fwiw several years ago my son and I both bid on and got surplus government generators from FT Meade (MD). They are MEP-003A's rated 10kw and diesels. There are Youtube videos showing them supplying 14kw for continuous hours. There is an Onan air cooled diesel in them and they are loud. I found a new 400 amp manual transfer switch on ebay for $195 (shipped). We have a 400 amp service here and I did not want auto changeover.
The gensets came on brand new trailers. They had been completely reconditioned by the government, put on the trailer, stored in a warehouse and then auctioned off. Only our government! Mine had .75 hours on it.
I put it in our garage between the bays and use a pair of 20' SS hoses that come with the generators when used in a laundry trailer. I just stretch them outside the garage as I did not want to penetrate the wall and diesel exhaust might be less than clean.

With the recent storm we were without commercial power for 5 days. Ran this genset continuously with it powering our whole house including the AC. Having oil heat I had over 400 gallons of fuel available (I had installed a bottom valve on the tanks).

Just another option

Industrial Toys · Aug 26, 2020

Awesome sets for sure. I would worry about the very many odd bits and pieces to them, that you probably can't get from a local Kubota dealer. Or possibly anywhere for that matter. That is kind of a deal breaker for me. Or, even to look at the thing and not know for sure what exactly you are looking at.

Diggin It · Aug 26, 2020

cdaigle430 said:
Yeah I agree and I found this out after the fact, the only reason I went with the 16KW is because originally I was bought the 11KW. The sales guy told me for 300 dollars more why not go 16KW-I said sure why not

The 16 is $600 more than the 13. That's a lot of propane.

grsthegreat · Aug 26, 2020

Diggin It said:
The 16 is $600 more than the 13. That's a lot of propane.

First thing first. You need to know your connected load on the generator. A 13 kw that is running at Max output can burn alot more propane than a 16 running at 3/4 power...Or a 22 running at 1/2 power. But without knowing load necessary your only guessing. Maybe you only need an 11kw, or an 8 kw.

Diggin It · Aug 26, 2020

^^ Over the last 4 1/2 years, I've averaged 14.5 KwHrs a day if that tells you anything. I don't use a lot of juice.

Refrig/Freezer
Chest freezer, small
1K MickyWave
6K Window shaker
Furnace blower motor
Water heater
Garage door opener.
Few UPS battery backups
Couple of computers, printer, network hdwe, etc.
Mostly LED lighting.
Various power tools, 110VAC Compressors, etc.
Pond pump, small.

Obviously much of that is not continuous use and could be turned off if needed.

grsthegreat · Aug 26, 2020

Thats not alot, but you need a demand calculation. Generac has something online. It depends how many items are used at same time. How many electric appliances you have. A/C, electric heat, elect water heat, well? Etc.

John_Mc · Aug 26, 2020

coobie said:
One thing I learned the hard way is check the water every few months as the battery charger boils the water out of the battery.

Then you need a better battery charger

John_Mc · Aug 26, 2020

FYI: Briggs has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. That means they are seeking to reorganize and continue operations. An investment group has made an offer and is providing financing to continue operations until the court approves the deal.

coobie · Aug 27, 2020

John_Mc said:
Then you need a better battery charger

How so? Its the original charger built into the unit that came with it new..Tell me how to change that I am all ears

3Ts · Aug 27, 2020

grsthegreat said:
holy ****....i just got an email from Generac. they just opened up a new manufacturing plant to try and keep up with demand. but the wait times on generators is horrible. im sure glad im no longer installing them. on 13kw units its 90-130 days behind, on 16-20 kw its 130 dyays behind, on 22 kw its 90-130 day lag. how is a guy supposed to stay in business with this kind of lag time. i used to be able to order some generators and they would be at my place in about 7-10 days. if i ordered a 16 kw unit now i wouldnt see it until January next year. totally unacceptable. i picked a good year to retire

Unfortunately, they are not the only ones with a 90 day lead time. I went to by a freezer and 92 days is the wait time. In my area it is taking a while to get most things. It seems like the manufacturing is running at a limited capacity - maybe workers are under quarantine?