Generator Selection?

Diggin It · Aug 24, 2020

I'm looking at whole house standby generators. I might be able to get by with less, but I'm zeroing in on 10K versions. I'm not sure 12-15K units will be worth the extra money for my use.

I see Kohler, Briggs, Generac and Champion all in the $3K - $3.5K range. Also couple of Tranes, but they seem to run higher.

I like the smaller foot print of the Briggs models, only about 28 x 24 where the Generacs are 48" long. Briggs isn't the name it used to be though and there don't seem to be many in stock for some reason. I don't need it right now, so I can wait some to see what happens, if anybody knows.

One key question I have that I can't seem to find an answer to. I want the entire load transferred. I don't want to pick circuits and rewire a bunch of stuff. Many of the transfer switches specify 12 or 16 circuits, but they don't say if those are the ONLY backed up circuits or if the downstream load panels are also switched. Anybody know?

Other than that, how do we feel about the brands mentioned?

LouNY · Aug 24, 2020

Are you looking at the auto start and transfer type or manual transfer switchs,
either way you will need a whole house transfer switch to do what you want, it will switch the entire load from utility to generator.
And you will have to decide which circuits to turn off in your main panel so as to not overload your generator.

Industrial Toys · Aug 24, 2020

Ex GFs mother had a Briggs Propane SCREAMER Unit installed. Failed first time out. Overspeeed, and shutdown. All of it just computerized garbage, if you want my opinion. Gotta love diagnostic systems that pretty much all end with "Call Your Dealer" just what you don't want to hear in the middle of an ice storm.

I typically run a 7.5 slow running Diesel into a 200 amp ASCO switch. I manage my loads.

Diggin It · Aug 24, 2020

^^ OK, can this Generac 100A Automatic Transfer switch be used as a manual transfer switch until I can work out the genset purchase?

RXWSW100A3

Industrial Toys · Aug 24, 2020

Not saying all Generac TS are junk, but the one (100 amp) I installed as a favour for a customer at his cottage sure was. Storms downed lines and lost a phase. So a brown out, not an outage. Switch destroyed itself.

Just when you need this equipment, it fails. Thats FALSE economy if I ever saw it.

grsthegreat · Aug 24, 2020

Industrial Toys said:
Not saying all Generac TS are junk, but the one (100 amp) I installed as a favour for a customer at his cottage sure was. Storms downed lines and lost a phase. So a brown out, not an outage. Switch destroyed itself.

Just when you need this equipment, it fails. Thats FALSE economy if I ever saw it.

That can happen. Thats why i installed a brown out kit on mine. I also think they should be standard equipment. Mind you, its not destroyed. Just need to replace coil.

Industrial Toys · Aug 25, 2020

The only thing (I Think) worse than not having a generator is having one that doesn't work when you need it.. I have seen the cheap ones as well as $100K+ modern sophisticated sets fail to perform when required.

If you have no mechanical or electrical experience, or maybe have physical issues, well you are at the mercy of what this industry is offering you.

If you can repair a thing or two, then I would strongly suggest something you can troubleshoot and work on. Not just a computerized display telling you, you need to contact your dealer.

grsthegreat · Aug 25, 2020

Cant agree more. But everything is complicated. Just today my Dodge ram decided it wont run forward more than 10 seconds before fail safeing into neutral. After a harrowing 2 mile an hour drive to the service man i use, i was a nervous wreck. Im just waiting to hear about a $4,000 transmission needed....

Diggin It · Aug 25, 2020

A coil is a coil is a coil. I don't think any of the generator companies make their own. But yeah, electronic controls that are supposed to work after an outage are susceptible to the same lightning that could cause other problems.

Thing with the Generac switch mentioned is that it can be switch manually 'when power is off', so even if the coil fails, the switch to move the contacts should work.

Generac is also running a promo to add 5 years to their 5 year warranty if you buy from certain vendors. You get a promo code to activate the other 5 years.

If I work it out in the right sequence, I get the extra 10% off from Lowes, plus a $200 or more bonus for opening a new CC and 15 months no interest on that new card. I don't really want another CC, but it's sounding mighty tempting. The 'no interest' alone would save another couple of hundred.

I just wish the Generac had the smaller footprint.

RalphVa · Aug 25, 2020

Went with Gentron transfer switch built into a new 200 amp box. Swapped circuit breakers around between 2 boxes, each about 200 amp, to have all the generator supported ones in the transfer switch box. Gentron has about 6 circuits that aren't allowed to come on unless there is room in the 12.5k generator. Went with a Maine Isuzu diesel. It's a gem. Uses about 0.25 gph of diesel fuel and does not sound like a diesel.

Ralph