How timely is this generac (1 Viewer)

[TriggerFan]

Of my 35 years In this area the longest I’ve been without power was 5 days. That was during Katrina. A portable generator got us through mostly using during the evening and night. Our neighbor had nothing so we ran a cord over just to run a fan and his fridge. After power was restored he came over and gave us some gas money and said, “man you saved our bacon!” I said, “literally!”

the generacs are nice but I think a budget option will be to add a sub panel with manual transfer switch to a portable $5-700 generator ti power the tank, fridge, fans, and a window unit or two. The. Have a dog-house sized cover for the genny that will keep the elements off of it and still allow it to breathe and exhaust safely. Total cost under $2k.

Any reefer is a licensed electrician? I would like to add the sub-panel with transfer switch.

 

[reeftopia]

There real glory is they come on while you are gone.

 

[gregg]

Any reefer is a licensed electrician? I would like to add the sub-panel with transfer switch.

My electrician came out and added a plug to plug my generator into the fuse box, he ran a line to my garage so I could keep the generator in there. I flip 2 breakers and fire up the generator and it powers the whole house. No transfer switch was needed, I flip off the main power and then flip the breaker for the generator and it’s all good. You have to be sure to shut off the main power to the house or it will send electricity back through the line and up the pole.

Cham's Electric Services

Chams Electrical Services installs electric car charging stations in Houston Texas at your home, apartment, condominium, work or retail location. It is the most advanced Charging Installation company in the surrounding area. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Tesla Certified

chamselectricalservices.com

Tell them I sent you (I’m their web developer) and that you want the same setup.

 

[TriggerFan]

Thanks, Gregg. Will give them a call.

 

[webster1234]

The biggest problem with a regular generator is finding enough fuel to keep it running for a week or more. In 2008, I think it was over a week before we could get gas at a local store. I have 4 five gallon cans but not sure how long that would last powering a 7000 w generator. Still that's the plan until I decide to part with the big bucks.

 

[Cody]

The biggest problem with a regular generator is finding enough fuel to keep it running for a week or more. In 2008, I think it was over a week before we could get gas at a local store. I have 4 five gallon cans but not sure how long that would last powering a 7000 w generator. Still that's the plan until I decide to part with the big bucks.

I keep strategic jugs of gasoline in my attic in between the hvac heater and water heater just for this occasion

 

[Bigfishy]

After Ike we were without power for two weeks. Ran on small 2000i Honda. Every morning the wife went and got gas. We have half a dozen gas cans


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[reeftopia]

My unit was a trifuel, ran on gas and propane. Glad I had a 500 gal propane tank because finding gas was near impossible. Either the
station would be down or lines were a mile long. Still I tried to keep it on gas and ran it 12 hrs a day kept the tanks on batteries at night.

 

[TX_Punisher]

The biggest problem with a regular generator is finding enough fuel to keep it running for a week or more. In 2008, I think it was over a week before we could get gas at a local store. I have 4 five gallon cans but not sure how long that would last powering a 7000 w generator. Still that's the plan until I decide to part with the big bucks.

this is true. You can go through 5g a day no problem with a decent sized geny. Run it sparingly. We have 6-8 5g containers that hold closer to 6g when filled to the top. Next will be swapping carb kits to run propane or natural gas (trigas as someone noted above) with a few tanks to spare just in case.

 

[Ostentum]

My unit was a trifuel, ran on gas and propane. Glad I had a 500 gal propane tank because finding gas was near impossible. Either the
station would be down or lines were a mile long. Still I tried to keep it on gas and ran it 12 hrs a day kept the tanks on batteries at night.

How long did the 500g propane tank last. That’s my biggest concern is that my 250g of propane would be gone in 2 days.

 

[Betcao01]

I've seriously been thinking about installing a generator as well. I'm a complete novice on this matter, but I read that you can have it tapped straight into your gas line. If so, would that mean I have to get Centerpoint involved? Also, do these ever go on sale?

 

[reeftopia]

Doubt it will run out in a few days, Dont think mine went down in 8 days that much but I did run gasoline a lot.. Im sure the installer
knows what to do when it comes to hook up since they do that every day. I had my own propane tank and hooked it up myself.

