re: Whole home generator brands

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My first quote was $26,000.

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An air cooled unit would be half of this or less. I would strongly consider it unless you lose power regularly and for long durations, necessitating the need for a liquid cooled unit.

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Westinghouse Portable 20kw Installing proper panel with transfer switch and 50amp hookup

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20kW can put out considerably more amps than 50. I think you’re limiting yourself if you don’t get a fully rated transfer switch with this setup, assuming your generator can run everything in your house. Should be able to handle your HVAC but what about other 240V loads - oven, cooktop, water heater, etc. If you post a picture of your home panel with the door open that would give me a better idea for sizing.

I went with generac. Plenty reliable enough for the limited use I’ll need it and the parts availability. Which I needed after it got hit by lightning during Beryl.

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Cummins or kohler get my vote. I have a Cummins and it’s great. Quiet and reliable. Liquid cooled.

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Cummings bought Onan. Kohler and Onan both had long histories of marine generators including commercial fishing vessels keeping big catches cold. A liquid cooled engine is more efficient and last longer than air cooled but are normally only available in larger sizes and cost more.

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I have four large energy suckers. 4 ton unit. 3 ton unit. Electric oven. Electric Dryer.

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That's actually less than you would think. My parents have a 24kW Generac that can run all their HVAC units (5 ton, 2.5 ton, and 3 ton) simultaneously and they only have hard start kits on them. I don't know if my dad has really tested it fully with turning on the drier and oven as well but it handles those 3 units like a champ.

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My panel isn’t the one without a break switch, so I need a new panel.

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Sounds like your panel is a main-lug-only (MLO). Yes, this makes sense as you need one with a main breaker for an interlock kit. If you utilized a fully rated transfer switch upstream of the panel you wouldn't need the main breaker but I think more permits and such are involved. Still would be worth asking your electrician.

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Liquid cooled diesel

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Its the tit's but damn they are so expensive, and not really necessary for intermittent use on a residential application.

What i did at my house was install a minisplit in the large living room, and rig up a transfer switch and plug for a standard 30 amp portable gasoline unit. Use the boat as a 100 gallon portable gas can. The little generac will easily run the mini split and the whole rest of the house besides the dryer, which it can run on low with everything else off if needed.

Its crude, but it's cheap and works well enough and makes the house very much liveable.

People spending $20k+ on standby units for homes with reliable grids and no severe medical needs make me scratch my head. Its become a bit of a status symbol to have the biggest quietest cummins generator in the neighborhood in south louisiana.

I ah e Cummins and I have kohler

Both are great

My neighbor got generac the same tone that I got my kohler 10 years ago and they’ve already replaced it twice

+1

Bought a Generac through HMC and they have been awesome to deal with.