Standby generators

[Nate77]

Thought I read there are a few electricians on here.
With that being said does the transfer switch have to be the same amps as the service?
Looking at the 7.5kw generac , to power tanks, fridge and freezer. It comes with an 8circut 50amp auto switch, my service is 200amp. Would the 50amp switch work or would I need a 200amp switch?

 

[Brew12]

Thought I read there are a few electricians on here.
With that being said does the transfer switch have to be the same amps as the service?
Looking at the 7.5kw generac , to power tanks, fridge and freezer. It comes with an 8circut 50amp auto switch, my service is 200amp. Would the 50amp switch work or would I need a 200amp switch?

If you want to power the entire house then the transfer switch rating must meet or exceed the service feed rating.

However, that isn't the case with the product I believe you are using. This panel will only power critical loads that you rewire into a new integrated panel. This makes it a 50A sub panel for which the 50A transfer switch is appropriate and within code.

Hope that helps!

 

[ca1ore]

I have a 22K Kohler generator and it powers the entire house - so the transfer switch is a 200 amp unit for the 200 amp service. I did have the option to do a 100 amp subpanel, but the cost was only marginally less. I don't think you can even do a 200 amp switch on anything less than 20K - at least, that what I was told (not an expert).

 

[Brew12]

I have a 22K Kohler generator and it powers the entire house - so the transfer switch is a 200 amp unit for the 200 amp service. I did have the option to do a 100 amp subpanel, but the cost was only marginally less. I don't think you can even do a 200 amp switch on anything less than 20K - at least, that what I was told (not an expert).

Unless prohibited by local code (and some local codes are crazy!) you can use a 200 amp transfer switch on any size generator. The transfer switch must be rated to handle the largest supply. If your generator only had a 100A output it would be protected by a 100A breaker but would be allowed to feed into a 200 amp transfer switch. You just need to be aware that it may trip if you have more than 100A of loads that would restart when the generator picked up the home loads.

 

[ca1ore]

Thanks for the clarification - that makes sense. My unit has a 100 amp breaker, even though it feeds through a 200 amp switch; thus, I have to be sensible about what gets run and what doesn't. Now that I have it, I don't ever expect to lose power LOL.

 

[Nate77]

Thank you @Brew12 , not using one yet just started looking into them , and that answers my biggest question, did not want to buy one and not be able to use it.

 

[Brew12]

Thank you @Brew12 , not using one yet just started looking into them , and that answers my biggest question, did not want to buy one and not be able to use it.

Glad to help!

 

[pickupman66]

we purchased a 5500 watt potable about 7 years ago after 24 hours without power (tornadic activity). fortunately in that time frame, we have had very few outages since and the longest was 3 hours when someone decided to lean their car up against the power poles outside the neighborhood. I have this beautiful cummins Onan generator that i dont think has 20 hours of run time on it. 80% of its hours are from exercising over the years. also lucked into a 1100 watt suitcase that can do the tank in a hurry.

Id love a whole house unit but i can run everything I need to except the HVAC and oven.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Most people compare/buy generators looking at price only. If you are planning on running any of your sensitive electronics: TVs, Audio, Modern Appliances, Computers, Some pumps etc. you need to get yourself a Pure-Sine (Inverter-Type) generator. Anything else and you risk damaging your equipment not to mention that some equipment along with aquarium pumps will not even run on a modified-sine wave output of a cheap generator. Don't believe me, try it yourself.

I bough a great HONDA generator that can power most everything I need except for the A/C but I am now worried that if I'm away my wife will not be able to pull it out herself to set it up; looking to add wheel kit to make it movable. I don't have space for a stationary unit that I'd mount in the yard.

I'm testing extended run APCs (yes, pure sine units) to run skeleton equipment (return pump, powerheads, controller) that will give me or somebody else 4-6 hours of run-time before a generator has to be deployed. Hope to extend this time with external sealed unit batteries that I will source after the summer. I'll post my findings once i have it all in place.

