Generac Standby Generator

[gusherb]

Where I live our power is never out for long. We've had a lot of random outages caused by the fuse at the street blowing presumably because of an intermittent short in the underground wiring feeding a string of transformers in the neighborhood, it only seems to happen during fair weather when power use is low so that's just a wild guess. Our typical outage lasts 1-3 hours. PoCo usually responds within the hour. Longest we've been out is 24 hours when a tree limb fell on a line, took them awhile to get to it as there were far bigger issues in the area after a tornado had swept through.

With that said, a generator has never really been a priority here, though we do have a portable one. In some neighborhoods just a short ways south of me I see generators at almost every other house, so they must have a lot of issues with outages.

I did notice someone a few blocks from me on the same circuit from the sub station as us just had a Generac NG generator installed. They live on a swampy lot and have a basement so they probably wanted the piece of mind that their sump pumps will always have power.

 

[tolivac]

Despite the 40 yr old plus underground wiring in my neighborhood-the power has been very reliable.No need for me to get a genset.Sat morning had a partial power outage-one leg went out.Power co fixed it in less than an hour.Someday they are going to have to replace their old wiring.The water company replaced their old pipes last year.

 

[countryguy]

Just got a call from the electrician. The generator is in and will be installed on Wed.....yay!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Always have somewhere to put what will spoil!

Had one last month; pics & relating stories below: 

 

 

<span style="font-weight: normal; caret-color: #1d2129; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont,;">Right when the clothes washer was filling and I dumped the soap in it, the power went right out--from thinking I just blew a fuse, to the whole house becoming pitch black & me clamoring to get up & out of that dark basement, to seeing the whole neighborhood in darkness...</span>

 

<span style="font-weight: normal; caret-color: #1d2129; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont,;">SO, then, thanks to bringing everything that was highly perishable (dairy products, meat, milk & fish) over to my dad's (& he is in a much more power outage-prone area than we are) I saved everything; a little in his refrigerator, a LOT in his freezer!</span>

 

<span style="font-weight: normal; caret-color: #1d2129; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont,;">(Eating what was nearly-empty & couldn't fit in there)</span>

 

<span style="font-weight: normal; caret-color: #1d2129; color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont,;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, at last, I had awoken at SEVEN-A.M. to everything finally back on, so I tirelessly, had to run back to dada's to retrieve everything I had brought over hours before, & brought back home... (Funny what a difference an address can make: On my way ba</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ck from there, after dropping everything off, I saw one half of a block that didn't have its electricity, right next to to the lucky half that DID!) & too bad that Laura's school still lost its power, so there was no school for her today...</span></span></span>

 

 

 

<span style="font-family: -webkit-standard; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">-- Dave</span>

 

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I dont have a Generac

But I wouldnt be without my little Honda EB3000c generator. Its great to have when I need it. All I need to run is the Monitor Top, a few lights, and computer and charge phones.

 

[paulg]

How do you test them?

My in-laws had a Generac installed a year ago. Propane powered.
How do you test it (while you still have power) to ensure it is working?

 

[retro-man]

The ones that I have seen have a timer with an automatic testing startup. Usually once a week it will run for 20-30 minutes then it shuts down. The one that does our building at the beach starts on Monday morning at 8:30am till about 9:00 am.

Jon

 

[tolivac]

In my experiences with gensets at radio stations-you will need to exercise it under load.either a test load (big resistive dummy load) or the actual load the generator is supposed to power.We do this at the transmitter plant here.At the VOA Wash DC studio plant their genset exercised into the dummy load in the building parking lot.950Kw.That generator had a remote radiator that was cooled by a large electric fan-this cooled the load too-both built in one cabinet.Caterpillar.At other radio stations the genearots were exercised by timers that started them and ran them under the station load-usually transmitter sites on Sunday mornings-the times when fewer people were listening.One station didn't pay attention to the genset fuel level-it ran out while they were on the air-then went off!!!The commercial power failed.They had to make a call to a fuel truck to fill their tank.

 

[Chetlaham]

Gencrap

Electricians don't think highly of them (aka Genecrap), however they have improved a bit the last couple of years. Kohler, Onan, ect are what sparkies use on their own home.

Tolvic is right, test under load. Starting is a start, but testing under load makes sure the alternator side of things are working and it allows for the engine to warm up. Warming up is essential for diesels, forgiving on gas units- but still a good idea.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

No thanks

I just replaced the carb on a 4000 watt Generac last night. What an absolute turd they are. The new ones are even worse made in China. I'll spend the money and stay with Honda. Hell even Predator is a better generator than Generac.

 

[countryguy]

The Generac tests itself weekly on the day and time selected. It starts, runs for 5 minutes and then shuts down. If I want to test that it will supply electricity when the electricity goes out I just have to turn off the main switch on the electrical box that brings electricity into the house. After 30 seconds the generator will start and everything that the generator has been wired to run, should work.

Gary

 

[tolivac]

At both work and home the power is VERY reliable.For work the generator is used more for load management than emergency use.For at home a home genset is just not worth it to me.

