• Welcome back Guest!

    MARSH is a private reefing group. Comments and suggestions are encouraged, but please keep them positive and constructive. Negative threads, posts, or attacks will be removed from view and reviewed by the staff. Continually disruptive, argumentative, or flagrant rule breakers may be suspended or banned.

$2500 Whole house natural gas generator build list. (1 Viewer)

Users who are viewing this thread

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
Seriously .... I for see a DIY solar project coming and I wanna be apart of it. :rockon:
 
Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
871
Reaction score
361
Location
Tomball
you need to knock down the in rush current with a "hard start" kit for the AC. i found on amazon for 18 bux(open box)...it acts as an extra capacitor.

this was my biggest concern when testing.....once running, i put every other circuit on load then cycled the AC on and off....no issues.

Interesting. I'll have to look into adding one of these to my system.

I also saw that you linked the transfer switch from Electric Generators Direct. I was wondering if they were legit since their prices are so much lower than many other places. I was considering making my own transfer switch out of a smaller Square D 125A 8-10 space breaker box and linking it to the main box. Those minus the breakers are only $55 and use standard $5-10 breaker switches that can be purchased at any hardware store instead of the specialty ones like many transfer switches use.
 

foos

Supporting Member
Build Thread Contributor
Joined
Apr 25, 2018
Messages
505
Reaction score
644
Location
Katy, TX
Interesting. I'll have to look into adding one of these to my system.

I also saw that you linked the transfer switch from Electric Generators Direct. I was wondering if they were legit since their prices are so much lower than many other places. I was considering making my own transfer switch out of a smaller Square D 125A 8-10 space breaker box and linking it to the main box. Those minus the breakers are only $55 and use standard $5-10 breaker switches that can be purchased at any hardware store instead of the specialty ones like many transfer switches use.
Get a soft start instead of a hard start kit. Cost is higher but a hard start stresses the compressor and can result in a shorter life of the unit.
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
I'm gonna do a 10k-15k battery wall and add solar panels to keep them charged and then tri-fuel generator to power the batteries if we don't have enough sunlight, 55 gallon drum/25 gallons in gas cans of ethanol free gas from buckies in magnolia, 5 small propane tanks and a meter to run LNG(most expensive way, it'll be the third option,I've seen 1k dollar bills for one week!! ... this is about the only way you can truly stay off grid for weeks at a time if need be..... and I have that feeling it'll happen in the next year or two. If we get a big solar flare it's gonna knock out electronics for a while, especially satellites. Gas stations no workie either...
 

Cody

Vice President
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Content Moderator
Board Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2014
Messages
7,283
Reaction score
4,254
Location
Spring, TX
I'm gonna do a 10k-15k battery wall and add solar panels to keep them charged and then tri-fuel generator to power the batteries if we don't have enough sunlight, 55 gallon drum/25 gallons in gas cans of ethanol free gas from buckies in magnolia, 5 small propane tanks and a meter to run LNG(most expensive way, it'll be the third option,I've seen 1k dollar bills for one week!! ... this is about the only way you can truly stay off grid for weeks at a time if need be..... and I have that feeling it'll happen in the next year or two. If we get a big solar flare it's gonna knock out electronics for a while, especially satellites. Gas stations no workie either...
Yeah the nature part is the one that worries me. Key catastrophic events cause something like 90% of the damage. As these type of storms become more frequent and intense, you're going to need a way to rely less and less on the grid. I've got my plans in the works, but yours are OP, pls nerf haha
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
Yeah the nature part is the one that worries me. Key catastrophic events cause something like 90% of the damage. As these type of storms become more frequent and intense, you're going to need a way to rely less and less on the grid. I've got my plans in the works, but yours are OP, pls nerf haha
5g= the real tesla who.devoped it in 1894.. wireless energy... they can control everything, weather patterns, power, and.soon humans( u didn't get that vaccine did you) im not allowed cause of my surgeries. I test negative for antibodies and covid every week when they put in my IV.... never had a Flu shot in my life, never get flu or really sick for that matter either..
Coincidence?

If you see a black 18" tower on a telephone pole or its on its own pole its 5g. Chyna has full autonomy AI cities already.
 
Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
871
Reaction score
361
Location
Tomball
I'm gonna do a 10k-15k battery wall and add solar panels to keep them charged and then tri-fuel generator to power the batteries if we don't have enough sunlight, 55 gallon drum/25 gallons in gas cans of ethanol free gas from buckies in magnolia, 5 small propane tanks and a meter to run LNG(most expensive way, it'll be the third option,I've seen 1k dollar bills for one week!! ... this is about the only way you can truly stay off grid for weeks at a time if need be..... and I have that feeling it'll happen in the next year or two. If we get a big solar flare it's gonna knock out electronics for a while, especially satellites. Gas stations no workie either...

