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Message
Backup Generator Advice?
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:19 pm
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:19 pm
Considering getting a natural gas backup generator for the house. Any advice from those that have/had one?
15
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:21 pm to RougeDawg
Don't tell everyone you have one. 
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:21 pm to RougeDawg
Get a good one and have a professional install it.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:23 pm to RougeDawg
Where on the planet will it be installed?
What's the load it will need to take?
What's the load it will need to take?
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:24 pm to RougeDawg
I had a 20kw installed last year for 8k. They handled everything involved with the install. A year later I am happy I got it.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:24 pm to soccerfüt
Baton Rouge. Need A/C for about 2,200 s.f.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:26 pm to jmarto1
What size is normally needed for 2500-3000 sf home? 2 AC units.
This post was edited on 8/6/17 at 12:27 pm
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:26 pm to RougeDawg
I have some high-level thoughts.
- they work very well for short-term power outages, as they kick on by themselves and keep you comfortable while the shite is happening.
- long term outages (i.e. after a hurricane) may be a different story, due to the cost of running them. if you crunch the numbers, it is cheaper to go a hotel somewhere for a week than it is to run a gasoline or natural gas generator day and night.
FWIW, check with your natural gas provider before you buy to get a cost for upgraded equipment on their end. they may have to do some pretty extensive upgrades due to the increased capacity needed on their part.
- they work very well for short-term power outages, as they kick on by themselves and keep you comfortable while the shite is happening.
- long term outages (i.e. after a hurricane) may be a different story, due to the cost of running them. if you crunch the numbers, it is cheaper to go a hotel somewhere for a week than it is to run a gasoline or natural gas generator day and night.
FWIW, check with your natural gas provider before you buy to get a cost for upgraded equipment on their end. they may have to do some pretty extensive upgrades due to the increased capacity needed on their part.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:26 pm to RougeDawg
Stay air cooled on the engine.
Kohler propane is fine for your application.
Kohler propane is fine for your application.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:38 pm to RougeDawg
Look for one that runs at a lower rpm and make sure you have delay switches on your AC units.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:40 pm to Spankum
quote:
FWIW, check with your natural gas provider before you buy to get a cost for upgraded equipment on their end. they may have to do some pretty extensive upgrades due to the increased capacity needed on their part.
You can typically run a standard 20 kw NG generator off a standard line/meter setup.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 12:51 pm to RougeDawg
Make sure your electric and gas meter are on the same side of your house. Mine aren't & it was going to literally double the cost of the installation. Needless to say I don't have a backup generator.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 1:02 pm to RougeDawg
At 3/4 load on. 20kw, you'll burn about 6200cu/ft fuel a day, at $13.21 per thousand cu.ft, that's about $80/day. IDK what your natural gas cost are in BR, but that should give you some idea
Generator Size (kW) 1/4 Load (ft3/hr) 1/2 Load (ft3/hr) 3/4 Load (ft3/hr) Full Load (ft3/hr)
20 157 188 247 289
30 202 260 348 416
40 246 333 449 543
60 334 479 652 798
Posted on 8/6/17 at 2:03 pm to RougeDawg
Posted on 8/6/17 at 2:55 pm to Passing Wind
quote:
What size is normally needed for 2500-3000 sf home? 2 AC units.
It depends on what you want to run. I'm betting you need a step up to run your whole house. Keep in mind, they will not sell you enough to run a heater as it isn't typically needed here in Louisiana.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 3:08 pm to RougeDawg
I have a Generac that's powers the whole house (pool as well) it runs off propane. Runs automatically for 15 once a week.
Works fine. It's loud, when the power goes out the neighborhood is quiet and you can hear that thing down the street.
Works fine. It's loud, when the power goes out the neighborhood is quiet and you can hear that thing down the street.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 3:17 pm to RougeDawg
I have been researching one for my own use, Generac sells more standby generators that all the other manufacturers combined. They build their own engines designed for this application, others use off the shelf model Briggs and Kohler engines. Generac has a 20KW model that uses a inverter system to allow the engine to run at lower RPM with lower loads which reduces noise and fuel consumption. IF you are concerned about having clean power for home electronics this is also the only way to go. With the inverter system the distortion of the power waveform is only 0.4%, the non-inverter generators including those from Generac are up to 5% distortion. I don't remember the exact numbers but with the current price of natural gas in Baton Rouge running the 20KW generator at half load was in the 20-25 dollar range for 24 hours, I think natural gas in BR is only $4.00 or so per 1000 Cu3ft.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 3:18 pm to Spankum
quote:
- long term outages (i.e. after a hurricane) may be a different story, due to the cost of running them. if you crunch the numbers, it is cheaper to go a hotel somewhere for a week than it is to run a gasoline or natural gas generator day and night
You don't really need to run it day and night to maintain a minimum level of comfort, frig/freezer temps, etc.
Posted on 8/6/17 at 3:24 pm to Boston911
quote:
At 3/4 load on. 20kw, you'll burn about 6200cu/ft fuel a day, at $13.21 per thousand cu.ft, that's about $80/day. IDK what your natural gas cost are in BR, but that should give you some idea
Just checked , natural gas in Baton Rouge is currently $4.19 per 1000 cuft
Posted on 8/6/17 at 3:27 pm to RougeDawg
20 KW will do what you need.
With Automatic Transfer Switch.
Professional Installation.
Budget $10,000. Will be less than this but be prepared.
I like Kohler. Have friends with Generac that are pleased. Add up all of your BTU needs..heat, stoves, hot water, including generator. Make sure your gas meter will supply your needs. Most of the time your meter will be fine... You normally want run all gas appliances at the same time anyway. HTH
With Automatic Transfer Switch.
Professional Installation.
Budget $10,000. Will be less than this but be prepared.
I like Kohler. Have friends with Generac that are pleased. Add up all of your BTU needs..heat, stoves, hot water, including generator. Make sure your gas meter will supply your needs. Most of the time your meter will be fine... You normally want run all gas appliances at the same time anyway. HTH
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