Generator Selection?

[BrokenTrack]

over 30 years ago i rewired my sisters house in calif. had a 50 amp service with 6 screw in fuses... those were the days.

I have a house that was built in 1930 before electricity came through here. When it did finally arrive it had 60 amp service and only 6 outlet boxes. (4) were downstairs and (2) were upstairs.

The rest of the power went to the 50,000 bird chicken barn.

It has been upgraded now, but it still is a house that does not really work. I think I am going to gut it and build a kit home.

Edited to say: I have several houses, so this is not my primary home. Maybe one day one of my daughters will make a new home at the same site).

 

[TMGT]

yours has a charger module actually inside the transfer switch. Generac does offer an upgraded charger, its 2.5 amp. However i will have to call them monday and see if its a true trickle charger. Your older style charger is long known to overcharge a battery.

Would you be able to check mine also? It's already killed 1 battery in what seemed like a short time, guessing I have the same charger in the transfer switch.
Model: 0060531 Serial: 7324451

Thanks

 

[grsthegreat]

Would you be able to check mine also? It's already killed 1 battery in what seemed like a short time, guessing I have the same charger in the transfer switch.
Model: 0060531 Serial: 7324451

Thanks

you have a different generator system. Yours has the nexus controller, and charger is part of the controller. The only thing you could do is install a new controller which is not cheap. I have seen very few of the nexus units overcharge batteries. Do you have a battery warmer attached?

 

[TMGT]

you have a different generator system. Yours has the nexus controller, and charger is part of the controller. The only thing you could do is install a new controller which is not cheap. I have seen very few of the nexus units overcharge batteries. Do you have a battery warmer attached?

Nope, no warmer, the first battery might have just been bad. Good to know, I won't worry about it unless I have another early batt death.

I bought the gen used from a Generac dealer, it was installed but never used/activated.
Someone had started the install and when the dealer was called in to hook it up they saw that it was way undersized so it was taken out. Got it for a pretty good price with full warranty. But I wasn't sure how old it is since it was "used".

My dad did not have a great experience with his older 12kw Generac, catastrophic engine failure from an internal baffle coming lose and getting caught between the crank and cam gears. Now he just has a large propane portable he hooks up to the transfer switch.

 

[grsthegreat]

Weird. Its an older generator, probibly from around 2012, but not shown to be installed intil 2016.

 

[TMGT]

Weird. Its an older generator, probibly from around 2012, but not shown to be installed intil 2016.

Yup, I bought it in early 2014 and didn't get around until installing it fully until 2016. I figured it was a year or 2 old when I bought it from the installer.

 

[Diggin It]

Does the whip with the sensor and control wires to the transfer switch come with the genset or is that all field supplied? If field supplied, what do I need, Sealtight and THHN?

 

[grsthegreat]

Does the whip with the sensor and control wires to the transfer switch come with the genset or is that all field supplied? If field supplied, what do I need, Sealtight and THHN?

Some switches used to come with a 30 foot whip, but im pretty sure thats all a thing of the past. They sell a 10 conductor composite wire by the foot, 4 power transmission wires and 6 control wires. It all depends on the size of generator and distance between generator and transfer switch. Can also just use thhn individual wires in conduit.

 

[Diggin It]

They sell a 10 conductor composite wire by the foot, 4 power transmission wires and 6 control wires.

2AWG for the power? Control wires color coded the way they call out? And what, 12AWG or 14? I probably won't need more than 15', maybe 20', so curious how that prices out.

 

[Diggin It]

$6/ft or more from places that ship it. Hopefully I can find it for less at the local dealer. Schnazzy orange color must cost. Just like tractors.