My dad wanted to do something similar and started building a solar panel array. The issues he ran into is the cost/watt production and area required. In order to adequately power say a 15Kw battery wall would require 1,200 square feet of space for the panels. That's around 50-55 300W panels needed and those buggers are 77" x 40" for each one. Another thing to remember is the weight, Each one of those panels are about 45 pounds not including the mounting hardware and cabling. A structural engineer would been to assess if your roof not only has enough useable surface area but can support an additional 2-3000 pounds on it.

If it were me, I'd skip the solar panels and put that into a larger tri-gas generator or perhaps say a 15Kw diesel generator and have the power wall serve as a whole house UPS until the generator kicks in. The benefits to diesel are they are very quiet if setup correctly, have a 10-20K hour life expectancy, significantly more fuel efficient at around 1.2 gallons consumed per hour at full load for a 15kw unit compared to 3.5 gal/hr for a gasoline unit. Most diesel generators have a 40-45 gallon tank so 15Kw unit can easily run for about 45 hours at full load before needing to be refueled. They can run on bio-fuels, not to mention off-road or farm use only fuels that is much cheaper per gallon, or even vegetable oil or kerosene in a pinch. Another thing to consider is stations that have it rarely run out of diesel even in severe weather events. Diesel fuel can be stored for 18-24 months without any stabilizer additives in it. The downside is a 15kw diesel generator is a little large and typically a stationary unit that requires installation by professionals. However a 15Kw diesel generator would be a lot less expensive than a solar setup that would only generate power when it's sunny.

Yeah the nature part is the one that worries me. Key catastrophic events cause something like 90% of the damage. As these type of storms become more frequent and intense, you're going to need a way to rely less and less on the grid. I've got my plans in the works, but yours are OP, pls nerf haha

Makes me wonder if solar panels would offer any protection to the grapefruit sized hail that pummeled TX and OK last week. :unsure:


imrs.jpg
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
871
Reaction score
361
Location
Tomball
Get a soft start instead of a hard start kit. Cost is higher but a hard start stresses the compressor and can result in a shorter life of the unit.
I had never heard of these before. After looking into it I'm amazed at how much of a difference they make and definitely worth the investment. Thanks for the suggestion.
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
I had never heard of these before. After looking into it I'm amazed at how much of a difference they make and definitely worth the investment. Thanks for the suggestion.
They will also reduce your energy bill and save your compressor motor
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
I had never heard of these before. After looking into it I'm amazed at how much of a difference they make and definitely worth the investment. Thanks for the suggestion.
Probably why tesla roof is 3x cost now.
 
OP
OP
R-BallJunkie

R-BallJunkie

Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2006
Messages
1,521
Reaction score
235
Location
Latitude N 8° 43' Longitude E 167° 44' , RMI
Interesting. I'll have to look into adding one of these to my system.

I also saw that you linked the transfer switch from Electric Generators Direct. I was wondering if they were legit since their prices are so much lower than many other places. I was considering making my own transfer switch out of a smaller Square D 125A 8-10 space breaker box and linking it to the main box. Those minus the breakers are only $55 and use standard $5-10 breaker switches that can be purchased at any hardware store instead of the specialty ones like many transfer switches use.
Yeah, they were pretty responsive...answered all my dumb questions, shipped relatively quickly. When i ordered, they let me know it would be a back order situation, had to wait. Overall good experience with them. If you think you are that handy and have an excellent knowledge of electricity go for it. This also has the plug cord, bottom connection and the power meter so you can balance the load out. I'm not that proficient so spending 400 bux on a outdoor rated, prewired, labeled, breakers included setup was a no brainer for me since im such a novice at electrical work.
 

Tenny

Supporting Member
Build Thread Contributor
Joined
Jul 18, 2018
Messages
755
Reaction score
588
Location
League City
Just ordered my generator. Pulsar 12,000w dual fuel. Still needs a conversion to NG, but at $909 shipped/taxed it was a good buy. Sadly ebay didn't recognize the no sales tax a few weeks back otherwise I would have bought it then to save a few bucks.

Need to order the NG stuff now. Slow movement, but I should have everything done by the time any storms rolls through.
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
Problem is with these cheap generators, don't expect years of use.... or even a few times....
 

BigRick

OG Reefer
Supporting Member
Member Spotlight Contest Winner
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
2,758
Reaction score
1,440
Location
Cypress- Bridgeland
If you run a NG generator for a week expect a 1000 bill.
 

Tenny

Supporting Member
Build Thread Contributor
Joined
Jul 18, 2018
Messages
755
Reaction score
588
Location
League City
put it in myself...wasn't that hard. had some leftover primer and yellow paint...its coated now. used pipe dope and a big wrench. i had to go with a 1" connection given the distance between my gas line and breaker panel was equidistant...about 50' to the midpoint. Of course cheaper if both are closer.
I was just questioning the 1" vs 3/4" based on one of the charts I am reading 20' is 3/4" and 30' is 1". My distance is less than 20' but still wondering if I should just go with a 1". Would going too big cause any issues?
 
Top