hr3
Veteran Member
.
Oooo and the transfer switch goes after the meter not in front of the meter...
Back-up Generators
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Oooo and the transfer switch goes after the meter not in front of the meter...
hr3
Veteran Member
On your split panel do you only put load enough to not overload the gen set.. ?? 10kw gen.. you only load to 8kw in your panel.. Just trying to understand not hounding you,,
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Your not hounding me at all. The panel i install allows up to 125 amps on the generator portion of the panel. I simply place up to the generators rating worth of circuits (actual tested load) and leave the rest on the non-generator portion of the panel. Then anyone can change circuits as needed within the panel, and not have to re-fed a separate gen panel later on.
I try and do the install the cheapest LEGAL way. I guess some other people just want to do it the cheapest way. I have tried to just install the transfer switch in the past, and the inspector made me install a separate generator panel rated for the generator. Now if the geherator IS large enuf, i will simply install the transfer switch.
hr3
Veteran Member
Local or state inspector.??. If a transfer switch is rated for 100a say and the generator has a breaker rated for 50a. What reason would the inspector give for not installing it.. ??
Ooo the Generac 200a tranfer switch has a load shedding feature for ac/heat pumps units and hot tubs,, so no worry about overloading gen set,,
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Local or state inspector.??. If a transfer switch is rated for 100a say and the generator has a breaker rated for 50a. What reason would the inspector give for not installing it.. ??
Ooo the Generac 200a transfer switch has a load shedding feature for ac/heat pumps units and hot tubs,, so no worry about overloading gen set,,
Idaho has state inspectors. They just insist that a separately derived power source be sized according to the demand. Even though it may be circuit protected, its not able to work properly if it trips from overload. Its just what were required to do up here. They wont even ALLOW an automatic transfer switch to be used if the person is planning on using a portable generator. It HAS to be pad mounted and hooked up to a ready source of fuel.
dstig1
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This is the part I don't follow. Most of the "HD Specials" come with a prewired transfer switch, to my knowledge. You pull the wires from the breakers in the main panel and tap into them with the prewired bundle from the Xfer switch. Like this:
Generac Power Systems -EZ Switch
I can't see how that is 6 hrs of work whereas pulling everything out of the old panel and moving it into a new panel is 1-2 hrs. Cleaner install - sure, but not appreciably faster, best I can tell.
I thoroughly agree with your point about needing a big enough gen to do the whole house Xfer. While one of us persnickety people like myself could manage it just fine with an underrated generator by managing the load manually, when you are installing professionally, you can't count on that. Nor can you count on any future owners to be that way. Besides, it's just good practice to do it right.
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
You either have to have a generator big enough to power everything, a split panel for the backed up loads or seperate panel. Under the newer NEMA the Load Shedding also qualifies and that is why you see the new 200 amp supply side transfer switch with load shedding relays.
Put in 20KW Generac with 500 gal tank (holds 400Gal propane) last year. Need 330,000 BTU hour so at 0 degrees 325 gallon tank is needed. Also the 20KW Generac burns over 3 gallons an hour fuill load so to get seveal weeks you need to size bigger or turn off when not needed.
David Kb7uns
Put in 20KW Generac with 500 gal tank (holds 400Gal propane) last year. Need 330,000 BTU hour so at 0 degrees 325 gallon tank is needed. Also the 20KW Generac burns over 3 gallons an hour fuill load so to get seveal weeks you need to size bigger or turn off when not needed.
David Kb7uns
kiotiken
Veteran Member
I've had a 16KW Generac running propane for about 4 years now. No problems at all other than a dead batt. this spring. I live in Ottawa and we'll dip into the -35 C (-31 F) range when we're lucky. That's when you can have issues with it starting. I don't have a heater and it's only failed to come on for one of its "exercise" runs once that I know of (it tries 3 times and then quits). If I had a heater, I'm sure it would never be an issue.
Propane is better than gas because it doesn't go stale and it burns cleaner which translates into less maintenance (oil is changed once a year). You also don稚 have to stop it every couple hrs to fill it up again. You can keep a much larger amount of propane on hand than gas. I can run for 2+ weeks at full load, 24hrs a day, with my tank.
It "exercises" automatically once a week for 14 min. That translates into over 12hrs a year + outages, so it does use up a fair amount of propane a year. The benefit of exercising is that it starts when it needs to start. A big advantage over a portable gas generator or a PTO driven generator, is it doesn't matter if you're home or not, it will come on and prevent your basement from flooding, your fridge from spoiling etc. You also have full power restored in less than a minute with no effort vs going out the shed, setting up a generator and praying it starts.
My recommendation if you go for this generator is to buy a whole house transfer switch instead of using the supplied transfer switch that limits the number of circuits that can be backed up. If you turn you electric stove on, do a load of laundry in your electric dryer, crank up the A/C and turn on all your lights while watching your big screen T.V, you'll be in trouble, but if you're sensible about what you use when the powers out, it's a much better option.
