[Shooter]

Ike has convinced me to install a permanent, on demand back up power supply on my house. Yes it is a big expense but look at what not having one has already cost and continues to cost my family. All food in two large chest freezers and in the frig/freezer gone. Our water is supplied by our water well (electric pump) Can open windows during the day but have to close them at night due to all the mosquito's. Dealing the the heat and humidity. I debated on what size to install. Just big enough to run the freezers and frig? Nope, I going all the way. A 25kw with flex fuel capabilities. I will tie it into my 500 gal. propane tank and set it up with an automatic transfer switch. This will give me enough power to run my house as it was intended to operate. Ike pulled the sideing off the gabled ends of my home, took out my fence and uprooted a 50' tall tree. I got lucky. But Ike is still beating up my family with his after effects. It will not happen again!!! You can't put a price on security and comfort.

Shooter

 

[jabx1962]

I think you will see more people buy a Stand Bye/Back Up Genset more out of neccesity verses a Luxury.

A 25kw Genset will only cost about 10-12K for the Generator and transfer switch.

 

[TXDRAKE]

Ok, I have a question. How much Natural gas or Propane will, lets say a 17-25kw standby generator, use per hour? Just trying to get a fill for how much Propane or Natural gas I would use per week or day? Thanks.

 

[Shooter]

Thanks for the reply. I work overseas and can not always be home for my wife and three daughters when something like this happens so to me it is a necessity, not a luxury. I am helpless when something like this happens and have to depend on others to help them out and using up their valuable time that should be spent taking care of their families. So what I'm saying is that what some consider to be a luxury others may see it as a necessity. Providing myself with a little peace of mind while being 8000 miles away don't cha know ;-)

Gob Bless,
Shooter

 

[Hotrod]

TXDRAKE had an interesting question. I had a 12K generator running the night of the storm. It used 10 gals of fuel in 9 hrs. That could get expensive and would have to have fuel on demand. Hopefully you would fill the propane tank before the storm, but how long will that last? Its a good idea, I'm gonna do the same. When I can I'm gonna buy the 12K generator and it just needs to run water well, A/C unit, fridge, and 1 or 2 rooms. This unit runs around $3500. Do you have a link to this system your looking at, I'm interested also.

 

[JED]

Ok, I have a question. How much Natural gas or Propane will, lets say a 17-25kw standby generator, use per hour? Just trying to get a fill for how much Propane or Natural gas I would use per week or day? Thanks.

I have been researching them for a while now and they shot up in price from two yrs ago..Anyway, the kind I'm looking at, a natural gas 24KW gen uses about 240 cuft. per hr at a 75% load. This would equate to about $2.50 per hour. It does sound expensive but that is only about $36 per day for peace of mind when running.. Also it is much easier to run a NG line than having the permits and inspector needed for a gen with a huge gas/diesel/propane tank haning around in the backyard..

 

[JED]

Ok, I have a question. How much Natural gas or Propane will, lets say a 17-25kw standby generator, use per hour? Just trying to get a fill for how much Propane or Natural gas I would use per week or day? Thanks.

I have been researching them for a while now and they shot up in price from two yrs ago..Anyway, the kind I'm looking at, a natural gas 24KW gen uses about 240 cuft. per hr at a 75% load. This would equate to about $2.50 per hour. It does sound expensive but that is only about $36 per day for peace of mind when running.. Also it is much easier to run a NG line than having the permits and insurance needed for a gen with a huge gas/diesel/propane tank hanging around in the backyard..

 

[BILLYSTIX CUSTOM RODS]

MY BACK UP IS ON THE WAY

I LIVE IN FLA, GAINESVILLE MY HOME IS 50 MILES FROM THE GULF AND 50 MILES FROM THE ATLANTIC GIVE OR TAKE A COUP;LE MILES, I HAVE NATURAL GAS FOR HEAT ALL ELSE IS ELECTRIC, FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE GIVEN THOUGHT TO A BACK UP FOR OUR HOME SO YESTERDAY I MADE THE CALL AND NOW I HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE COMING THIS WEEK TO GIVE ME A PRICE ON A BACK UP GEN FOR TOTAL HOUSE.
IT LOOKS LIKE $5,500 NOW WITH THIS SYSTEM I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RUN THE DRYER AT THE SAME TIME AS THE STOVE BUT WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE DRYER OR WE COULD LIVE WITH SOME SMALL INCONVENINCE BUT IT WOULD GIVE US AIR-LIGHTS-AND OTHER THINGS WE NEED PLUS I ALREADY HAVE GAS SO IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE BACK UP SHORTLY, IF WHAT HAPPENED TO FLA HAPPENED TO TEXAS THERE WOULD BE NO FLA, IT'S A WAKE UP AND A NO BRAINER, MY BOSS BUILT HIS NEW HOME 5 YEARS AGO AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT WENT IN.
STIX

 

[hoosierplugger]

I'm gonna look into one that runs on nat gas. It seems to me (our) nat gas service hardly ever (never) goes out unless you've got complete destruction and at that point who needs backup generation anyway.

