Generac Whole Hose Generator

[timberwolves]

hr3. The Honda generator will be too small in the near future ie: well pump & some other additions to our camp. Yes we already use propane and will be expanding our use of it. Propane refrig.
skyco. I got the generac from a friend of mine with the intention of using it at our camp.
Toboy. I will be installing a large tank which can be filled by a propane co. Our propane needs are for running a stove to cook on, a refrig, a few wall mounted heaters, lamps & the generator.
Do you think it is not a good idea to use this generator the way I plan to use it ?

 

[dcyrilc]

hr3. The Honda generator will be too small in the near future ie: well pump & some other additions to our camp. Yes we already use propane and will be expanding our use of it. Propane refrig.
skyco. I got the generac from a friend of mine with the intention of using it at our camp.
Toboy. I will be installing a large tank which can be filled by a propane co. Our propane needs are for running a stove to cook on, a refrig, a few wall mounted heaters, lamps & the generator.
Do you think it is not a good idea to use this generator the way I plan to use it ?

I believe that most whole house generators are set up to supply power when primary power is lost and use primary power to keep the battery charged. It shouldn't be too difficult to rewire the generator to charge the battery from the generator output, but changing it over for 'on demand' usage may be more difficult. I would recommend contacting Generac to see what would be involved to make a conversion. At the very least I suspect that the circuit board would need to be changed. It could be run manually when needed, but I would expect battery issues if left for extended periods of time without the battery being charged.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I was wondering if anyone has some advice for me. I have a remote camp that is off the grid no utility power. Our electrical needs are minimal, and we run our cabin off a Honda portable 3200 watt generator. I have obtained a Generac whole house back up generator from a friend. It is a 8KW 120 volt 66.6 amp propane unit with a 19 hp Briggs & Stratton motor. It does not have a transfer switch with it. This unit will have plenty of power for my needs. Double and then some. My questions are can this unit be wired directly to a electrical panel. What size propane tank will I need to supply this unit, the fuel consumption rate is 67 cubic ft. per hour at 100 % full load. Thank you John

Too bad your generator won't deliver 240 volts at 33 amps. That would allow you to power both sides of a standard 240v. house panel. 120 volts will only power half the panel, which greatly complicates the neutral ground and increases the risk of shock. Are you sure there isn't a 240v. twist lock receptacle on the generator panel? 120v. only generators are normally small portable rigs meant for camping. The largest 120v. only generator I have ever seen was about 2400 watts (20 amps).

I can't imagine wanting a noisy thing like that around camp. I did rig up a camp generator a few years ago from an extra lawnmower engine, a GM heavy duty alternator (internal voltage regulator), one or two deep cycle batteries, and a 2000 watt inverter. Mostly I just used the 12 volt power straight off the battery, but once in a while I would use AC. DXing off a battery in camp can be great, because you can get miles from the nearest electrical interference.

 

[tommu56]

Too bad your generator won't deliver 240 volts at 33 amps. That would allow you to power both sides of a standard 240v. house panel. 120 volts will only power half the panel, which greatly complicates the neutral ground and increases the risk of shock. Are you sure there isn't a 240v. twist lock receptacle on the generator panel? 120v. only generators are normally small portable rigs meant for camping. The largest 120v. only generator I have ever seen was about 2400 watts (20 amps).
.

I don't under stand you reasoning of hazard of shock with a 120v source
My cabin is wired 120v and neutral only you only have to use the correct wire size and jumper both sides of the 120/n/120v panel and provide the correct over current protection in front of it.

I usually use a main lug panel with the correct size wire with the generator beaker protecting it or a another breaker of the correct size in front of panel if there isn't a breaker on gen.

BTW most RV's are wired for 120v 30a or 50 amps

tom

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I don't under stand you reasoning of hazard of shock with a 120v source

The typical house wiring uses two 120v. circuits 180 degrees out of phase, so the return current on the neutral bus cancels. If you have a balanced load, there is no current on the neutral bus at all. The load is rarely balanced, but it is usually close enough that there is only a few amps on the neutral bus.

If you are running the full current on the neutral, like you do with a 120v. supply, you can generate substantial voltage on the neutral bus. Essentially, there is no such thing as a neutral bus, because every cycle of alternating current puts 60 volts on the neutral 60 times a second. Even establishing a system ground will not cure this, because a typical system ground will display up to 25 ohms resistance. Compared to a standard 240v. system, the shock and electrocution danger of a 120v. system is extreme.

 

[Toyboy]

Didn't think about the battery. The gen set has a trickle charger built in that keeps the battery up while not in use. Oher than that, it should take care of all your needs.

 

[tommu56]

The typical house wiring uses two 120v. circuits 180 degrees out of phase, so the return current on the neutral bus cancels. If you have a balanced load, there is no current on the neutral bus at all. The load is rarely balanced, but it is usually close enough that there is only a few amps on the neutral bus.

If you are running the full current on the neutral, like you do with a 120v. supply, you can generate substantial voltage on the neutral bus. Essentially, there is no such thing as a neutral bus, because every cycle of alternating current puts 60 volts on the neutral 60 times a second. Even establishing a system ground will not cure this, because a typical system ground will display up to 25 ohms resistance. Compared to a standard 240v. system, the shock and electrocution danger of a 120v. system is extreme.

I am sorry to the OP to take this thread off course

I don't under stand you reasoning / reference to full current/voltage
What would happen if it was partial current partial voltage?

The neutral should have no potential on it in reference to ground
eliminating a shock potential in a correctly wired and grounded system.

Any white wire coming back from a 120v receptacle would have the same current as the hot wire to the same receptacle
The only point that the opposing leg current would cancel is on the neutral buss in the panel it would still have current on it till that point.

 

[hawkeye08]

Didn't think about the battery. The gen set has a trickle charger built in that keeps the battery up while not in use. Oher than that, it should take care of all your needs.

You might consider a small solar battery charger to keep the battery charged while you are not running the generator.

 

[podagrower]

Solar battery charger is a great idea. nothing worse than spending hours on the road, getting to camp, and finding a dead battery.

I'm sure there is a different rating on this unit for prime vs. standby use, but 8KW is a lot of power for camping.

Like Tommu said, just wire it up to a panel like a regular service. I would use a main lug panel (a 60 amp main breaker panel would be very hard to find), and land the wires on a 60 amp breaker to "back feed" the panel (main breaker retaining kit, ground rods, proper wire size, etc)

 

[tommu56]

You might consider a small solar battery charger to keep the battery charged while you are not running the generator.

I used a $29 hf solar battery charger in the picture window to keep the generator battery charged for years and a second one on the trolling battery for the radio (cabin is off grid)