Please School Me on Standby Generators

[theoldwizard1]

This s NOT an advertisement or endorsement for Generac Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS). I do not own one and I do not work for them or sell them. I am not saying they are bad either. This is just "what is available".

Now if you are a DIYer (or can get an electrician not to follow the NEC) and think the current NEC requirement that a generator be capable of running all connected loads (who pulls anywhere close to 200A, EVER ? Welders and plasma cutter don't count) when using an ATS is for people with no common sense, then the "average homeowner" will likely be able to use one of the following ATS with either a portable generator or an under 10KW permanent generator.

RTSX100
RTSX200

100 and 200 amp ATS. Expandable "load shedding" capability (can turn off A/C or water heater if load is too high). I believe 1 load shed module is shipped with each unit but you can have up to 6.

RTSD100
RTSD200

Same as above but includes

Service Entrance Rated

• Installs between main meter and service panel
• Contains load side and line side disconnecting breakers

This is just a switch. It will not start the generator and it needs some type of signal (relay) to initiate the transfer.

 

[Laker]

My personal experience

I went with a 20kW Generac NG aircooled unit. I want it to be automatic so my wife wouldn't have to deal with anything if I was out of town on a business trip. It gets very humid here in the summer and we need it to run the A/C and rest of the house. I don't want her (or me for that matter) to deal with Propane or Gasoline or Diesel refills during an extended outage. I have never heard of a NG disruption in our area. I also didn't want to deal with remembering which outlets/appliances were on the generator, so went with a "whole house" approach. We used a respected Generac dealer (electrician) to do the install. More expensive yes, but more piece of mind. Generac had a 5 year warranty promo going on. 4 years parts and labor, 5 year parts. Although I am fully capable of doing the maintenance, I don't want to allow for any wiggle room on the part of Generac or the dealer if warranty work is needed, so I am letting the dealer do the maintenance for the first 5 years. I have read stories on both sides of the fence, some saying the units are rock solid reliable with others saying they **** and are always breaking down. To date, the unit has run a total of just 6 hours with 5 being setup testing and weekly exercise and one being an actual outage. We have it programed not to kick on until 10 seconds after the outage in case the power comes right back on. When the grid power does come back on, the transfer back to the grid is seamless. No flicker. I only know we are back on the grid when we hear the unit shut down. It is as loud as a push lawn mower. I have the exhaust facing my neighbors whom I don't like anyway. The total bill was $9k, a lot, I know, but here's what I'm thinking:
1) the value of my house has just increased by $9k, and my property taxes haven't.
2) complete peace of mind when I am traveling for work (and even when I'm home)
3) a little less than half of the price was setting up the infrastructure at my place. Concrete pad, gas line, electrical line, xfer switch, so if the unit *****, I can plug and play a Kohler, B&S or whatever next time for a little more than half the cost of a full install.
4) totally automatic and mindless so long as there are no NG interruptions.

Just sharing my thought process as a data point, YMMV.

Not my installer, but you get the idea:

 

[slickgt1]

I figured I would update you guys. Bit the bullet, sort of. Bought and installed a Kohler 14kw unit at my inlaws. I offered to front all the expense, if they would let me try and install it myself. Took me about 3 days total. But I read the instruction and followed them to a T.

Have to say, I am loving it. I had an electrician come out and install a main service disconnect breaker, and from that point on, everything was pretty much plug and play. I was able to turn off the power whenever I needed to play with the ATS or any other part of the electrical system.

Fired it up yesterday, puuurs like a kitten, well more like a fork lift, but I have to say, not as loud as I expected it to be. In all honesty, when there is no power, who gives a **** how loud it is, as long as there is power. Takes about 5 seconds for it to kick on. Entire house on, even AC set to high, the thing didn't even rev up. Going to also install a manual transfer switch for the tenants, as I am sure this unit can manage it, and they want it just in case they put family into the apartment.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yep, it's pretty basic electrical and foundation work. The biggest pain is usually having to up-size your gas line (for Nat Gas), and also to trench a gas line to where the generator is.