Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

That is a good point for us here in CA - but in my area of CA we have frequent power outages due to the snow storms in the winter cars and trucks knocking down poles all year around as well as forest fires - it was 5 days one time and 10 days the next 3 yrs ago. so several of the gas stations also have generators for backup power -
yes I have propane - 250 gallon on auto refill when down to 30% but again we use our generator for other things that require it to be portable

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1beer2

We have a 3 bdr/2bh rancher, it powers everything except the electric dryer and the oven,(both are 220) when the electrician came in and asked what I want hooked up to it... I said EVERYTHING, and that's what we paid for.
It wasn't cheap, but that was our decision.

1beer2

I don't mess with electricty, that's why I pay an electrician.

preacherman Loc: Milton/Pensacola, FL

I got an estimate for a 22K whole house generator with two 120 lb. propane upright tanks with electrical work done, $11,500. $12,500 if an underground tank installed. Not worth the investment to me.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

There are essentially 3 choices.

1) for a portable generator, you can attach it to a 220V outlet (either inside or an external) with the appropriate cable with the proper connectors, BUT you MUST turn off the main breaker on your service panel BEFORE plugging in the cable or starting the generator! It should be a 4 wire cable and connector so that the generator frame is attached to the house ground (NOT the neutral). If you fail to turn off the main breaker, you can electrocute the linemen working to repair your service (by backfeeding power into the service) and when the power comes back on, it will destroy the generator, possibly leading to a fire. The ground is also important, especially since in an emergency the area may be wet.The generator can kill you in the same way the regular line voltage can.

2) if you install a permanent large whole house generator, you have two choices as to how you connect it onto your house wiring. You can install a transfer switch at the service entrance, such that when the generator cuts in, the service to your main panel switches from the AC line to your generator. The upside is it will supply power to the entire house (all breakers) and is typically automatic. The downside is this method is more expensive. The other alternative is a transfer switch that transfers a few key circuits (typically 4-6 breakers) from the AC line to the generator. These are typically manually operated and inexpensive, but will supply only those circuits rather than the whole house.

A couple of notes. Modern high efficiency furnaces with electronic controls often require very precise AC line frequency to operate - typically between 59.5 and 60.5 Hz. If your generator provides power with a frequency outside this range (portable generators speed and frequency often varies with load), your furnace may not operate - inverter type generators alleviate this problem. Secondly. For portable genertors, don’t underestimate the fire risk and inconvenience of storing and regularly replacing large quantities of gasoline. If you add a stabalizer such as stabil to prolong the life of stored gas (the gas itself doesn't age, but the additives do) are you willing to risk the $1,000 catalytic converters in your car by using old gasoline with this additive? If not, how will you dispose of it every 6-12 months?

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

I have natural gas but it's not recommended in earthquake country. So I'm looking at a gas unit, myself.😎

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I understand. For $700-$800,you can purchase a portable 5-6KW generator and a natural gas conversion kit as well as the appropriate cable to attach it to a 220v outlet in your house. It’s not nearly as convenient as the whole house system, won’t operate your house A/C, you’ll have to move it into place from storage, won’t run indefinitely, and you’ll need to observe the precautions I mentioned above, but it will run your furnace, your refrigerator, lights and TV for a limited time - maybe a day or two, and for many people, that’s a good compromise.

iggy Loc: Southern Utah

I recently installed a Generac 22kw standby generator, and love it. We brought it online in the middle of the summer, with both AC systems running. Shortly after the generator kicked in, the AC units were fully functional. Living in the desert, it's nice to know I'll comfortable when some dolt hits the transformer around the corner, or our grid gets hacked.

Our unit is connected to the natural gas feed. It has a propane backup feature, but I don't have that installed at this time.

ollie Loc: Ogdensburg, NY

at least with a portable generator, it is important to run it periodically during the year with something drawing power from it. don't just set aside for a rainy day and forget about it. mine started just fine after 18 months but wouldn't brighten a light bulb until I had it serviced. Now I make sure to use it for something a couple times per year

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Just wondering where you acquired your information. Are you speaking from experience as many of us on here are or from bar stool conversation.

I find your #1 so filled with the basic warnings and cautions it is like you are lecturing a 3rd grader. "All" this info is furnished by the companies selling the parts you need to do the installation.