 

[reeftopia]

While you can run a trifuel and their great if you have multiple fuel sources gasoline is the most efficient followed by propane

 

[gregg]

I've seriously been thinking about installing a generator as well. I'm a complete novice on this matter, but I read that you can have it tapped straight into your gas line. If so, would that mean I have to get Centerpoint involved? Also, do these ever go on sale?

they can be plugged into your existing gas meter at your home if you have one, if not then you would need a propane tank. your installer will connect it to your meter for you. This is not a DIY for a novice.. it requires permits and a licensed electrician fyi.

 

[webster1234]

As a homeowner, you can pull a permit to do work on your own home. I think the gas meter will need a higher flow regulator is all. You can shut the gas off in front of the meter and change the piping and regulator.

All of it you can do yourself if you are handy and have knowledge of the basic trades, electrical and plumbing in this case. I changed my own breaker box and it only took me about 4 hours. But yes, not for a novice. You need to know what you are doing before embarking on such a task.

The only thing you really need a permit for is to have the power company pull the meter and reinstall it after the work is inspected. In the old days, we would just cut the tag off of the meter and pull it ourselves. Can't do that with these smart meters today.

 

[reeftopia]

regulator is a must, want run without it

 

[RobertP]

My electrician came out and added a plug to plug my generator into the fuse box, he ran a line to my garage so I could keep the generator in there. I flip 2 breakers and fire up the generator and it powers the whole house. No transfer switch was needed, I flip off the main power and then flip the breaker for the generator and it’s all good. You have to be sure to shut off the main power to the house or it will send electricity back through the line and up the pole.

Cham's Electric Services

Chams Electrical Services installs electric car charging stations in Houston Texas at your home, apartment, condominium, work or retail location. It is the most advanced Charging Installation company in the surrounding area. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Tesla Certified

chamselectricalservices.com

Tell them I sent you (I’m their web developer) and that you want the same setup.

Gregg, that is the main reason for the transfer switch because if you forget to turn off those breakers you would send power to the grid and potentially kill a lineman who is working to fix the problem. I know you probably wont forget...I had the exact same setup in my old house! A coworker of mine did the same but he also had another breaker off the main to power a light. That way if it was one when he powered up the genny then he knew he forgot to throw the main breaker. Also he could tell if the mains were back on line without having to look over at the neighbors house. I thought it was a great idea.

 

[RobertP]

Solar panels are a 15 yr pay off if their telling the truth. When you ask about maintenance, yea most people never consider maintenance, They will tell
you about 10yr maintenance free. Yea How many of these companies have stayed in business for 10 yrs. Even if there still workinng after 10 yrs or 15
now you need a new roof so double the take down and instalation and your roof job went from 15 grand to 25 grand to put on a 15 yr old solar system.
Sorry I love the idea of solar but dont know it will ever be cost effective

I feel the same way. The geek in me loves the idea of solar but our energy prices in Texas are pretty low compared to the rest of the country so it is a lot harder to justify. My electrical co-op (yeah we are out in the country so only one choice) does have the new meters so we can run solar to feed the grid and get credit for it. However, they only credit you for what you use so I would only be working toward a bill of $0. We haven't yet been in this house long enough that I can tell how much power we use in the worst months like now. And dont get me started on the "life" of those panels...most are less than 10 years with degradation each year. And there are some seriously bad chemicals inside solar panels so you have to be real careful to recycle them.

 

[RobertP]

whoops double post

 

[Reefahholic]

Most of these big generators are sold with the home because it’s too much trouble to uninstall/unbolt and move them. At least that’s what I read a while back. Not sure how true that is, but definitely something to consider if you plan to move anytime in the next 5 years.

I have a small Honda EU2200i and it’s the quietest generator I’ve ever heard. Probably the most light weight too. Very reliable and if you break them in right they will outlast most marriages.

I ran mine for 1 hr and changed the oil 3x. No load 2x and then light load on 3rd time. They have a lot of metal flakes when new. Changing the oil frequently when they’re new will keep them running longer. Adding a little Lucas is very good also. Remove the spark plug and put a nice squeeze down there before you start it. I put an hour meter on mine too. Nice feature to have on a smaller generator.