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Generator tied into main fuse box - natural gas or propane powered
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:38 am
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:38 am
I just bought a generator at Costco here in Houston. It is a dual fuel, portable with never flat wheels, Champion brand - 7000 watts on propane, 9000 watts on gasoline. It was $200 off and cost $700
A friend who is an electrician will do the following:
The plan is to never run it on gasoline but to use propane or natural gas. You then get the right transfer kit, hook it into the main fuse box so that you can theoretically pick the beakers to use.
It is also possible to hook the generator into the natural gas line as a fuel source for the generator. If that fails, use propane.
The next tricky part is to rig something resembling a clothes dryer vent to the generator exhaust, run it up the garage wall to the eaves, connect to a permanent PVC fixture and have the engine exhaust gases vented outside.
If all of the above fails then just use it as a generator running on propane and put it into the backyard to discourage thieves.
Anybody ever try something like this? I would be interested in hearing about your experiences.
A friend who is an electrician will do the following:
The plan is to never run it on gasoline but to use propane or natural gas. You then get the right transfer kit, hook it into the main fuse box so that you can theoretically pick the beakers to use.
It is also possible to hook the generator into the natural gas line as a fuel source for the generator. If that fails, use propane.
The next tricky part is to rig something resembling a clothes dryer vent to the generator exhaust, run it up the garage wall to the eaves, connect to a permanent PVC fixture and have the engine exhaust gases vented outside.
If all of the above fails then just use it as a generator running on propane and put it into the backyard to discourage thieves.
Anybody ever try something like this? I would be interested in hearing about your experiences.
16
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:40 am to Purplehaze
Looks like you got it covered.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:41 am to Purplehaze
(no message)
This post was edited on 11/16/21 at 8:19 pm
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:43 am to Purplehaze
quote:Are you going to use a fan to help vent that exhaust? If not, sounds like you should. Also should have a carbon monoxide alarm in the house.
The next tricky part is to rig something resembling a clothes dryer vent to the generator exhaust, run it up the garage wall to the eaves, connect to a permanent PVC fixture and have the engine exhaust gases vented outside.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:52 am to Purplehaze
It ain't that complicated. Spend the money up front and do things the right way, save you a headache later
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:52 am to Purplehaze
if you have an actual fuse box, you shouldn't be hooking a generator up to it.
And if you at putting this thing inside, you are going to not only kill yourself, but also your entire family.
And if you at putting this thing inside, you are going to not only kill yourself, but also your entire family.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:52 am to Purplehaze
Run it off of natural gas
Honestly no need for a transfer switch. Just connect what you've got from a plug to a breaker, shut off the main, plug in your breaker, and turn on the ones you wanna use
Honestly no need for a transfer switch. Just connect what you've got from a plug to a breaker, shut off the main, plug in your breaker, and turn on the ones you wanna use
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:55 am to airfernando
Yes a combination of both fans and carbon monoxide alarms
Both my wife and I are in our 60's. We like our creature comforts. I grew up in Kaplan without Air Conditioning. I served my time in heat hell.
When Hurricane Ike hit the Houston area, we were out of power for 11 days. We lost about $1,000 in food we had in the freezer and the freezer did not work when the power came back on.
I am investing about $1,300 to avoid the loss next time.
Since I am an old guy, wtf is a baw?
Both my wife and I are in our 60's. We like our creature comforts. I grew up in Kaplan without Air Conditioning. I served my time in heat hell.
When Hurricane Ike hit the Houston area, we were out of power for 11 days. We lost about $1,000 in food we had in the freezer and the freezer did not work when the power came back on.
I am investing about $1,300 to avoid the loss next time.
Since I am an old guy, wtf is a baw?
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:57 am to Purplehaze
Like I said earlier, there are many options. I was just curious if anybody had ever tried it, knowing full well that there would be many children replying.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:58 am to Purplehaze
Could unburned gas vapors build up in the vent and explode?
Posted on 7/3/16 at 10:58 am to Purplehaze
baw is a down the bayou equivalent of "brah".
You being a Kaplan native you will know the type.
You being a Kaplan native you will know the type.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 11:00 am to Purplehaze
(no message)
This post was edited on 11/16/21 at 8:18 pm
Posted on 7/3/16 at 11:18 am to puse01
I have no relatives left in the Kaplan area. The last time I was in Kaplan was in 1997 for a 30 Year HS reunion. The last time I claimed Kaplan as a permanent address was in 1972.
to those who stayed there, hope it works out for you. As for me, I will take the suburbs north of Houston anytime.
to those who stayed there, hope it works out for you. As for me, I will take the suburbs north of Houston anytime.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 12:23 pm to Purplehaze
Been in EMS 26 years and have been to many homes after hurricanes where most of the family or all of them died due to CO poisoning. Seriously, don't mess around with this, make sure it's done right. I'm not saying you plan won't work, but sometimes, a project like this that seems simple is a death trap. I'd run your plan by a generator pro to make sure it flies.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 12:27 pm to Purplehaze
quote:
The next tricky part is to rig something resembling a clothes dryer vent to the generator exhaust, run it up the garage wall to the eaves, connect to a permanent PVC fixture and have the engine exhaust gases vented outside.
I was with you until you said this. This part is a terrible idea. Just have everything rigged up where you can run a cord to the generator outside through a window or something. Don't put the geberator inside. That's just asking for trouble.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 12:40 pm to Purplehaze
quote:
Since I am an old guy, wtf is a baw?
boy
pronounced as if a drawl added to the noun boy.
usually boy is pronounced as a two stage vowel diphthong
when it is a drawl, it is no longer a diphthong. baw is one deeper AW sound.
boi is two sounds. an O sound with an E sound. OE BO E.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 1:03 pm to Boston911
quote:
I'd run your plan by a generator pro to make sure it flies.
Aside from the CO, there's the potential for back feeding into the utility lines. The ONLY way to guarantee this does not happen is to install a transfer switch for a couple hundred dollars. Yes, you may understand the importance of disconnecting from the main. But what if someone else cranks up the genset, forgets to flip the main beforehand and ends up electrocuting a utility line worker? Murphy's law is a bitch.
This post was edited on 7/3/16 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 7/3/16 at 1:10 pm to 62Tigerfan
He's an old guy with an old wife. Dollars to donuts he'll be the one cranking up the generator. Cut the main or pull the meter if you're so inclined
Posted on 7/3/16 at 3:35 pm to Purplehaze
I would set it up in the backyard and anchor it to a slab if you are worried about theft.
I am considering on myself. 20kw on propane but I have a friend with a similar setup and it was set to test weekly and come on automatically. We had a thunderstorm this week that knocked off his power and the generator didn't come on. A circuit board was out and the way it was rigged the "manual" switch wouldn't work either with the circuit board out.
I am thinking I will just have a manual start and test it myself from time to time and cut it over to the home service with a manual switch.
I want the thing to work when I need it too.
I am considering on myself. 20kw on propane but I have a friend with a similar setup and it was set to test weekly and come on automatically. We had a thunderstorm this week that knocked off his power and the generator didn't come on. A circuit board was out and the way it was rigged the "manual" switch wouldn't work either with the circuit board out.
I am thinking I will just have a manual start and test it myself from time to time and cut it over to the home service with a manual switch.
I want the thing to work when I need it too.
Posted on 7/3/16 at 3:38 pm to Purplehaze
quote:
Anybody ever try something like this? I would be interested in hearing about your experiences.
No, I was smart and picked up the pamphlet with the # of a professional installer when we bought one for my mom's house. Well worth it.
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