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Backup Generator

Wheelerfreak said:
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.
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I ended up doing my own install but before I took that on, I entertained the idea of paying for them to do it. If I remember correctly they told me a general rule of thumb was to pay as much for the install as the generator itself.
 
Animalmother said:
I ended up doing my own install but before I took that on, I entertained the idea of paying for them to do it. If I remember correctly they told me a general rule of thumb was to pay as much for the install as the generator itself.
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GOOOOOO..... no freakin way. ill do all the "install".... set the LP tank, pour a pad for the gen set, but ill let the experts plumb and setup the transfer switch. i got some other stuff on the panel that needs attention anyway.
 
Animalmother said:
I ended up doing my own install but before I took that on, I entertained the idea of paying for them to do it. If I remember correctly they told me a general rule of thumb was to pay as much for the install as the generator itself.
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Shouldn't be that much.
 
My old house was a manual transfer switch and a Miller welder with an RV chord. It worked fine, had $2,500 into everything, but I really wanted auto transfer on the new place so I didn't have to babysit it. I was dead set to get a liquid cooled 1800 rpm unit in the 20-25 kw range but couldn't find anything, ended up with a 24kw from Home Depot, cheapest price by far and delivered to my door. Electrician installed the transfer switch during the build and my propane supplier did the gas line when they trenched in the permanent line.
 
Muttly said:
My old house was a manual transfer switch and a Miller welder with an RV chord. It worked fine, had $2,500 into everything, but I really wanted auto transfer on the new place so I didn't have to babysit it. I was dead set to get a liquid cooled 1800 rpm unit in the 20-25 kw range but couldn't find anything, ended up with a 24kw from Home Depot, cheapest price by far and delivered to my door. Electrician installed the transfer switch during the build and my propane supplier did the gas line when they trenched in the permanent line.
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Numbers wise I paid $5,250 for the generator, $600 additional for the extra line and regulator for propane and $150 for conduit and wire for the hookup. Electrician that set the transfer switch charged me $500 for the switch. I was quoted $10,000 + turn key.
 
I have this 6800KW (8K max) Powerstroke from Costco:

6800 Watt Generator – Power Stroke

Manufacturer of power equipment such as generators, pressure washers, and power tools.
powerstroketools.com

Plus a generator interlock Kit for my panel, outdoor plug and cord from Home Depot. It runs everything including LP Heat, Well Pump, Septic Lift Pump and a hot tub with two teenagers who have a blatant disregard for power consumption.

It's totally manual but takes me about 10 minutes to haul it out and get it running (Just enough time for the power to come back on). No complaints other than shitty fuel, which is my own fault.
 
Almost at completion of the install.

Been running cords off a 20KW 3phase, and that sucks when power goes out in winter. I put more hours on that genset pumping water (and running it with a load) than ever due to power out. Was vital during the fire in 2020 when power was out for a week.

So onto latest project
20kw Cummins Propane included switch panel - deal from local contractor selling new old stock. $4K. Retail seems to be in the $5.5 - 6 range, and I think he thought he was getting the install (which he quoted at $7K!!):flipoff:
Install through local electrical company, project manager a racing friend, so final cost $1800. (quotes ranged from $2.5 to the above $7k)

But..... some warranty issues for the Cummins, been more of a time soak hassle and inconvenience. The Cummins boys obviously do not work on these tiny little motors too often, so diagnosis was a problem, until they actually read the damn TSM's.

I had additional costs as I reconfigured my propane and built a couple retaining walls to tidy up the generator location

- 2 x 1000 gallon tanks, delivered $3500 plus install $385 say $4K as I provided 100 ' of poly gas line.

So right at $10K complete. Damn. Undecided if I sell the large Wacker Neuson or just move it down and power the shop when that gets built. Local power company want $20K for connecting to my existing poles.

But I figure I am now prepared for 3 months off grid if the need arises.
 
XtremeJ said:
Almost at completion of the install.