 

[Brew12]

If you are planning on running any of your sensitive electronics: TVs, Audio, Modern Appliances, Computers, Some pumps etc. you need to get yourself a Pure-Sine (Inverter-Type) generator.

Great advice for smaller portable generators.

For larger generators, such as whole home units, make sure that Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is under 5%. This is the level considered safe for electronics.

 

[Nate77]

Yeah I'm not looking at portable , won't do me much good , I don't have a ton of space for a standby thats why I am looking at the small one.

 

[dankreef]

I have a portable that I bought 5 years ago. Never used it once. Last week the power went out due to some cali fires. 110 outside. Saved my whole tank powering the chiller up!

 

[dankreef]

I have a portable that I bought 5 years ago. Never used it once. Last week the power went out due to some cali fires. 110 outside. Saved my whole tank powering the chiller up!

 

[Nate77]

I do have a portable but Problem with portable is , If no one is home to set one up , we haven't lost power in years this am , it flickered. I was home but if I would have been at work 30-40 min drive home , or try to talk someone that has a key threw it. Better piece of mind if I invest in one that will switch on its own.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I do have a portable but Problem with portable is , If no one is home to set one up , we haven't lost power in years this am , it flickered. I was home but if I would have been at work 30-40 min drive home , or try to talk someone that has a key threw it. Better piece of mind if I invest in one that will switch on its own.

Agreed, provided it starts. Look for NG or I believe I have even seen dual fuel systems so you don't have to worry about gasoline that is usually very scarce when SHTF. I store about 20G plus whatever is in the cars at the moment, just in case. Dump and refill with fresh every year during summer when there is supposed to be less ethanol in it in the summer, although I think that no longer matters as they probably add it year-round at this point. Either way a fresh supply is stored every year; like fish food, gasoline does go bad

 

[Nate77]

The one I have my eye on is LP or natural gas , which we have LP for stove anyways.

 

[BZOFIQ]

We have NG in NYC and I have a hookup outside the house which in my case isn't event relevant at this point. I even grill using charcoal!

Isn't LP stored in a cylinder outside? How much of a reserve would you have with LP? How low do you go before somebody shows up to refill?

 

[ca1ore]

I do have a portable but Problem with portable is , If no one is home to set one up , we haven't lost power in years this am , it flickered. I was home but if I would have been at work 30-40 min drive home , or try to talk someone that has a key threw it. Better piece of mind if I invest in one that will switch on its own.

I had a portable for years, and it kept my tank alive on more than a few occasions. Trouble is, it's tricky to start and setup and I am away a lot for business. I spent a few nervous days stuck in Las Vegas this past March as nor'easters churned up the East coast. Not doing that again, thus the automatic standby. Now the portable is the backup for the standby .....

 

[Brew12]

We have NG in NYC and I have a hookup outside the house which in my case isn't event relevant at this point. I even grill using charcoal!

Isn't LP stored in a cylinder outside? How much of a reserve would you have with LP? How low do you go before somebody shows up to refill?

In more rural areas, having 5,000 gallon LP tanks on the property isn't unusual. Depending on usage they can be filled every few month to every few years.

 

[BZOFIQ]

In more rural areas, having 5,000 gallon LP tanks on the property isn't unusual. Depending on usage they can be filled every few month to every few years.

Oh OK, that's plenty I would believe. I see people using LP tanks upstate NY when I go camping, I always wondered how long they last.

 

[Nate77]

We have NG in NYC and I have a hookup outside the house which in my case isn't event relevant at this point. I even grill using charcoal!

Isn't LP stored in a cylinder outside? How much of a reserve would you have with LP? How low do you go before somebody shows up to refill?

The tank I have right now is 200gal, I can go bigger anytime I want. Its on autofill so I have no idea when they fill it up. Think they check it every month and fill as needes which isnt much. We use the stove maybe twice a week at most , usally everything goes on one of the grills or smoker.