Craig

 

[Drainplug]

Here is something to consider for you guys. I am an electrical engineer and have installed more generation than I can count. First and foremost, save your selves some $$$ by sizing your genset correctly. Most homes will need no more than 15KW, but insure that the unit you choose has a 15KW continuous rating, with at least a 25KW peak rating. A 15 KW will run a 2400 sq ft house with no problem. this includes keeping the beer in the fridge cold, a freezer, AC, range, oven, lights, fans, and keep that boat battery charged in case the fish start biting. You might want to get the big one, but remember, its going to use more fuel. If you put in a 25KW and you only need 12.5, you are going to almost double your fuel use! Make sure you buy a revolving field generator and not a revolving armature. You get about 25% more efficiency. Insure that the unti has a skewed stator and displaced phase excitation so you won't fry the big screen and your air conditioning compressor starts easily without drawing the voltage down.

Next consideration is fuel. LP gas is the most reliable, natural gas may be shut down in an emergency. LP gas also provides a better heat rate, by 10% If you buy a 20KW and run it on LP, you get 20KW, run it on NG and it will only be good for 18KW. Doing the math (I won't bore you) a 15KW generator running at 1/2 load burns approximately 1.3 gals of propane an hour, or about 120 cu ft of NG. A 20KW (1/2 load) burns about 2 gals of LP, 225 of NG. A 25KW (1/2 load) burns about 3 gals of LP and about 275 cu ft of NG an hour. Another consideration is a 20 KW can be had as an air cooled unit, almost all 25KW are liquid cooled. Maintenance and $$$ consideration!!!

Other things to think about. Location, location, location! Put it on high ground, away from the house. They might be quiet, but they aren't that quiet. Make sure that you exercise your unit every month. You don't need to transfer power, but you do need to start it and run it for at least 30 minutes a month. Air cooled units are your best bet, water cooled have more maintenance. Make sure the genset is grounded and bonded to your utility power ground. Improperly grounded gensets can wreak havoc if the neutral floats.

Hope this helps.

 

[Lezz Go]

Great post Drainplug. I've been thinking about a nat gas generator myself. I have some room where my pool heater sets.

 

[fishnfool]

After Rita almost came, I made the same decision. I did some research and decided on a portable unit instead due to cost and the ability to use it for other things too. I spent $2k and got a 15kw that will surge to 22500. I also bought 100 gallons worth of gas cans and fill them a week before a storm might come and use it in the cars if I don't need it. I ran my water well and shop with 30 amps and my houe with 50amps. I had one a/c unit (4 ton) as well as everything else we needed running for 12 hours and used 10 gallons of gas. I was very pleased with it, it is maybe the best $2500 I have ever spent!

Not at all trying to talk you out of a permanent one, if I wasn't going to be around when these things happen, I would do the same.

 

[Viking48]

Some great posts here. My wife and I have been talking about buying a natural gas unit for a couple of months and now I wish we had done it. I have located a 17KW Generac but haven't found anyone to install it yet so I'm holding off. We have a 3400 sq. ft. house with 2 three ton units, 2 refrig and 1 freezer. According to the seller a 17 kw will work fine. We don't really have to use the upstairs (guest rooms and office) so running both A/C's is not a necessity. If you guys have done the research or are in that field, do you see anything wrong with that unit? Also, does anyone know of someone who could install one quickly at a "reasonable" price? Thanks.

 

[redduck]

fishingfool,
What is the name of your unit and where did you get it.

 

[jabx1962]

Some great posts here. My wife and I have been talking about buying a natural gas unit for a couple of months and now I wish we had done it. I have located a 17KW Generac but haven't found anyone to install it yet so I'm holding off. We have a 3400 sq. ft. house with 2 three ton units, 2 refrig and 1 freezer. According to the seller a 17 kw will work fine. We don't really have to use the upstairs (guest rooms and office) so running both A/C's is not a necessity. If you guys have done the research or are in that field, do you see anything wrong with that unit? Also, does anyone know of someone who could install one quickly at a "reasonable" price? Thanks.

You can do the installation yourself. It's not difficult. Set the GenSet, mount the transfer switch, and then call a Certified/Master Electrician to hook up the wiring.

There are many Master Electricians on TTMB. Ask around.

 

[Treat6238]

We have a permenent generator at my house in houston and it payed off well druing ike. only people in the neighborhood with power. it was awsome. we have it hooked up tot he gas like and it powers everything in my 5000 square foot house. hosue in galveston is yet to be determined on the damage.

 

[fishnfool]

Mine is a Guardian Ultra Source with a 30hp Generac motor. It was the biggest I could find at the time. They now have a 17.5kw with a 33hp Generac. I would buy that one if getting a new one today. I bought mine from electricgenerators.com with no tax and no shipping. I had a good experience with them, but it was probably 2 years ago or so.

 

[Free_loader]

I think you're thinking along the right lines! if i could afford it I would do the same! .. we don't have to worry about hurricanes this far north.. however the last 3 years we've lost power for a week or more in the winter due to Ice ... I can't justify spending 10 or 12k for a genset for my 55k house .. but i will be getting a portable unit incase of another ice storm or zombie apocalypse

 

[squidmotion]

i ran my EB2200x honda generator for a few days after ike passed... .it is a a small portable generator that my MIL gave me a while back... really helped a lot... ran for 3 days on about 10 gallons of gas...

i think that if you just want to keep a fridge and freezer running, as well as a small fan and light or two, a portable is all you need. granted, i am not going to run my entire house, or AC with it, but it sure saved the fish in the freezer, and the baby food and milk... i ran a fan to keep some air circulating.... and if i needed, i could have run my pop-up camper AC with it...

just my thoughts.... 3-4 (or 10-12) thousand seems a lot to spend (not including maint. or fuel) for a few days of AC... now a few weeks/months... hmmmmmmm

 

[bigosso]

I've been looking at them

at www.norwall.com