Generator feed back

[atgreene]

Just checked centralmainediesel.com (great site for generators btw).

8k auto propane is $2075

17K auto propane is $3695

Hook-up of a switch is the same. For my money, I'm going to buy the one that won't be working as hard to do the whole house with no question, but that's just me. When it's 20 below I don't want to find out that the genny is a little too small to do what I want, and besides, if you can sit in your hottub and look through the woods at your neighbors dark cold house, ain't it worth the extra.

 

[Doc_Bob]

8k auto propane is $2075

17K auto propane is $3695

Hook-up of a switch is the same. For my money, I'm going to buy the one that won't be working as hard to do the whole house with no question, but that's just me.

I wonder what the fuel use is when you compare the 8K vs the 17K?
Bob

 

[atgreene]

I'm willing to bet they're not far apart, a motor working at full load is going to burn a lot in comparison to one not working as hard. Obviously a larger one burns more, but all things being equal, you're working the snot out of the little one so it's governor is dumping the fuel to it.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Just checked centralmainediesel.com (great site for generators btw).

Some nice prices. Make me wonder if the gen set are a problem with such low prices?
Bob

 

[atgreene]

How do you mean?

I've bought a few genny's from them for the FD. Great running rigs, no issues.

 

[BubbaJr]

We currently have a 12KW Coleman whole house generator with a Honda 28 hp engine running on propane. We had an 11KW Tradewinds unit with a B&S 26 hp engine. We had nothing but trouble from day one with that unit. 95% of the problems were related to the engine, the other 5% to the auto transfer switch. Tradewinds was just a few miles from us at that point and they did all the service under warranty, but they were here on average twice a month for a over a year. I finally got fed up with the B&S engine and they upgraded me with the new unit and a new auto transfer switch for under a $1000.

The B&S engine would fail to start, run erratic when it would run, and at the end it was making funny noises internally. The Honda engine has not given us one moments worth of trouble.

We were without power for a week after an ice storm in 05. One thing I did to conserve fuel, was to get up at 6:00 and start the engine, run it until noon, and stop it. Then repeat the cycle at 6:00 in the evening. We have a geothermal unit that takes a lot of juice, so it wasn't put in the panel with the other necessities. But we did have the well pump, water heater, water softener, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, garage door openers, plenty of lights, and various other things I can't think of at the moment. For backup heat we have a wood burning fireplace and 18ac. of woods, so that was a no-brainer.

As far as the auto transfer switch, make sure it is professionally installed by a qualified electrician unless you are self insured. You have to remember if you back feed the power line outside you aren't charging the line with 120 or 240, once it get's past the transformer it will step up the voltage to whatever was coming into the transformer before the outage. You won't have as much amperage there, but it's enough to fry a lineman, and your insurance company will hang you out to dry if you installed it yourself.

Good Luck,
Joe

 

[Doc_Bob]

How do you mean?

I've bought a few genny's from them for the FD. Great running rigs, no issues.

Parts and service on the gen set is what I mean.
Bob

 

[atgreene]

Never needed service, so I can't answer direct. I'm sure the commercial stuff (Honda, B&S etc...) they're going to say to see your local dealer. Not sure on the rest.

 

[ragkar]

I have to agree with the guys that suggest that 15KW may be too big. But do you need an all-house auto switch system? The fuel problem is a serious one.
Why don't you go here
How to Pick the Perfect Standby Generator - Standby Generator Advice from ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com
and figure out what you need.
I bought a 6200W B&S from them and I use it, through a manual switch that was wired by an electrician, to power water pump, sump pump, septic tank pump, furnace, most of the kitchen except the range and oven, entertainment center, one bedroom and of course the computer center.
My generator runs 17.5hrs on seven gallons and I have a 22 gallon reserve.

 

[Tdog]

Well, I have a 15kw Generac with a 200 amp transfer switch. I had it installed in February 2006 - - It took a month without power in 100 degree heat after Katrina to convince me to spring for a whole house generator. It is propane powered - - I had to have a tank installed as well. I ran a 5500w portable almost around the clock during the Katrina power outage. I was glad to have the power it provided - - but, I had to juggle circuits to run the water heater & well pump separately. No central AC. I swore, never again. That month was a bitter lesson.

I've been mostly pleased with the generac. It served me best last week when we lost power with that 7-8" dusting of snow that took out our power for 36 hours. During that time, the temps were mostly in the 30's. I was able to run one of my heat pumps & had hot water at will. I was in much better shape than my neighbors who were running portables. [I had invited them all over, but they refused - - two told me later that was a mistake, that they spent miserable nights].

My 15kw generator is definitely NOT overkill. I figure you don't need it that often, but when you do, it's either freezing or hotter than hades & you need power to run heat/AC units. I'm not sure yet what it costs me to run it. Whatever, running a 10hp portable round the clock is NOT inexpensive. Just keeping enough gasoline on hand was a major hassle.

I understand that Generac now makes a 20kw air cooled unit - - I have no idea of the cost.

Jack