Whole-Home Generators: Peace of Mind or Financial Liability?

[@johnclyne6350]

We went with a roll out generator. I went top shelf & had help & did my own homework. I hired a fabricator & an electrician. I took my time & built a one of a kind set up. I’m a power lineman for a living & all my coworkers think I went way above & beyond. I spend around $14,000. It is well worth the money & despite what the moderator says. My generator can run my entire house including our 2-1/2 ton Trane central air. Ours runs on gasoline. The only draw back is I have to be home otherwise it won’t come online by itself. My wife only has to toggle two switches & push one button to restore power in our house. I bought it for peace of mind & safety. The longest I needed it for was one storm Isais & we were out for 2-1/2 days. All my neighbors were miserable. They lost all their food. We never skipped a beat. My house was as cool as a cucumber when I came home from work. I only had to refill it once. It ran flawlessly & I could hardly hear it as I slept.

[@veger5872]

Way to go! Mind providing more details on generator model and other equipment needed to get the job done! I will have to go with a roll out generator as well due to my yard doesn't accommodate a whole house generator.

[@johnclyne6350]

@@veger5872 Sure thing. After careful consideration I chose the king of portables. I consider a back up generator a safety item. You can't put a price on safety. Honda EU 7000is. I have an auxiliary fuel tank for mine that holds 6 gallons of gas. With the auxiliary fuel tank my run time extends out to 38 hours at half load. I have that so when I get home from pulling a 24 hour shift from work. I only have to add fuel to my auxiliary & not the main tank. I'm a power lineman for my local power company. I never know when I'll be allowed to go home after a storm? I have a remote start from Honda with a Battery Tender trickle charger because my genny is always at the ready. My wife only needs to push 2 buttons & toggle 2 switches to restore power to our house in an emergency, I bought every available option from Honda on my unit. Service manual, air box heater, lift kit etc. I'm in over $14,000 with my set up. Consider it an insurance policy you hope you never need?

[@jmackinjersey1]

@@johnclyne6350 How often do you change the oil/filter?

[@johnclyne6350]

@@jmackinjersey1 Once a year. Oil is cheap. It takes approximately a quart of oil. After the break in period I went with Mobil 1 like in both of my trucks. There isn't an oil filter though. I watch another gentleman on YT who has his own channel on small engine repair. I've been following him for a couple of years. He has rebuilt a ton of Generac's & other brands. He has yet to see a Honda like mine in the shop. He has a much older carburator model like mine as his personal back up genny. He loves his as much as I love mine.

[@shocker1215]

You just know he can’t wait for the power to go out. I bet he won’t lose power for 3 years just because he is wanting it to happen.

[@peterking1134]

I wouldn’t wait for a power failure. I’d run it overnight simulating a power failure just to see how everything holds up.

[@tomthompson6412]

Another Friend of mine that's a retired electrician Suggested we have a generator power party

[@rupe53]

@@peterking1134 ... while it's a great idea, it's also very expensive. It will cost 4-6 times more than utility power to generate your own electricity. IOW, close to $2 per Kw.

[@peterking1134]

@@rupe53 - this guy is not poor. I’m sure he could afford running the generator overnight without breaking the budget. He then could enjoy the pleasures of his endeavors.

[@PeterJames143]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@July.4.1776]

A key point is the larger the generator the more fuel it will use most people are way oversized. When we installed ours a few years ago it was all I could find at the time. Most people are not going to need to run a full load across every circuit at the same time.

[@July.4.1776]

Installed a Briggs & Stratton 17KW two years ago as the power was always going out.🤬Never went out a day after the install, but nice to be prepared.🤣😊

[@nickc7320]

You unwittingly fixed the whole neighborhood

[@Xygdl]

I'm about to spend big money on a Generac too as power always goes out with big storms, but I'm afraid after I install the generator power never goes out in the neighborhood 😅. Well I guess it's an expensive peace of mind. The best insurance is the one you don't use I guess 🙄

[@July.4.1776]

⁠@@Xygdl… It’s funny how everyone installing generators appears to have solved the outages in our area. 🤣🤣🤣 I guess it is like insurance you might not need it, but when you need it you need it now.

[@PrairieDad]

I upgraded to a gigantic snowblower a few years ago. Didn't see another snowflake that winter.

[@wkbillweston]

Last year we decided to install a whole-house generator. I installed a Kohler because they have been making generators forty years longer than Generac. Kohler tech support is super helpful and easy to work with. Kohler supports their generator products longer than Generac. My installation was about 6K doing it myself for a 20kw unit and transfer switch.

[@dontbanmebrodontbanme5403]

I do almost everything myself around my house. I just installed a NEMA 14-50 outlet for my car. I've considered doing a job like this myself. Awesome that you were able to pull it off. * Are you an electrician? * If you're not, does your warranty get voided if there's an issue? * Did you hook yours up to gas, or propane? * If you hooked it up to gas, are you licensed to do so? Good job, btw.

[@wkbillweston]

@DontBanMeBroDontBanMe! I installed it and had it checked by a licensed dealer. It runs on propane. When you live in the country anything goes. I had to replace the gas line from the propane tank to the house because the line wasn't big enough. Jumped from 3/8 ips to 3/4 ips. Replaced the 2nd stage regulator because of age and volume. When I installed the main trunk line under the house when I built the house 20 years ago, I installed a 1 inch main gas line under the house to support all the gad devices. I now can deliver over a million btu units throughout.

