15kw Generac Generator

[Flipper88]

Howdy all been a long time since I have posted. I had the pleasure of picking up an older LP powered 15kw generator for a screaming deal. Its a 4cyl water cooled LP powered engine with less than 220 hours on it. My panel already has a transfer switch on it and the exterior of the house is wired for a plug. My electrician buddy is going to wire it in. I will get a couple of 100lb tanks in the short term, but will be buying a 500 gallon tank.

I am pouring the pad for it this weekend. My question is, With this generator being a substantial size, do I need to bolt it down to the concrete? Is there also a rubber buffer I should place in between?

 

[sixty4]

I did not anchor my 22kw down. It's been several years without an issue. I also poured a pad for mine, generator company told me I didn't really need it though.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Howdy all been a long time since I have posted. I had the pleasure of picking up an older LP powered 15kw generator for a screaming deal. Its a 4cyl water cooled LP powered engine with less than 220 hours on it. My panel already has a transfer switch on it and the exterior of the house is wired for a plug. My electrician buddy is going to wire it in. I will get a couple of 100lb tanks in the short term, but will be buying a 500 gallon tank.

I am pouring the pad for it this weekend. My question is, With this generator being a substantial size, do I need to bolt it down to the concrete? Is there also a rubber buffer I should place in between?

I assume you meant inlet.

But what size inlet do you have?

15KW is 60+ amps.....

 

[Justin James]

Howdy all been a long time since I have posted. I had the pleasure of picking up an older LP powered 15kw generator for a screaming deal. Its a 4cyl water cooled LP powered engine with less than 220 hours on it. My panel already has a transfer switch on it and the exterior of the house is wired for a plug. My electrician buddy is going to wire it in. I will get a couple of 100lb tanks in the short term, but will be buying a 500 gallon tank.

I am pouring the pad for it this weekend. My question is, With this generator being a substantial size, do I need to bolt it down to the concrete? Is there also a rubber buffer I should place in between?

Flipper,
Could you post pictures of both sides of the engine. I only ask this to warn you of a problem if it is the engine I think it may be. Whenever we set a generator of this type we put it up on azac spacers and fasten it to the base. Also if it has a coolant heater make sure there are NO openings a mouse can get into, they love generators with coolant heaters and can do some serious damage.

justin

 

[Platonic Solid]

I don't know about water cooled, but air cooled on concrete pad must be bolted to the pad. Easier to just use 4" tamped pea gravel framed with landscape ties. This PDF is pretty good (link).

 

[dcg9381]

My panel already has a transfer switch on it and the exterior of the house is wired for a plug.

Which plug? Most genset plugs that I see are 30A. Check wiring between transfer switch and plug also - your genset may easily outrun that wiring/plug.

 

[Flipper88]

I am fully willing to admit I am very ignorant when it comes to wiring. That is why my friend who is an electrician will be helping me. I call it a plug, but the inlet on the outside of the house I have used to plug my smaller generator in. The fuse in the box is a 50 amp and he is going to replace it with a 60 amp i believe. I also think he is going to hard wire it to the panel and get rid of the inlet on the outside i am not totally sure. I will take some pictures of my panel, the inlet, and the generator this weekend for reference.

 

[jade97]

My 38 kW water cooled is bolted to the concrete pad.

 

[yeldogt]

Bolted -- It's code in my area. That's why I recommend ordering the pad along with the generator since it can all ship together. Heavy pad with threaded anchor points in place

 

[MrSurly]

Bolted -- It's code in my area. That's why I recommend ordering the pad along with the generator since it can all ship together. Heavy pad with threaded anchor points in place

? What kind of material is the pad that is being shipped?
I'm confused... if it's code that it be bolted to a pad, wouldn't that imply a *concrete, not-really portable* pad?
I'm here to learn as I'm about to put in a similar (larger) unit.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Bolted if concrete pad. No bolts necessary for gravel pad.