#2 Is just a bunch of negative rambling that I find rather useless to a person who is researching installing a back-up generator -Oh - most generators have dedicated ground terminal - not the frame.

Harvey on 5 th generator over 25 yrs at 4 locations -

Cookie223 Loc: New Jersey

I have a 17KW Generac too.
Servicing it is not a problem either. I buy oil filters, air filters directly from a Generac dealer. The plugs and synthetic oil from an automotive store. Since natural gas burns much cleaner than gasoline, the plugs last much longer and can be cleaned buy using a small metal brush. Since mine also runs a weekly diagnostic test and for the last couple of years that’s all it had to do, I change the oil filter every other oil change. The air filter last at least 2 years.
The battery last about and are available in a number of stores. The cheapest price I’ve found is at Walmart.
This was the best home improvement I’ve ever done.

Also looking for a portable generator that powers the whole house depends on what you’re looking to power, and unless you have a very small house no portable unit can sustain it. However, no one that I know not even those using a permanent unit, run all utilities and accessories at the same time. When downstairs you run what you need there, when you go upstairs, or go to sleep you devert the power to where it it’s needed.

anotherview Loc: California

Some clarification: A standby (or backup) power generator kicks in to provide electricity when the electrical grid stops providing electricity.
This standby generator may operate for a shorter or a longer period of time, but not indefinitely -- because not designed to do so. In addition, a standby generator typically supplies only enough electricity to operate essential devices, like a refrigerator.

A whole house power generator, on the other hand, also kicks in when the grid fails to provide electricity, but it can run indefinitely.
This generator is designed to provide electricity to run everything electric in the house.

A whole house power generator may go with a solar power system independent of the electric grid. In this scenario, three power sources perform.
First, the solar panels generate power. Second, a bank of batteries provides power when the solar panels stop providing power, like during the night.
Third, the whole house power generator operates to provide electricity directly when the other two sources stop doing so.

If going to buy one or the other kind of power generator, then consult a qualified electrician (NOT a salesman or a well-meaning friend).
An electrician will evaluate the need and purpose for a generator, and then recommend a suitable generator.

Certified solar power system installers also can recommend the appropriate whole house generator.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I am speaking from the experience of owning and using at least 5 generators over a period of 30 years plus almost 50 years in electronic/electrical work including being an electrical designer for a consulting engineering firm. I currently use a natural gas powered generator as back up in the event of power failure.

My first (#1) paragraph was specifically oriented to answering the question that was referenced concerning how to attach the generator output to the house wiring. Here was the question: “Two respondents mentioned hooking up their portable gas powered generator to their service panel. Could we have some details, for instance, did the electrician connect the generator to serve the entire house or just one or two circuits?”. If you find my answer too elementary, good for you, but when I see people rushing out to the local Home Depot to buy that portable generator just before a hurricane and the way they attach it to the load, it’s pretty clear to me that proper connection methods are not universally known.

As far as the “negative rambling” that you find useless, I’m willing to bet that very few people understand the frequency stability limitations on modern furnaces - did you? To be more specific, there is a manufacturer of the control boards that are used in a large variety of high efficiency furnaces that will not operate outside this frequency range. I mention this because a neighbor had this exact issue when trying to use his generator to run his heating system during a power outage. If you’d like the specific manufacturer of the circuit boards and a technical article on the subject, I’ll be glad to post it. Regarding my admonitions about storing large amounts of gasoline, I unfortunately experienced a generator-caused fire at a neighbor’s house. The stored gasoline created an inferno that not only destroyed the structure, but took down the feeder for the entire block, leaving a dozen houses without power for a week during a freezing spell.

The dedicated ground terminal IS tied to the frame of the generator - where did YOU think it was attached to?

And finally, if you find the information useless or redundant, then by all means, don’t read it, but try to refraim from acting like a jerk when someone is sharing useful information gained from long experience. A little politeness goes a long way Harvey, you should try it.

anotherview Loc: California

Most (if not all) machines require exercise (periodic running) in order to maintain their integrity. For example, oil seals can dry out if no oil flow happens for a long time, resulting in oil leaks or oil over-consumption. Running a power generator for 5 minutes or so once a month should exercise the machine enough. Consult a qualified electrician for further advice.

Modern solar power computer controls enable a setting for the automatic periodic exercise of the whole house power generator.

rps Loc: Muskoka Ontario Canada

Good for you. I was pissed off by his post too.