generator will be my FIRST purchase

[thirty5]

Just finished up my neighbors house. 7000w on gasoline. Whole house wired into transfer switch. Every circuit is powered. You may/may not need a large unit to power a house. But there is the common misconception. Unless it is a true "whole house" unit generators are meant as a support product not a full power reacement. And none of the portable generators are meant to run 24/7. Another common misconception.

Very true about how long they should run. This is why I was hung up on investing in the whole house or just a large portable.

I decided to go with the 8k/10k generator which will be fine to run my house. I will not be using my ovens but I will be able to use mostly everything that I need.

I am actually going to lowes to order the interlock kit for my panel to backfeed the panel. I am not going with your standard transfer switch, IMO not worth the extra money.

Then I just need to run a new gas line to where the generator will be and then the power lines and im done

 

[Stackbundles]

My fish were picked up by another MR member. They are in very good hands. I'm also getting updates on how they are doing. This is a great community of people.

 

[Stackbundles]

Jhart pm me too. Look forward to hearing from u.

 

[E.intheC]

As much as I hate to say it... Hurricane season is coming soon. Since we are about to close on our house (finally!!) I'm looking at generators. Let's keep the discussion going.

 

[E.intheC]

:lol2: ... A Hurricane isn't knocking on the door so we're not talking about it?

It's actually a tough decision. I'd love a Honda but it's difficult to justify the extra cost.

 

[Stackbundles]

Just get one. I have it and my investment for my 200 DD is secure for the most part. You will sleep easier at night.

 

[Nottick]

Get a few throw away 1000 watt generators from harbor freight. It'll work

 

[E.intheC]

Get a few throw away 1000 watt generators from harbor freight. It'll work

I heard that a few of the cheap generators were recalled for starting fires. This isn't something I want to cheap out on.

 

[E.intheC]

Has anyone used a Hyundai generator? They have a 2000 watt inverter model that's on sale (Amazon) for $537. It gets excellent reviews overall.

Here's a link: http://portablegeneratorguide.com/hyundai-hy2000si-review/

 

[Nottick]

I heard that a few of the cheap generators were recalled for starting fires. This isn't something I want to cheap out on.

Yikes... That wouldn't be good. I haven't heard that about them but good to know.

 

[ravi197699]

I agree with you on generator part after sandy i had to start all over again and i have bought genrac 5500 generator with tri fuel kit and bought one smaller generator that does 1800w that is for my tank only.

 

[BaaMNYC]

Yikes... That wouldn't be good. I haven't heard that about them but good to know.

They were a specific generator. I think champions. 4100 series sold at bjs or costco. I remember because I have a champion but a higher model and it wasn't part imot the recall

 

[JimmyR1rider]

It's not only the cheap ones that will go on fire. The best portable ones are just as likely to erupt into flames after prolonged run time. Keep in mind the way people are using them is exactly what they are NOT designed for. The reason they're in the tool section of lowes and Home Depot is that they're meant to power tools and such at construction job sites for 8 hours at a time, shut down, put away and started again the next day, not be under 70-100% load for 10+ days straight.

If you own a house standby generators are the way to go. You can get a 20KW generac for 4 grand with a 200 amp transfer switch.

They are unlike the portable ones made to run for prolonged times in ever of a power outage and you will not be reliant on gas stations. They run off natural gas and propane. I will never again buy a gasoline powered generator. I made the mistake of purchasing one after sandy and then the gas shortage went into full swing.

Ask KathyC where my generator wound up even though I was without power for 13 days in total. I leant it to her since she had gasoline and her generator was acting up. I just dealt with not having power.

Also the generacs come on their own composite base so there's no need to build a base or lay a concrete one.

People can say all they want about the rating goes down on any fuel other than gas but whether on propane or natural gas 20kw is more than sufficient unless you own a mansion that has a crazy amount of heavy power consuming energy hog appliances.

My cousins an electrician and the 20kw is what the company he works for has figured out to be the size that houses my size and a bit larger would be best having to leave them plenty of headroom so the generator isn't ever near full load. I have a 6400 square foot house altogether with central AC, a set of duo mount commercial fridge/freezer and a pool running.

I ran everything at full steam for the last month, including leaving lights on a lot of the time- more than I will ever do again to make sure their were no bugs to work out/get repaired and also to see what consumption would be and to get an idea of what the most I would ever pay in electricity for now. In that 27 day period my energy consumption was 2200kw. I'm also on a well, so if my power goes out I have no water. The portable I have now if I have an outage before the standby is installed will be used to power the pump in the well just during showers and to fill jugs I have but that's why in the next couple of months the 20kw will be installed. The gas in my house is propane and the house had a 500lb tank underground that gets filled 2-3 times a year.

 

[albano]

It's not only the cheap ones that will go on fire.

Just this week I received a recall notice on my 7500w Subaru gen. for possible gas leaks causing fires

 

[E.intheC]

Jimmy, thanks for the reply on that. Hopefully that type of generator will be within our means soon, but I don't think it is yet. We just closed on the house and bought a car (on the same day no less ).

When you mentioned the price quote for the generator at $4,000, was that including install?

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Jimmy, thanks for the reply on that. Hopefully that type of generator will be within our means soon, but I don't think it is yet. We just closed on the house and bought a car (on the same day no less ).

When you mentioned the price quote for the generator at $4,000, was that including install?

Not a problem Eric. Its a big nut but it's only a big nut once so like you I'm saving every penny I can to get stuff done. For me it's especially important due to the whole no water when powers out thing.

Congrats on the house Eric.

That doesn't include install but my cousin has told me how easy they are to install for a licensed electrician. It's not a huge deal.

Generatorsdirect.com has them also.