Generac Purchase and Install Questions

[timc930]

Looking at a Generac 28kw air cooled generator. We had the generac 200amp transfer switch and propane port installed when we built the house. Called Generac and they sent one of their local reseller/installer out and he quoted us $15k for the generator and installation. This seems high considering I can buy the generator at Home Depot for $7k. He offered us 5% off if we signed up the day he was here telling us if we did not he might be hard to get in touch with. Sounds like a timeshare racket to me. Any reason not to buy the generator from HD and find a licensed Electrician/Plumber to install since the gas and Transfer box are already installed?

 

[manwithtools]

Any reason not to buy the generator from HD and find a licensed Electrician/Plumber to install since the gas and Transfer box are already installed?

Nope!

 

[The Cobbler]

he was here telling us if we did not he might be hard to get in touch with.

Ok, if you're too busy for me to think about it, I will call someone else that's not . thanks for your time.

 

[steves_001]

Costco has Honeywell generators (generac rebadge). I bought a 22kw for just under 5k delivered. Propane add on piping was 750 and the electrician was about 2 k and he had the special wire to run from transfer sw to genset.
When setup to the mothership (generac) it’s all the same start up process. Costco even had extended warranty. Works like a charm and a whole lot less money. Might be worth checking that out.

 

[shade]

Yep, racket.
Got my 22k generac off of Amazon. $5k including transfer switch.
Electrician wired it up for $1500.
Propane piping like $500 ish.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I bought mine from a Generac dealer two years ago for 6800 including a transfer switch and 2800 to a local electrician to install. Got the zero percent interest of the generator and got it paid off in 14 months.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Ok, if you're too busy for me to think about it, I will call someone else that's not . thanks for your time.

Yeah, call his bluff: "Ah no worries if you're that busy, maybe we can do business with you some other time." (not)

 

[Sumboodie]

What are you running in a house that you need 115 amps of power?

I have a 7.5kw and it's more than enough.
Heat, few lights, fridges/freezer, well pump... and still plenty left.

I can see around a 12-14kw if you have A/C and "need" it.

 

[moab11]

What are you running in a house that you need 115 amps of power?

I have a 7.5kw and it's more than enough.
Heat, few lights, fridges/freezer, well pump... and still plenty left.

I can see around a 12-14kw if you have A/C and "need" it.

Depends on outage frequency and duration. Bigger generators are liquid cooled, so handle long outages better.
If you get frequent long outages, then being able to cook and such becomes more important, and justifies the larger generator.

 

[Sbusmech]

Yikes! I've thinking about a back up generator for some time. I do hate the high pressure sales tactics though. I think I think I'll get a good generator at Harbor Freight then have an electrician get me a plug in to my power.

 

[My Old Tools]

If you're looking at 28kw, move up to a water cooled. Quieter, last much longer, more economical to run.

 

[jade97]

What are you running in a house that you need 115 amps of power?

I have a 7.5kw and it's more than enough.
Heat, few lights, fridges/freezer, well pump... and still plenty left.

I can see around a 12-14kw if you have A/C and "need" it.

So you're saying my 38kw is too large?

All electric house (4t heat pump w/electric back up, electric water heater, well, septic, electric appliances, electric fireplace....)

Not everyone's situations are the same

 

[Sumboodie]

So you're saying my 38kw is too large?

All electric house (4t heat pump w/electric back up, electric water heater, well, septic, electric appliances, electric fireplace....)

Not everyone's situations are the same

100 amp service is all we get.

 

[jade97]

I have a 400A service.

 

[My Old Tools]

So you're saying my 38kw is too large?

All electric house (4t heat pump w/electric back up, electric water heater, well, septic, electric appliances, electric fireplace....)

Not everyone's situations are the same

I love my 37kw water cooled. That Mitsubishi 4 cylinder just quietly chugs along.

 

[racecougar]

100 amp service is all we get.

Who is "we"?

400A service here.

 

[manwithtools]

Who is "we"?

400A service here.

