Home generators

Generac Kohler or Cummins should be your only options.

probably 20k should be more than sufficient. I'd give a slight lean to Cummins but i've had installers swear by the generac's too.

It all depends on what you want to do. I like portability and efficiency. I have a 2500 sq ft home and can run everything except for central AC with a 4000 watt tri fuel inverter. I have a 5000 btu mini split in the main bedroom that can ran off of my backup 2000 watt inverter if needed.

If you want to go big, go with a 10- 12,000 watt tri fuel. Champion would probably be my first choice. Pulsar or Gen Max maybe second? They are all very similar. The Generacs have been proven to be unreliable.

A portable inverter as I've mentioned are not only cheaper but cheaper to service and can be moved easily.

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turn on all high energy things you want the generator to power up, one by one with lights/fans on. Things such as AC's, oven, dryer, shop. Let electrician measure the amp draw and size accordingly.

KW for NP/propane fueled generators are based on using propane. If running on NG subtract 10-15% of capacity.

Cummings, water cooled is what I installed.

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Yeah but do you need to power all these things up at the same time in an emergency situation?

You really want to burn 20kW of natural gas around the clock when only 4kW-10kW of generated power is actually needed?

If its only for a day, sure. For a situation where a hurricane has the power out for 2 weeks, you will be shocked when thay gas bill comes in.

To each their own...

I have a 2100 sqft house that is mostly electric with a few extra things like water pump and pool pumps.

22kw Generac fueled by propane has been more than enough, and has worked great so far.

As others have mentioned, we need to know a bit more information.

Firstly, how many 240V appliances do you have? Air conditioner(s) is a given but what about cooktop, oven, water heater, dryer? Those will all quickly increase the capacity needed from your generator. As someone else mentioned, the easiest way to find your max current draw is to fire up all those appliances and put a meter on your main feeders coming into your house. And as mentioned by someone else, you can probably utilize a smaller generator if you put a soft starter on your AC unit. I have two 3 ton units both with soft starters and my 22kW Honeywell handles them very well.

Having said all that, the best option is likely a Generac, Kohler, or Cummins air cooled. If you go with a liquid cooled you are going to be way above what you actually need to back up the loads in your house and it will require more maintenance and more $$$.

But since you gave very little detail, you could also rig up a tri-fuel portable if you'd give us an idea of what your electrical loads look like.

Generators provide power turning either 1800 or 3600 RPM's. No matter the brand for better long term reliably get one that turns at 1800 RPM's.

Completely agree that seeing a 32kW liquid cooled unit on the side of a 2000 square foot house always makes me giggle. That is a massive over budget on what is needed. Air cooled ones are fine for standby duty. If they’re looking for prime duty, a liquid cooled would make sense.

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If money is no object, sure a liquid cooled 1800rpm machine that is sized so that the steady state house load is about 75% of the machines rating is optimal.

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The tricky part is that there is not a big difference in price between the higher capacities and the mid tier stuff. I have a 22kW Honeywell and will never get above 50% loaded but I also can add on to my house and have extra capacity to cover for it. There’s also the fact that most places regularly stock the higher capacities but not the middle ones so lead time could also play into it.