Better secure generator gas line?

[HamAndEggs]

I've asked them to come and make this better tomorrow when they fill in the trench, but I somehow feel they won't make it much better

I'm thinking of getting the smallest unistrut I can and sneak it behind the gas line, and screw it to the side of the slab. Best idea?

Any other smart ideas? Its plenty strong, but looks like ****

(Ignore the 1/2 liquidtight, I snuck that in)

 

[PoorUB]

Not very pretty! Plus the gas line is running right over the cover on the elbow. Not a good deal. Also, why such a long tube on the vent of the regulator? Is it going off somewhere else? It really just needs a screen over the opening. I will bet that red levered shut off is not listed for outdoor use.

A couple "L" brackets on the back side of the pipe, anchored into the concrete would look a lot better.

 

[Gizzi]

That gas line install is a bit questionable. The unistrut should have been mounted to the concrete generator pad. I am also questioning the gas shut off being rated for outdoor use.

 

[Sumboodie]

Is the LB (I believe that's the term) blocked by the gas pipe?

I'd imagine that's not ok.

I'd imagine there's a min separation distant between power and gas too.

 

[rlitman]

Is the LB (I believe that's the term) blocked by the gas pipe?

I'd imagine that's not ok.

I'd imagine there's a min separation distant between power and gas too.

The LB should have been side entry. There's no minimum separation between power and gas that I'm aware of.

 

[PCustoms]

Also, why such a long tube on the vent of the regulator? Is it going off somewhere else? It really just needs a screen over the opening.

What exactly are we looking at here, a regulator vent plumbed underground? That doesn't seem right....

No comment in the shutoff rating, wasn't aware that was a thing (plumber installed mine).

I'll agree mount that strut to the pad, above ground, and tidy that mounting up. The blocked LB may be a list cause without re-plumbing and may fail if you have an inspection. Maybe you can replace that conduit and flip the LB, but technically you can't glue conduit over wire.

 

[rlitman]

What exactly are we looking at here, a regulator vent plumbed underground? That doesn't seem right....

I believe that is a demand regulator with electronic kill shutoff. NG generators will have demand regulators that stop the gas supply when there is no carburetor vacuum (they don't step down the pressure like a typical regulator), but they also need an ignition interlock when above a certain output size for safety.

Oh, and if want to be picky, shouldn't that CSST be bonded?

 

[HamAndEggs]

All of this did pass a picky electrical and gas inspection, and from what I can tell, the shutoff is exterior rated

Blocking the LB is kind of a shame, but unless the wire needs to be re-pulled, there is no need to get in there. I agree it should have come out the side

The vent from the regulator was a new one to me, I didn't know they even needed a vent. Turns out the vent can't be near the generator, so it comes out the ground a few feet away

I'm glad everyones agreed is looks like ****, doesn't really look like an install I paid $20,000 for

 

[rjacobs]

I will bet that red levered shut off is not listed for outdoor use.

I am also questioning the gas shut off being rated for outdoor use.

I have basically that same shutoff from my propane tank to my house. It looks the same, but maybe there are some differences. I believe mine has a hole for a lock to lock it in the off position. Besides that, looks pretty much the same. Might be yellow though to signify gas.

 

[acmikee]

is the flex line rated for the BTU's of the generator
gas line is run over the top of the gas line---the unistrut does't looks secured---the gas line is blocking the access to the generator
pretty bad looking work for $20000

 

[Gizzi]

I have basically that same shutoff from my propane tank to my house. It looks the same, but maybe there are some differences. I believe mine has a hole for a lock to lock it in the off position. Besides that, looks pretty much the same. Might be yellow though to signify gas.

Looks like a Nibco brand valve, which appears to be rated for indoor use only.

Gas Ball Valves

www.nibco.com

 

[PoorUB]

I have basically that same shutoff from my propane tank to my house. It looks the same, but maybe there are some differences. I believe mine has a hole for a lock to lock it in the off position. Besides that, looks pretty much the same. Might be yellow though to signify gas.

The color of the handle means nothing.
Over the years I piped a lot of commercial and residential gas and I never saw a valve like that that was certified for outdoor use. We always had to use the ones with the longer steel handle with a vinyl cover.

Nibco indoor, low pressure valve

Pretty sure this is the one that should be on that gas line.

Nibco ball valve.