 

[circlew]

The 60 KW diesel Kohler my aunt had at her previous home would start automatically every couple weeks, and would exercise under a partial load.

My neighbor down the street has a Winco 8 KW, and it exercises every week, but not under any load. I've told her it needs to be exercised under load every couple months, especially to make sure the transfer switch is working correctly. She's had trouble with that switch a couple times - it would stick in the middle position, so genset would run but no power, and none when utility power would return, either.

 

[fan-of-fans]

With Hurricane Ian on the way, have really been thinking about getting one of these. Every hurricane that crosses our path typically get 2 weeks with no power. After Irma in 2017 we were out four weeks.

I'm just dreading thinking about it. I don't even mind being without TV, internet, lights etc, it's just the AC being out. The hot humid weather with little to no breeze is almost unbearable with no AC for weeks. It seems like the older I get the worse it bothers me.

I am considering after we get into the winter season and hopefully demand for these drops looking into having one installed. Our next door neighbor just had one installed a few weeks ago. I didn't see the brand, but most around here are Generac.

Is there a substantial quality difference between them and Kohler, etc? I know a lot of our neighbors had them installed in 2004 so they're going on 20 years old and as far as I know they're still working. I think they were all Generacs.

Really just had enough of these power outages that last for weeks, and having to clean up a yard and going to work during these long outages just really adds to an already stressful time.

I just having trouble weighing if it's worth it. I mean like now we may only get one hurricane every 5 years but then like in 2004/05 we may get three in a row, which to me would make it worth its weight in gold.

 

[wayupnorth]

I had a Generac installed 3 years ago and never regretted it. Moments after power goes out, the Generac starts and power is back on. Mine runs on propane. You know when power is restored with a big snap from the Generac box. I feel it is good insurance and it has paid off for me.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Don't waste money and time on those old petroleum powered generators. You'll still be dependent on gas which, if supply is interrupted will mean you have no power in two ways.

The big new stuff is with Solar generators. It's basically a solar charge controller, inverters, several batteries, and a bank of various outlets all neatly packed into a convenient generator sized package with a handle.

And you can charge it either with typical home power, or simply plug solar panels into it and charge it for free.

It makes no or little noise so you can have it inside where it's safe.

And they are affordable and no installation is necessary. No gas piping to install. None of that garbage.
And at a fraction of the price. One could easily buy a couple of theses, the solar panels, and a window AC unit to use when the power goes, for much MUCH less than that old dangerous gas stuff.

You might like it so much you'll decide to continue using it even when/if the grid tied electric comes back on. Why? Because it's FREE electric.



https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/g37295464/best-solar-powered-generators/

 

[qsd-dan]

simply plug solar panels into it and charge it for free.

Generally not much light during a hurricane for recharging, even if one could make the solar panel(s) stationary enough not to fly away.

 

[bradfordwhite]

Hurricanes only last for about a day, then the sun comes out and it's beautiful again.

...well except for all the subdivisions and infrastructure that has been leveled but, whatever....

 

One can buy a standard 100 watt solar panel for about $100 these days.  Affordable.

I think I would have 5 panels on my roof or on a rack in my yard.

I would be taking them off as a storm is approaching and bring them in.

Very easy to uscrew and unplug them.

The generator is already indoors so one is all protected during the storm and can use the power in the batteries of the generator.

The next day, when it appears that all hope is lost, the power is out, an numerous subdivisions are now dust...

I'd simply re-install said panels as that sun will most likely be shining.

 

You can also now buy foldable solar panels.  Just unfold them, and plug them in. 

 

And remember, one doesn't need bright sun, especially in FLA, to still get solar charging.  The batteries in these generators last for days without ANY charging at all.

 

It's all these technology advancements AND reduced prices that makes solar so incredibly AWESOME!

 

 

 

 

[circlew]

My Aunt in Mississippi had a Kohler that runs on diesel - either 50 or 60 KW. She could use anything in her all-electric house, just as if the utility power was on. Fuel tank large enough for several days; used it for five days during Katrina. She did have to limit running air conditioning after a couple days to not run out of fuel. My cousin Shawn has an even larger diesel Kohler on his poultry farm. Kept all the birds alive during and after Katrina.

If I were purchasing one, I'd get one with an 1800 rpm liquid cooled engine, regardless of whether gas or diesel. These are industrial grade machines, and have better voltage and frequency regulation than 3600 rpm engines on the residential models. My neighbor down the street has a Winco 8 KW natural gas unit, and it doesn't have good voltage or frequency regulation, and has caused problems with their microwave oven, refrigerator, and florescent light ballasts.

In addition to Kohler, Cummins and Caterpillar are good brands. Generac is probably OK in the 1800 rpm models, but have heard the smaller units having issues.

 

[wayupnorth]

Brad, Solar wont work for me as I am surrounded by forest growth. I looked into it but it just wont work for me. I have just my house and my Generac keeps everything I need powered up and working fine. Next thing I want to put in is a heat pump as that will save on heating oil costs.