Just did a lot of research on this ...Cummins just came out with a new line of generators. Bought the 20kw propane unit for my new weekend place in the county. Cummins sells that model as a kit that comes with the transfer switch. Also, bought the remote control, concrete pad (it has mounting points for the unit) and the auto load shedding kit. It was around $5500 delivered.
The 20kw unit will start a 5 ton AC. I was originally going to go with a 14k unit with more load shedding -- but the new Cummings 20kw unit was about the same fuel use as the 14kw. I don't have natural gas -- so fuel use is important. When we get ice storms -- the propane trucks can't deliver .... we lost power for a few days last year and many people could not get deliveries and ran out. All the appliances in the new house will be propane .. my studio also.
The transfer switch goes between the meter and the load center -- be advised ... the transfer switches are big. The load shedding kits are two 50 amp relays that are spliced into a big amp user that you may not be able to run if everything is on ... say a dryer.
I'm going to shed the second AC unit .. and my studio AC unit. Mine is about 125' from the house -- it's close to the buried 1k propane tank. We ran three conduits -- one is 2.5 for the cables back to the house .. the other two are for the low volt wires and the 110 feed. I think they are both 1". I was confused at the time about how it was connected -- some areas only allow the main feed wires in a single cable others allow the 110v wires to share with the main .. still anthers allow everything in one. Generac makes a cable you can buy with all the wires in one jacket -- but many areas don't allow this type of hook up .. mine will not.
The cummins unit is quiet and has an innovative test cycle that uses the engines starter motor to test the unit vs starting the motor -- it can eliminate about 1/2 the hot test cycles where the engines actually starts ... this conserves propane. I also liked how it all connected up and communicated with the remote -- the load shedding kit is straight forward in hookup and operation. When the generator starts -- the unit drops the loads -- after running for a while it brings them on one at a time if within the units capacity. The unit will drop them one at a time should the load on the unit increase to 90%. I also found out that unlike many units .. the cummins does not require a heater until it get to 0 degrees .... not very often in my area.
I have this same unit. I've got the unit installed, on a cement pad, and the propane plumbed but I'm still trying to get the electrical work dialed in. I haven't used it yet, so this maybe doesn't bring much to the conversation, but the Cummins generator in my truck camper and the Cummins engine in my truck have led me to trust this brand.
Did you run the ethernet cable for the internet connection?
-Chris
I have this same unit. I've got the unit installed, on a cement pad, and the propane plumbed but I'm still trying to get the electrical work dialed in. I haven't used it yet, so this maybe doesn't bring much to the conversation, but the Cummins generator in my truck camper and the Cummins engine in my truck have led me to trust this brand.
Did you run the ethernet cable for the internet connection?
-Chris
Whats the hold up on the electrical?
Just trying to get an electrician on site and then provide a bid, I've made LOTS of phone calls. They all must be so busy making money they don't need to return phone calls???
An electrician was here yesterday and he said our house system provides a bit more complexity.
Our house is setup so we have the service drop coming from the utility company to our meter from there it splits to a 200 amp panel in the house and a 100amp panel in the shop. The split takes place inside a meter/service panel combo. We want power to both locations from the generator. The electrician yesterday has stated that my current meter and current service panel wouldn't allow for power to both locations. I assume his quote will include a new power meter enclosure and a standalone service panel thus allowing the transfer switch to be installed between the two. We have yet to receive a bid for this work.
I've built buildings, added electrical circuits to my previous homes, done big plumbing refits, rebuilt engines and transmissions, rewired cars, and etc but my lack of knowledge in this area of house electrical work is frustrating. I really don't like being so dependent on others.
-Chris
Just trying to get an electrician on site and then provide a bid, I've made LOTS of phone calls. They all must be so busy making money they don't need to return phone calls???
An electrician was here yesterday and he said our house system provides a bit more complexity.
Our house is setup so we have the service drop coming from the utility company to our meter from there it splits to a 200 amp panel in the house and a 100amp panel in the shop. The split takes place inside a meter/service panel combo. We want power to both locations from the generator. The electrician yesterday has stated that my current meter and current service panel wouldn't allow for power to both locations. I assume his quote will include a new power meter enclosure and a standalone service panel thus allowing the transfer switch to be installed between the two. We have yet to receive a bid for this work.
I've built buildings, added electrical circuits to my previous homes, done big plumbing refits, rebuilt engines and transmissions, rewired cars, and etc but my lack of knowledge in this area of house electrical work is frustrating. I really don't like being so dependent on others.
-Chris
Yeah thats a bit more complicated.
Are you gonna do a manual or automatic transfer switch?
If automatic you will either need a really large generator or load shedding capability.