Standby Generator

[BAP]

I upgraded from a 330 gallon to a 500 gallon at the recommendation of my installer/dealer.

Thanks. Is it above ground or buried?

 

[jaydee325]

Above ground. The only LP loads besides the generator is a heater in my shop and the range top (dual fuel range). Everything else is electric.

Thanks. Is it above ground or buried?

 

[shooterdon]

These things cost a lot of money to run. At least when I ran the numbers 6 or so years ago.

When I have an outage, I run my portable for an hour and shut off for 6 Hours.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Friend says he read of Diesel shortages. Maybe time to top up the tanks?

Fuel dealer says he knows of nothing like that. Prices are stable.

I ordered clear and dyed. I asked him why quoted price on clear is higher than at the pumps. Next thing I know, he adjusted it! I should have asked that years ago!

 

[cdaigle430]

These things cost a lot of money to run. At least when I ran the numbers 6 or so years ago.

When I have an outage, I run my portable for an hour and shut off for 6 Hours.

I have a Generac Guardian 16kw home generator with a 200amp auto switch, no problems, on my 3rd year. Only costs is a yearly oil change and the natural gas used to exercise the generator twice a month. very happy with it-came with a 10 year warranty.

 

[newbury]

Interesting - - been out here in the pucker weeds 36+ years. I will get 1 or 2 announced outages a year. Local Co-Op utility upgrading their equipment - usually two hour outage. Otherwise its normal to go 6 to 8 even ten years with no outages. In all the years out here - one major outage and it lasted 27 hours.

Our Co-Op electric utility is recognized in the industry as one of the very best in the business and, also, with one of the lowest electric rates.

I spent my "allocated standby generator funds" on a new and bigger rear blade - thank you.

Where does one go to sign up for "allocated standby generator funds"? Does your Co-Op provide them?

/edit - forgot the smiley

 

[nikdfish]

What size propane tanks are you using for your standby generators in colder climates. Trying to figure what I would need.

We currently have 2 500 gallon tanks.

We already had a self-owned 500 gallon above ground tank when we installed the 22kw (LP furnace as backup for heat pump). Our practice had been to call for a tank fill prior to the heating season if we were down by 100+ gallons. After spending the first winter thinking about vapor generation at lower temps & the potential demands from both generator & furnace, the following spring I ended up buying a second 500 gallon tank that was paralleled to the original tank .

The additional tank offers more than double the volume - the additional surface area means the tanks can be drawn down lower before vapor generation becomes an issue, so where previously I could count on drawing down to the 20% point on the one, now both could maybe be drawn down to 10% which would increase the usable amount by about 50 gallons per tank (a guesstimate, but not unreasonable...).

I want to be sure to have enough to run the furnace + the generator even if we have a protracted ice event that not only knocks out power, but also would make getting a refill problematic.

BTW, we are also in the group who finds that outages suddenly become less frequent after installing an autostart system. We typically had two or more 6+ hour outages per year prior to the install, virtually none since ...

 

[WVBill]

Interesting - - been out here in the pucker weeds 36+ years. I will get 1 or 2 announced outages a year. Local Co-Op utility upgrading their equipment - usually two hour outage. Otherwise its normal to go 6 to 8 even ten years with no outages. In all the years out here - one major outage and it lasted 27 hours.
.

You guys out there on the East side of the state don't have any trees to fall onto power lines and cause outages!!! :laughing:

 

[coobie]

These things cost a lot of money to run. At least when I ran the numbers 6 or so years ago.

When I have an outage, I run my portable for an hour and shut off for 6 Hours.

Disagree,our 17kw ran for 4 days straight 24-7 figured we used 7%-10% LP during that time frame according to the gauge on my propane tank.Change the oil once a year(full synthetic)and top off the battery water,good to go..

 

[newbury]

Disagree,our 17kw ran for 4 days straight 24-7 figured we used 7%-10% LP during that time frame according to the gauge on my propane tank.Change the oil once a year(full synthetic)and top off the battery water,good to go..

C'mon - give us figures we can deal with - what's the size of your tank or tanks? Big difference between 1 250 gallon tank or twin 1,000's.