That's a good possibility. The problem is actually finding a generator. Most of the major brands generac, Kohler, Cummins are backordered several months. The same as the rest of our supply chains.
I'm going to call on a Kohler unit tomorrow and see
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Backup Generator
- Thread starter Slammed&cammed
- Start date
That's a good possibility. The problem is actually finding a generator. Most of the major brands generac, Kohler, Cummins are backordered several months. The same as the rest of our supply chains.
I'm going to call on a Kohler unit tomorrow and see
I run my business off of a generator because it is located in a very remote area. There is a backup one on deck because I hate surprises.
At the staff house I run a 5 bedroom house with 5-6 people living in it off of a portable generator producing 8400 starting watts and 6750 running watts off LP (more off gasoline as it's dual fuel but I only run LP).
I use the same setup on my 40' RV with myself, my wife, and little son. Both gennys/houses are plumbed to thier own 575 gallon propane tanks.
The generator producing 8400 starting watts runs the 5 bedroom house with 5-6 people no problem. Never once tripped a breaker.
HillbillyDeluxe
Not a Junior Member
I'm looking at the 20kw with well and booster pump, all electric house with two heat pumps/ AC, a shop, three fridges/ freezers, and Margaritaville machine.
I know my 12kw wouldn't have powered everything during the deep freeze
I know my 12kw wouldn't have powered everything during the deep freeze
HillbillyDeluxe
Not a Junior Member
I'll hit him up tomorrow and see what he thinks. He knows that stuff inside and out.
1oddtech
Unknown member
I have a little 1k sqft house and used to run a Miller welder on a service truck when ever I lost power. That is now gone so I'm wanting to feed my house thru an inverter charger with a decent sized battery pack and a auto start stop generator to keep the battery charged when power is lost. Yes a normal backup generator and transfer switch would be easier but I've rarely lost power for more than a day and I'm a little odd.
Not all at once but would you be running your whole shop, AC, and 3 fridges during a deep freeze or emergency situation?
I would just get a dedicated generator for the shop and isolate that from your home and keep the 12kw you already have.
Your AC is responsible for a lot of your energy usage, how often were you running it during the deep freeze?
It's hard to say because the LP runs everything. At the staff house it runs 2 fridges, the genset, and a water heater for 5+ people showering daily with no concern for preserving energy since boss man is paying for it. They run the generator about 5 hours/day.
I would say running just one 10kw generator for 9 hours/day (at whatever load since I'm guessing) probably $3200 every 6 months? I could get into more detail about total lp cost for living off grid but that's kind of digressing.
What? So you would run a 20kw generator to essentially run your AC 'heat pump' to warm your entire house in an emergency? And of course the other essential items like your 3 fridges and your entire shop.
blakes
Red Skull Member
After living offgrid for almost 5 years, I think many of the comments are hilarious.
Obviously everyone's situation is different.
I have no kids and a GF totally into this shit. I'm running on 2.4kw of panels and 1600ah of batteries on a 48v system costing less than 10k in cash (self installed). Running 2 refrigerators, TV, couple of laptops, lights etc.
Not even fucking grounded. It's a floating system.
My 'big' generator is a 7200w yamaha industrial and a couple of yamaha 2000w. Haven't started a generator in a few weeks except to split firewood with the HG 120v splitter.
So yeah, all y'all fuckers totally need a 20kw + system to keep your shit running.
I wouldn't know what to do with 20kw + of power.
Obviously everyone's situation is different.
I have no kids and a GF totally into this shit. I'm running on 2.4kw of panels and 1600ah of batteries on a 48v system costing less than 10k in cash (self installed). Running 2 refrigerators, TV, couple of laptops, lights etc.
Not even fucking grounded. It's a floating system.
My 'big' generator is a 7200w yamaha industrial and a couple of yamaha 2000w. Haven't started a generator in a few weeks except to split firewood with the HG 120v splitter.
So yeah, all y'all fuckers totally need a 20kw + system to keep your shit running.
I wouldn't know what to do with 20kw + of power.
Pocahontas
Red Skull Member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2020
- Member Number
- 2117
- Messages
- 492
2 girls at one time?
In all seriousness do you have ac and do you heat with wood? Whats your largest power draw?
blakes
Red Skull Member
2 chicks at one time is always good.
No ac. I live at 8500 feet in elevation.
My single largest draw is my 120v jet pump that runs for a few mins a day.
I average around 200-300w of continuous power draw 24x7.
Living offgrid has taught me that you don't need a shit load of power to survive (comfortable) At least not up here in my situation.
I realize many (most) are in different situations.
My advice is to change that.
Pocahontas
Red Skull Member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2020
- Member Number
- 2117
- Messages
- 492
I could see how that would work up in the mountains with a small cabin. Dont think it would work here, at least in the summer months.
Regardless of what the "I run my 250k sqft factory off a suitcase inverter" crowd says, from that list I'd say you are right on with the 20kw.
Most people overlook simplicity, ease of use, and comfort. Nobody really wants to fuck around with a portable and cords when an auto transfer switch can cut the power over and you can keep on living like normal. Not to mention, what if you are on vacation or not home for some other reason?