Sumboodie is in Alaska, I think he's referring to his area being limited to 100 amps. That certainly is not the case in the Lower 48.

 

[racecougar]

Sumboodie is in Alaska, I think he's referring to his area being limited to 100 amps. That certainly is not the case in the Lower 48.

Bingo. As jade97 said, "not everyone's situations are the same". "We" are not limited to 100A service.

 

[dcg9381]

Called Generac and they sent one of their local reseller/installer out and he quoted us $15k for the generator and installation. This seems high considering I can buy the generator at Home Depot for $7k. He offered us 5% off if we signed up the day he was here telling us if we did not he might be hard to get in touch with. Sounds like a timeshare racket to me. Any reason not to buy the generator from HD and find a licensed Electrician/Plumber to install since the gas and Transfer box are already installed?

$15k-$20k is the going rate around here. They seem to quote at that across the board. Which is a big ridiculous if you've got the ATS already wired in and propane at the pad.. Crazy.

I did what you did, bought the ATS - had it added during construction. Hardest part was it took 4 people to carry the generator about 30 feet uphill to the pad. Plumber ran a gas line. Total install cost $2k, if that...

 

[Sumboodie]

I love my 37kw water cooled. That Mitsubishi 4 cylinder just quietly chugs along.

An oversize gen set isn't good either.

At the shop we had a ~300kw (i may be off,it's been some years) unit we got in trade for $$ owed. Had a 220 Cummins, which is like 12 liter? (I forget now)
It would wet stack just powering the shop. Was fine to run the 5 head planer though. (Cheaper to run the generator than get 3 phase power)

 

[Jackfre]

I installed my own. When after a couple years I wanted a trained guy to look it over he hit me pretty good, but it was worth it. I saved a lot up front and developed the trained tech where needed.

 

[astrohip]

What are you running in a house that you need 115 amps of power?

I have a 7.5kw and it's more than enough.
Heat, few lights, fridges/freezer, well pump... and still plenty left.

I can see around a 12-14kw if you have A/C and "need" it.

I'm glad a 7.5 works for you. For many of us, it won't. Heck, my 2HP well pump would use 1/3 of that before anything else gets to say hello.

A/C if we "need" it? When you lose power in TX in the summer, you "need" it. We have four AC units, but only run two if we lose power. Between the AC and pump, your 7.5 is one and done.

Lose power for an hour or two, sure you can get by. I've lost power multiple times, the longest was 8 days after a tropical storm. Unless you want to live like a hermit, you'll need the washer/dryer, well pump, AC, refr, oven, etc.

I have friends who can struggle by with a portable gen, and I'm happy it works for them. I have two 200 amp panels, and one 100 amp panel. I need a standby generator.

 

[dcg9381]

I'm glad a 7.5 works for you. For many of us, it won't. Heck, my 2HP well pump would use 1/3 of that before anything else gets to say hello.

And there is start surge.
But it's a fair point. I've got a 20kW generator... I'm sure if I ran a load calc, it'd say that I'm under-provisioned. But reality is that my annual peak power pull for this year is 15kW - which is across the house and shop... At $7k not much price difference between 20k and 28k though, so maybe that's the right answer.

ATS makes everything way easier... Worth it.

 

[PoorUB]

I used to sell and install Generac.

I thought about putting one on my house, then decided the ever ten years longer power outage didn't justify it. I have a 7,000 watt portable that works just fine for my situation.
We have been in this house for 35 y
ears and have had one power outage that lasted two days. We have had very few last more than a couple hours. No sump pump to deal with. Really the 7,000 watt is too large and I would prefer a smaller unit, about half the size. Easier to move around.

As for the OP, make certain the plumber or electrician read the manual, and have a Generac tech for startup for warranty. Pretty sure a trained tech is required for startup. The gas hook up can be tricky, but it should be all in the manual. They take a huge amount of gas and many installers run to small of pipe.

 

[Bert_]

I've got a little 4kw portable. Can't run the stove or dryer, can still cook with other appliances and even run the a/c.