Generator Selection?

[Diggin It]

ATS is in. Geeze what a cluster. ATS part was fine. Pretty straight forward. Everything else ... well ....

For starters the fancy schmancy 2/0 I bought is now scrap. $50 or so wasted. It was too large to fit into any of the breaker lugs, so after I had it all cut and run through the conduit, I couldn't make any of the connections with it. Had to pull it all out and try to re-use the old 2/0 I had. Combined with the one piece of #2 THHN, I got everything reconnected and energized, but it won't be able to stay this way. It will have to be re-done once I figure out what I need to do. Buy more #2 THHN I guess.

Unhappy? You betcha.

 

[RoyKing]

What is schmancy 2/0? Copper wire? If too big for lugs just cut some strands off. Why did you buy such big wire for 100 amp service?

 

[3Ts]

Why not use a different size lug to attach the wire? Such as this one that handles #6 thru 250 mcm. There are different sizes including ones that will accept multiple wires.

Morris 9 Lug Mechanical Connector Type 1 Conductor aluminum One Hole Mount Holes 25MCM-Number-6 AWG Wire Range: Audio Video Cables And Connectors: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

 

[grsthegreat]

Honestly, a 100 amp switch is not designed to handle 2/0 wire. That sized wire is way oversized for a 100 amp system.

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ See, that's the problem I've been running into that no one seems to get. I have 2/0 installed and have since 1998 when I did this panel and meter upgrade from 60 to 100A. It all worked well and fit into the conduit and breaker lugs with no problem. Sometime since then, they changed the specs for 2/0. It's now much larger diameter and has 19 finer strands instead of the 7 heavier strands I have in the older wire. The stuff you get now is probably 30% larger diameter and will no longer fit where my older 2/0 would.

 

[RoyKing]

They have not change the spec's post some pics, somebody sold you the wrong wire

 

[ultrarunner]

Within the same gauge of wire I have found variation between stranded and solid and also the thickness of the insulation depending on what comprised it.

I still have 12 gauge in Knob and Tube with loom... so there are variations over time as materials improve.

 

[grsthegreat]

That is weird. I have tied new 2/0 into real old 2/0 and have never noticed any differences. nowdays, the outside insulation is thinner due to advances in insulation, but wire size has never changed. Not sure whats happening on your end.

 

[ultrarunner]

Is there more variations between solid and stranded as number of strands...

There is stranded and there is stranded... one is a bundle of smaller gauge and another a bundle of very small gauge to increase flexibility...

Just guessing here.

 

[RoyKing]

We need pics, I'm sure the labeling on the wire will clear this up.

 

[Diggin It]

I don't know if my camera will pick up the detail of the labeling ... I'll try later. On the old, it's embossed into the sheath and on the new, it's a fine dot matrix print. The only difference if it matters is that the old 2/0 is RHH/RHW and is a matte black, while the new is THHN and a shiny black.

 

[LouNY]

The conductors on 2/0 are the same diameter.
It doesn't matter if it's copper or aluminum or what the jacket material is the conductor is the same, 0.3648 of an inch.
The number of strands will vary immensely depended on the type of wire,
THHN, THWN, TWN, XHHW, MTW, plus several other and of course all the different Service Entrance cables.
Then I have always liked to use 600 Volt rated welding cable encased in seal tite for my generator leads to the first permanent box.

 

[RoyKing]

There is the rub, we agree 2/0, 00, should be the same but Diggin says one is much bigger, which leaves us confused.

 

[Diggin It]

Seems to be getting worse instead of better. If I look at the box store websites now, I see expected delivery dates in March. That's more like 16-20 weeks instead of the 8-12 stated earlier.

Local certified dealer has not replied to my pricing inquiries either.

 

[grsthegreat]

Seems to be getting worse instead of better. If I look at the box store websites now, I see expected delivery dates in March. That's more like 16-20 weeks instead of the 8-12 stated earlier.

Local certified dealer has not replied to my pricing inquiries either.

no one will quote you prices right now. i have been informed that Generac will be increasing prices soon. for parts and for generators. so is Kohler and the rest. supply and demand. that, and the difficulties on getting parts to build the generators. also, Generac has told me that if i order today, dont expect deliveries until March or later. thats just how it is. if theres another shutdown...add some more weeks.

i was expecting delivery of a special transfer switch last sept. then it got bumped to Nov 11th. still hasn shipped. they have no idea when it will ship. i ordered 6 load shed modules 2 months ago. still has not shipped.


most installers i know are not even making appointments to sell generators right now.

 

[Diggin It]

Considering placing an order for a 16 through the Blue Box Store. They don't apply the charge until shipment, so that should give me until March. Not sure if that will hold the price or not.

Then they do six months, no interest, so that would give me time to arrange other payment terms through a another source.

 

[3Ts]

Considering placing an order for a 16 through the Blue Box Store. They don't apply the charge until shipment, so that should give me until March. Not sure if that will hold the price or not.

Then they do six months, no interest, so that would give me time to arrange other payment terms through a another source.

Are you sure? The Blue Box store charged my card as soon as we ordered even though shipment was 3 months out. It was a chest freezer not a generator so maybe different policy?

 

[Diggin It]

That's the stated policy on their site and that's what they did with the transfer switch .... waited until shipment 8 weeks after placing the order.

They do an authorization which reduces your available credit, but they don't apply the charge. This was on their in house card, so ...

 

[Diggin It]

Placed the order today, so I guess we'll see. I should have close to three months to think and rethink this.

I need to try and power the house with my portable 7250W through the new transfer switch and see what happens.

 

[Diggin It]

That order was placed under their 6 month no interest 'same as cash' program that's always available. A few days later, they offered a spacial promo of 24 months no interest 'same as cash'. Under both programs as long as you pay a minimum every month and pay it off before the end of the term, you pay no interest. If you don't, you get back charged the full interest rate from the date of purchase.

There was no option to convert from the 6 month to the 24 month, so I had to cancel and re-purchase. Not really an issue given the extended delivery date.