We buy/sell the air cooled Generacs by the semi load, last year our sales were north of 500 units. Hands down the most popular sizes are 16kw and 24kw. Considering that typically you'll have less than $8-9k invested including install/startup, it's kind of a no-brainer.
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I switched the generators at my business over from 15kw water cooled generators to 10kw portable because they are so much easier.
If a 20kw generator breaks down you need a guy to fix it and a forklift to move it. A portable genset breaks and your wife wheels over the new one while you're at work. You can do this 7-8 times with brand new generators for the cost of one 20kw.
So for 1500 I'll go out in the rain and switch it over, not a big deal.
The downside is you need a manual transfer switch, so Sancho has to switch it when you're out of town. That and a thief could easily walk away with it if it's some where tempting.
kf4zht
Red Skull Member
- Joined
- May 20, 2020
- Member Number
- 561
- Messages
- 1,074
I have 3 generators. One 6k portable, one HF 1400 watt inverter and an old military 2smoke that I need to fix. But I don't have a great way to hook them up - right now I have a 220v extension that I run into the house, then a 4 way squid and cords to each device that matters. If I ever get around to swapping the outside panel I will put inlet box and breaker interlock
Since I don't take the 6k anywhere I want to put one of the triple fuel conversions on it and put a QD from my NG line. That will give me a backup to gasoline which can get gone quick in an emergency.
Current house has been great, longest outage was 45 minutes in the past 2 years. I'm walking distance from the POCO offices so early in the queue. But they are an EMC, so if there is a source or upstream distribution issue they can't do much till it fixed.
Since I don't take the 6k anywhere I want to put one of the triple fuel conversions on it and put a QD from my NG line. That will give me a backup to gasoline which can get gone quick in an emergency.
Current house has been great, longest outage was 45 minutes in the past 2 years. I'm walking distance from the POCO offices so early in the queue. But they are an EMC, so if there is a source or upstream distribution issue they can't do much till it fixed.
Aggie06
I ain't the one to blame.
Following along for suggestions.
Wheelerfreak
Stunningly Average
From this thread
. Still going strong 3 years after this post and still regularly losing power in the winter. Half the property is now solar though. I installed solar Aprilish of 2023 to power a sub panel in an addition and in the barn/sheds.
Animalmother
Flexed cracker
I dont have a lot to add. I purchased a generac from Lowes. Dealing with Generac directly, I quickly realized no one there gave a shit about actually selling me a generator if they were not going to sell me an installation with it.
Thats interesting. good to know. i assume like anything else, a good local dealer/installer is key.
For generac, go to their website and do the dealer locator for your area.
10/15KW ex military MEP diesel Generators on wheels.
IMO Generac are crap if they run at 3600 rpm they will wear out faster than a generator that runs at 1800 rpm like the MEP's via Govplanet Generac cheaped out on the windings with less poles and hence needs higher rpm to get the same power the MEP's get at 1800 rpm.
Govplanet has MEP's
www.govplanet.com
IMO Generac are crap if they run at 3600 rpm they will wear out faster than a generator that runs at 1800 rpm like the MEP's via Govplanet Generac cheaped out on the windings with less poles and hence needs higher rpm to get the same power the MEP's get at 1800 rpm.
Govplanet has MEP's
Military Generators For Sale | GovPlanet
Find reliable power with military generators for sale at GovPlanet. Browse our certified US military & army surplus diesel generators at our weekly auctions!
Etyler2
Your kind of Asshole
Choose from who supports which brand locally to you.
Wheelerfreak
Stunningly Average
I bought my Generac from Northern Tool and then had a local electrician/plumber install it. It was about $1k to install in 2018 and that included running the propane out to it. I didn't use their dealer installer since the closest was about 3 hours away
AKnate
Icehole
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2022
- Member Number
- 4908
- Messages
- 1,263
10/15KW ex military MEP diesel Generators on wheels.
IMO Generac are crap if they run at 3600 rpm they will wear out faster than a generator that runs at 1800 rpm like the MEP's via Govplanet Generac cheaped out on the windings with less poles and hence needs higher rpm to get the same power the MEP's get at 1800 rpm.
Govplanet has MEP's
Military Generators For Sale | GovPlanet
Find reliable power with military generators for sale at GovPlanet. Browse our certified US military & army surplus diesel generators at our weekly auctions!
Almost no one is wearing out a backup gen set.
Lot of them get more hours from scheduled run times vs actual backup power.
Id imagine a MEP would take some designing to setup as a backup.
Even the 20 yr old Generac I have has a control board to talk to the transfer switch to know power went out and to fire up.
Animalmother
Flexed cracker
You got a deal then.
Animalmother
Flexed cracker
Mine has been online for 400 plus days and it has 6 hours on it. Practically all from exercising
Wheelerfreak
Stunningly Average
I set up the pad and used the tractor to unload it and place it and supplied the gas pipe. Took him maybe two hours to get it going and I paid cash.