Been running cords off a 20KW 3phase, and that sucks when power goes out in winter. I put more hours on that genset pumping water (and running it with a load) than ever due to power out. Was vital during the fire in 2020 when power was out for a week.

So onto latest project
20kw Cummins Propane included switch panel - deal from local contractor selling new old stock. $4K. Retail seems to be in the $5.5 - 6 range, and I think he thought he was getting the install (which he quoted at $7K!!):flipoff:
Install through local electrical company, project manager a racing friend, so final cost $1800. (quotes ranged from $2.5 to the above $7k)

But..... some warranty issues for the Cummins, been more of a time soak hassle and inconvenience. The Cummins boys obviously do not work on these tiny little motors too often, so diagnosis was a problem, until they actually read the damn TSM's.

I had additional costs as I reconfigured my propane and built a couple retaining walls to tidy up the generator location

- 2 x 1000 gallon tanks, delivered $3500 plus install $385 say $4K as I provided 100 ' of poly gas line.

So right at $10K complete. Damn. Undecided if I sell the large Wacker Neuson or just move it down and power the shop when that gets built. Local power company want $20K for connecting to my existing poles.

But I figure I am now prepared for 3 months off grid if the need arises.
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DAMN. Dual 1000 gallons is a shitload. what is your hourly fuel burn rate on a normal day?
 
I paid $250 for my 7k Generac natural gas with transfer switch. Has a 22? HP Kohler?? (I forget now, it's been a while). I know they used the same engine for the next size up as well.
Early 2000s unit but never used.

I have no reason to power everything at once, it's just to keep the place from freezing and food from spoiling

Most power hungry would probably be the well pump, that's maybe 1 kw.
 
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One thing to keep in mind about Generacs is that the ATS is different from anything else. Generacs are dumb transfer switches meaning the brains are in the generator and they just receive on-off signal from the generator. Every other brand out there has the ATS sense voltage and control itself along with closing a circuit to signal the generator to start. So, if you go Generac you must have their ATS. Most other brands can be mixed or matched because of the simple circuit closure of the switch commanding the genset.
 
Texas97 said:
DAMN. Dual 1000 gallons is a shitload. what is your hourly fuel burn rate on a normal day?
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House had an existing 1K gallons I wanted to upgrade, if we are somewhat stingy with the heat that usually lasts 1 year, allowing refills at the cheapest time of year

Added the second 1K for the generator, working on a line to tie the tanks together (if needed). Cummins manual states 0.5 gal per hour at full load, I doubt we ever run full load but winter could see well, propane furnace, washer, dryer (not at same time) and three fridges and two freezers.

From previous experience off the generator I can get buy running it for 3 hours 3 times per day. Seemed to keep freezers frozen, fridges cold, batteries charged, and even heated up the truck.

So I figure about three months at least before I get creative, or fire up the diesel genset and if I have decent fuel in the truck in addition to the 100 gallon tank in the generator, that should be good for another 3 months. Hopefully they would have power back by then.
 
XtremeJ said:
House had an existing 1K gallons I wanted to upgrade, if we are somewhat stingy with the heat that usually lasts 1 year, allowing refills at the cheapest time of year

Added the second 1K for the generator, working on a line to tie the tanks together (if needed). Cummins manual states 0.5 gal per hour at full load, I doubt we ever run full load but winter could see well, propane furnace, washer, dryer (not at same time) and three fridges and two freezers.

From previous experience off the generator I can get buy running it for 3 hours 3 times per day. Seemed to keep freezers frozen, fridges cold, batteries charged, and even heated up the truck.

So I figure about three months at least before I get creative, or fire up the diesel genset and if I have decent fuel in the truck in addition to the 100 gallon tank in the generator, that should be good for another 3 months. Hopefully they would have power back by then.
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.5 gallon per hour full load seems awful low. Generac 18kw specs out at 3 gallons per hour in comparison
 
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