stanby generator descisions

[pmalavolti]

I would like some advice about my options. I like the sound of cummins 10 year warranty so far, but does anybody know for sure that they are easy to work with. it seams everybody has generac, so Im getting reports everywhere across the board on those. Also it scares me that i see a bunch of used ones on ebay that are only a few years old being sold. Champion has lowest fuel consumption it appears, but I'm going to pipe it to my NG supply. Price is a concern but not the deciding factor. I am in this house for the rest of my life, so I will invest in better quality if it can be justified. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[930dreamer]

Check this video out;

I went old school Cummins

 

[My Old Tools]

My Generac is about 10 years old. It is propane, water cooled, Mitsubishi 4 cylinder. It has been bulletproof so far.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Cummins are good, but I think you should also look at what brand has the best local support - if the nearest Cummins repairman is hours away from you, it may be better to get whatever brand is best supported by a local dealer.

 

[yeldogt]

Check this video out;

I went old school Cummins

They redesigned them

 

[nadogail]

If I had my choice it would be a Witte or a single cylinder Lister.

 

[cedgo]

Natural gas is not 100% reliable.

 

[tymbo]

Nothing is 100% reliable, but natural gas comes close. I have owned my home for 35 years and never had a natural gas failure. Electric on the other hand, fails several times a year.

 

[bikesandcars]

The natural gas grid is robust and backed up, so if it's just for residential outage protection that's a solid choice IMO.

How reliable is your power and how much do you want to spend to compensate? My power goes off for 6 hours every 5 years, so I just have a harbor freight plug-in.

If you are out in the sticks and it needs to run every week more robust equipment is in order.

 

[pmalavolti]

The natural gas grid is robust and backed up, so if it's just for residential outage protection that's a solid choice IMO.

How reliable is your power and how much do you want to spend to
compensate? My power goes off for 6 hours every 5 years, so I just have a harbor freight plug-in.

If you are out in the sticks and it needs to run every week more robust equipment is in order.

Mine is about like yours, but the tornados we have take out ours. So mine will be for storms causing the issue.

 

[pmalavolti]

Cummins are good, but I think you should also look at what brand has the best local support - if the nearest Cummins repairman is hours away from you, it may be better to get whatever brand is best supported by a local dealer.

I agree, but the only thing i'm seeing around me is the generac. occassionly the honeywell showes up at costco.

 

[dcg9381]

I would like some advice about my options. I like the sound of cummins 10 year warranty so far, but does anybody know for sure that they are easy to work with.

Are you doing a self-install? Because then you need to look into all the reviews that comment on the manufacturer's ability to work with DIY / Self-install.

What level of generator are you looking at? Are you sticking with air cooled or moving up into the water cooled lines?

Cummins makes great products - but they don't have a big line of home generators under 20kw.

I think the best values are probably in buying a used, diesel, water cooled generator. Around here I've seen them sell for <$5000 stand alone with not a lot of hours.

Right now there are "availability" issues in the market.
I ended up with a 20kw generac - largely because I found one a business was selling, but I was headed toward that anyway. 3600 RPM, as it's a standby - powered by propane. I bought a new transfer switch and control system - I had already installed their load shed modules.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I work in the industry, so I know how reliable natural gas is....but as a personal data point, I've been a natural gas customer as a homeowner for 35 years with 2 different gas companies at multiple locations and I have NEVER had a natural gas outage. Not for one minute. Doesn't mean it won't happen 10 minutes from now.

Anything that takes out your power and the natural gas system (major earthquake, powerful tornado, major flood, etc.) is unlikely to leave your home livable anyway.

SO...do I have a backup generator at home? Nope. Sadly my power company (Duke Energy) has been too reliable for me to justify the expense. My power goes off once a year or so and has been back on within 2 to 12 hours every time. I use a small gasoline powered camping generator and extension cords to power my fridge or coffee maker and to recharge the backup battery on my sump pump as needed.

Lots of these mcMansions we are running gas to these days are getting built with backup generators. Typically we have to increase the gas meter size because of that.

Phil

 

[CarBikeGuy70]

I am in need of a standby unit as well. Being without power for 6 days and using a portable gas powered generator became very tiring this last summer. I am going to install a generator transfer switch and power the house with a diesel powered generator. i would tell anyone thinking of a generator to see what they really need power wise. I have a well with a 3/4 hp pump, oil fired boiler with an indirect hot water maker along with two refrigerators. I ran everything with a 5kw portable generator. Our house lighting is 90% led so this comb is not too intense demand wise. I am looking for a diesel unit in the 6-7kw range with a Kubota engine. This is the same setup used in the portable light towers you see along the highway at construction sites. Most of these units run 10,000 hours before a rebuild- just super dependable, sip fuel and quiet. All are watercooled and run at 1800 rpm. If you\ find a diesel unit to suit your load requirememts I am sure you will be pleased with the performance.

 

[dcg9381]

I don't think there is anything better than a 1800 rpm water cooled diesel... I didn't go that way as I needed more than 10KW and wasn't willing to buy-into the additional expense (and reliability / durability) of those generators... Depends on your use case.