The only question I have is some of these valves are not rated for low , 1/2 PSI gas pressure.

 

[PoorUB]

Oh, and if want to be picky, shouldn't that CSST be bonded?

What CSST?

I see a riser for I believe is underground poly. I don't see any CSST.

 

[PoorUB]

All of this did pass a picky electrical and gas inspection, and from what I can tell, the shutoff is exterior rated

I would bet it is not! Sad part there is good and bad inspectors.

In a city I worked in often the inspector would show up and I would have to explain why he was there. It was terrible. In a adjoining city the inspector was well trained and sharp. He wouldn't pass that valve, but the other city would because they wouldn't know unless I told them!

 

[rlitman]

What CSST?

I see a riser for I believe is underground poly. I don't see any CSST.

There's a foot of it between the drip leg and that large piece of pipe.

 

[rjacobs]

The color of the handle means nothing.
Over the years I piped a lot of commercial and residential gas and I never saw a valve like that that was certified for outdoor use. We always had to use the ones with the longer steel handle with a vinyl cover.

Nibco indoor, low pressure valve

Pretty sure this is the one that should be on that gas line.

Nibco ball valve.

The only question I have is some of these valves are not rated for low , 1/2 PSI gas pressure.

ill take a picture of mine later. Our city is pretty **** with inspections(one guy failed the builder for a single nail missing from a joist nailing plate) so if the valve I have is not rated for outdoor use it would surprise me....well lets just say it wouldnt REALLY surprised me.

 

[grounded-b]

deleted

 

[PCustoms]

The color of the handle means nothing.
Over the years I piped a lot of commercial and residential gas and I never saw a valve like that that was certified for outdoor use. We always had to use the ones with the longer steel handle with a vinyl cover.

My propane is done with a similar valve, by a licensed and we'll regarded contractor. I've had no reason to question the rating.

 

[PoorUB]

There's a foot of it between the drip leg and that large piece of pipe.

That is a flex connector, most likely supplied by Generac. I used to sell and install Generac standby generators.

 

[HamAndEggs]

Sorry for the late update guys

I asked the gas utility Centerpoint energy when they came out, and they said that the connector is outdoor rated, they are used all over the place here in Houston. Good enough for me, if I notice it rusting out, I'll get it replaced

I used a few tapcons and screwed some unistrut into the slab, looks MUCH better. I made sure it was 100% level and has a slight gap for the LB lid. I can unscrew it and remove it with no issue, and the gas pipe is not pushing down on it

 

[HamAndEggs]

Now, how many more boxes can I add to my wall...

 

[casmurbax]

that looks much better.

I can name 2 boxes, PoCo meter and the transfer switch.

What are the other ones?

 

[HamAndEggs]

Copy paste from another comment:

from the left to right

* Enphase Combiner with Envoy - Brings my 4 x Solar AC Circuits and combines them into one, also monitors the solar
* 100a Solar Disconnect - Takes the power out the combiner and through a fused disconnect so you can shut it down
* Meter Box
* Main Panel - 200a main with feed through lugs which then run behind the wall to the house. Has 125a circuit for my garage sub (On the other side of the wall) and a 30a circuit for portable generator input
* Generac ATS - This is actually my "Main panel" Power comes in here from the meter (And solar since its a line side tap) and the 27kw standby generator, and then goes out to the panel to the left to supply power. If the power goes out, the generator starts itself and the ATS flips input power to it

Then at the bottom on the right is the 30a input for a portable generator



Do you guys think that 2 x 1/4" Tapcons is strong enough for each bracket? I'm wondering if I should add at least a third?

 

[casmurbax]

Thanks for the reply!

I can't help you on the proper Tapcons.

 

[Wrench97]

Too late now but they probably should have mounted the generator the opposite way, then the mess would have been out of sight between it and the fence.

 

[HamAndEggs]

Mounting it the other way would then mean the LCD is the other way, and exhaust facing the house

The nice thing is that the super bright green LED is easily visible from my cameras, especially at night. So if there is an issues, I can see it pretty well

 

[HamAndEggs]

You guys got me scratching my head over that handle again, I called Nibco and they said there is better handles out there to be used outdoors for this application, but this is is fine outdoors and doesn't have a rating either way. He said the valve itself will always be fine, the only think that might rust is the handle itself or the nut holding it