Whole home generators
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: houston tx
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whole home generators
Thinking of getting one of these for my house and maybe one for my office. Every time it rains the lights go off at my office, it want run the AC 120 tons, but at least the phones and computers will work.
Pros and cons, different models etc.
Curtis
Pros and cons, different models etc.
Curtis
#2
Re: Whole home generators
Natural gas is the only way to go. Diesel will only get you so far before it has to be refueled. Natty will run cleaner and you won't have to worry about how much fuel you have on hand. You will pay a little more for a natty gen set than a diesel. Olympian makes a nice product. Buy bigger than you need and have a automated switching system with a constant power supply so there is NO interuption in service during the transition.
#4
Gold Member
Gold Member
Re: Whole home generators
You'll have to add up the wattage for every piece of equipment you want to run. You'll also have to get the wattage used by each piece at turn on or start up. Large appliances like refrigerators, washer/dryer, dishwasher, A/C units, air handlers, water heater, etc. pull more current to start than they use at any other time. You have to take all that into consideration when you purchase a generator.
#6
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Re: Whole home generators
I run a Generak 15k unit, as it won't run my whole house it runs both our 2ton and 3ton ac units, the freezers ,refrigerators, and essential lights.
She kicks on 10 seconds from the time our power goes off and has runs 48+ hrs at a time on natural gas.
It was a good investment for us!
She kicks on 10 seconds from the time our power goes off and has runs 48+ hrs at a time on natural gas.
It was a good investment for us!
#7
Official OSO boat whore
Charter Member
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Mequon, WI
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Whole home generators
Originally Posted by yahoo
It was going to be nat gas, with an automatic switch.
Can I run a small AC unit (2tons) ?
CM
Can I run a small AC unit (2tons) ?
CM
This is a 2000kw that I got to see installed years ago. This one was inside the building on the second floor. You could feel it rumbling 100' away. v16, 4 valves per cylinder, twin superchargers, twin turbos, twin oil pans, 4 exhaust manifolds, the electric fan was 6' in diameter. The wild thing is that the unit wasn't making it's full wattage, so the engine was torn down on site and rebuilt. The pistons were just a little smaller than a #10 tin can. http://www.kohlerpowersystems.com/pdfs/g5236.pdf
#8
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Greenwich CT. U S of A
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Re: Whole home generators
I'm installing one at a house I'm building. It's a 12000sf home & the owner wants everything including the pool & spa to work if the power goes out.
It's a custom Onan/Cummins 140KW unit which I'm sure will work for you. Should I order another? It only cost about 100k including the two 2000 gal propaine tanks. The $38,000 underground vault would be an extra if you want it.
The transfer switch is about as big a a Volkswagon
It's a custom Onan/Cummins 140KW unit which I'm sure will work for you. Should I order another? It only cost about 100k including the two 2000 gal propaine tanks. The $38,000 underground vault would be an extra if you want it.
The transfer switch is about as big a a Volkswagon
#9
Re: Whole home generators
Nat gas will give you problems, more crap to fail, plugs, cap, wires. must go industrial to eliminate the BS.
I am a dealer for ONAN, CAT, KOHLER, DETROIT, KATOLITE, BALDOR AND SDMO.
if you want some help just PM or ask,
A typical house 200 amp service can be supported for less than 20K
I am a dealer for ONAN, CAT, KOHLER, DETROIT, KATOLITE, BALDOR AND SDMO.
if you want some help just PM or ask,
A typical house 200 amp service can be supported for less than 20K
#10
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Phoenix, Havasu, Newport
Posts: 3,062
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Whole home generators
Originally Posted by Iggy
You'll have to add up the wattage for every piece of equipment you want to run. You'll also have to get the wattage used by each piece at turn on or start up. Large appliances like refrigerators, washer/dryer, dishwasher, A/C units, air handlers, water heater, etc. pull more current to start than they use at any other time. You have to take all that into consideration when you purchase a generator.