Propane is better than gas because it doesn't go stale and it burns cleaner which translates into less maintenance (oil is changed once a year). You also don稚 have to stop it every couple hrs to fill it up again. You can keep a much larger amount of propane on hand than gas. I can run for 2+ weeks at full load, 24hrs a day, with my tank.
It "exercises" automatically once a week for 14 min. That translates into over 12hrs a year + outages, so it does use up a fair amount of propane a year. The benefit of exercising is that it starts when it needs to start. A big advantage over a portable gas generator or a PTO driven generator, is it doesn't matter if you're home or not, it will come on and prevent your basement from flooding, your fridge from spoiling etc. You also have full power restored in less than a minute with no effort vs going out the shed, setting up a generator and praying it starts.
My recommendation if you go for this generator is to buy a whole house transfer switch instead of using the supplied transfer switch that limits the number of circuits that can be backed up. If you turn you electric stove on, do a load of laundry in your electric dryer, crank up the A/C and turn on all your lights while watching your big screen T.V, you'll be in trouble, but if you're sensible about what you use when the powers out, it's a much better option.
RalphVa
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I've heard that a lot of people have had troubles with Generac.
Ralph
Ralph
kiotiken
Veteran Member
Like I say, over 4 years and no issues at all. My brother in law has had his for probably 6+ years (12KW, also propane) with no problems. His has a fair bit of rust, mine looks like the day I bought it, so they might have made some improvements.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
My Onan doesn't have an exercise cycle, and those are good to have. I have to manually start mine a few times a year to make sure its up and running (other than the times i use it during power issues). I do have a battery trickle charger attached to it and a oil pan heater thats thermostatically controlled. Its a propane system thats hooked up to my 500 gallon tank with the rest of the house.
One thing i do is change the oil every fall whether its used or not. It only takes about 2-1/2 quarts so its cheap insurance. I just did maint on mine last saturday....and all is running fine. Ive had mine for 16 years, and has never failed to operate properly.
I have installed alot of generac units over the years, but i have no idea as to how long they survive. I believe that Guardian series of generac units are the higher end of their lines, and again i do not know if there actually any different. I just installed a Kohler 100 amp unit on a job and that was a NICE unit......very well built and easy to operate. Quiet running also for its size.
One thing i do is change the oil every fall whether its used or not. It only takes about 2-1/2 quarts so its cheap insurance. I just did maint on mine last saturday....and all is running fine. Ive had mine for 16 years, and has never failed to operate properly.
I have installed alot of generac units over the years, but i have no idea as to how long they survive. I believe that Guardian series of generac units are the higher end of their lines, and again i do not know if there actually any different. I just installed a Kohler 100 amp unit on a job and that was a NICE unit......very well built and easy to operate. Quiet running also for its size.
kennyd
Advertiser
I have the older (5 years or so) 15kw running on LP, I added a hour meter when I installed it and this morning it read 230 hours...it been running this time since Sunday at 12:45 AM. Never had one second of trouble with it.
I installed the 6kw model at my aunt's house at the same time and hers is still running strong also.
hr3
Veteran Member
Your bound to they are 80% of the market on residential generators..
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Back in 1996, North idaho experienced an ice storm that knocked some people out of power for pver 30 days. Generator sales went thru the roof. We having had an ice storm since then, and alot of those same generators have probibly never even been turned over and run. If there ever is a call for them again, they may not even start. Also, a few years after the ice storm..the nickles worth was full of generator for sale adds hehe
ultrarunner
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It was standard practice to run all emergency back-up Hospital Generators for one hour a week... including a cool down cycle... so 52 hours a year just in readiness testing.
About 5 years ago, we were required to register all stationary Diesel Powered Equipment and the license only permits 20 hours per year of non-emergency use...
So now it is 45 minutes every two weeks...
Local Hospital Administrators tried to get exemptions and it was a no-go...
We do use less fuel, but it stays in the tank longer...
I think the annual permit fee for a typical 125 kw unit is about $400 for the air district and another $250 for the integral above ground double containment fuel tank.
Dog Lover
Silver Member
I have had the Generac LP 12KW for 6-7yrs. No problems whatsoever. I had a battery die after 5 yrs..cost $50 to replace.
I change oil each year, using Mobil One synthetic, changed spark plugs once, otherwise no problems ever...Always works when you need it...
Best house accessory I ever bought...Every house should have one. Sits right next to the Air Cond unit.
Practices once a week for 13 min.
I change oil each year, using Mobil One synthetic, changed spark plugs once, otherwise no problems ever...Always works when you need it...
Best house accessory I ever bought...Every house should have one. Sits right next to the Air Cond unit.
Practices once a week for 13 min.