[@pjmazar4533]

I wanted to go with a Kohler too, but after two attempts to purchase one from our local dealer, I got no estimate replies or any reply. I ended up with an 11K Generac with transfer switch from Home Depot. Did it myself and with two used 120-gallon propane tanks, I got it done for under $3K. That was in 2015 before the price gouging.

[@KB-ke3fi]

They sure didn't help my neighbor with her Kohler. It doesn't matter how long anyone has made generators...it's all the same stuff.

[@williamdawson6351]

Stand by generators are nice to have during a power outage.

[@wysiwyg654]

We've had a 16kw Generac standby since late 2014 and overall have been very happy with it. The biggest potential drawback to these over time is that they simply aren't put to use that often, which can lead to a false sense of security as the years go by and replaceable parts start to randomly age out. A few years back I was racing to install a new battery just as the polar vortex was moving in. Two years ago after a wind storm it wouldn't run because the oil pressure sensor failed. It was a $20 part but we were without any power until the new part was delivered.

[@shubinternet]

You do need to periodically test your backup systems. That's true.

[@rupe53]

@@shubinternet ... as a long time dealer tech, I can safely say that 90% of failures are due to lack of regular service.... and most of those are either an old battery or low oil to a point where the unit just shuts down. There's another dozen items to cause a no-start condition, but most would be found by an experienced tech doing the service.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Gah, isn't that just always the way it is?! We second all the comments about servicing, though it can be a tough ROI pill to swallow.

[@rupe53]

@@ElectricProAcademy ... add all of your costs up, including the gen set, and the grand total is going to be $2 - $3 a day, spread over 20 years. (not counting fuel) The gen set itself will be around $1 a day if the install costs are kept low. (partial DIY)

[@atease3464]

Making sure it does the weekly self test to keep everything lubricated and operational and burn off any moisture will also help.

[@danlah1303]

Tom hit all the critical points that a consumer needs to know. He reminds me of myself!

[@777triathlete]

Who else is here after Hurricane Helene - September 2024???

[@brucebias2756]

that convinced me 2024

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Praying for all y'all. We've heard some real horror stories and we're only just approaching the recovery phase. Hope our videos have been helpful. Let us know if there's any info that we could share to get you or loved ones back on their feet.

[@Adventures2024-AD]

I am here because of Helene. We lost power and my hubby wanted to get a generator last spring. Of course, I was like this guys wife. I feel differently now.

[@rickmcintosh3570]

😂 here

[@caseytrejo2348]

Me, spartanburg, sc

[@nhzxboi]

Electrical engineer too. Also a minimalist. I'd be happy to just keep the food from melting. Now, you have a pile of machinery to maintain and, depending on where you are, will rarely get used. 22KW??? I'm happy with 3kW. If it is winter, I can even put the food outside.

[@wills2262]

I go back and forth. DTE in Michigan has a lot of issues with reliability, just recently 100k+ without power for a nearly a week. At the current moment I have a portable system that hooks to natural gas, however if I was Tom's age, I'd put some cash down for the convenience factor, power never goes out when it's nice out, rolling out a loud monster genny is a PITA, and the outages keep getting longer and longer. A day or two, no problem I can live without well water and a shower, when it starts gong longer not fun. The standby systems don't really take much maintenance. I'm just cheap, Costco has a 22kW with transfer switch for around 5g's, I would self install and pull my own permits, so at least 1k there. That's the cost of a nice vacation with the family.

[@rupe53]

@@wills2262 ... that $6k expense breaks down to well under $1 a day (83 cents) when spread over 20 years.

[@wills2262]

@@rupe53 Never thought of it like that, buck a day for 20 years is a lot of hamburgers. Na I think DTE has it, the c-suite raised their total comp to around 20million and are asking for a 18% hike. I'm sure once they get the rate hike they will work on the grid.

[@rupe53]

@@wills2262 ... people have different priorities. Some will walk, some take a bus or taxi, some buy a bike, some will buy a car. It's your choice.

[@meandthemrs7403]

Yes! To run a fridge, freezer, forced air gas furnace, well pump, and a few necessary lights, you can get by on about 6kw. Even less if you manage it efficiently.

[@trith72]

I had the same issue when I had my Generac 24kw installed. My gas meter was on one side of my home and my electric drop was on the other. I chose to keep the generator close to the gas, and run cross attic through my home to the other side where the auto switchover box was then mounted next to my can. It worked out really well in the end and saved me some money and from tearing up my yard as well.

[@_KeepingitReal]

Thanks for the walkthrough! It was very informative and answered some questions I hadn't even thought of yet!!

[@tomthompson6412]

Joel and his team are the best What started as a possible way to partners turned into a great friendship

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Daw schucks 😊

[@johnstraley9057]

For over 20 years I maintained a gasoline-powered, 7kw portable generator. Ran the output into a manual crossover to essential circuits. Worked out fine over the years living in an area with lousy electrical utility service. Major downside was the need to be on-site to physically set up and start it. And if one happens to be home when the storm hits, not fun doing the above in the rain, wind, ice or snow. Bit the bullet and invested in a whole hose system, dedicated propane fuel tank, auto transfer and wi-fi connectivity. Kept the old manual crossover wiring in place and hanging on to the portable generator as a back up system to the whole house system. Totally worth the investment given the sub par reliability of the utility power.

[@glockbiker1]

My story also. Had a electric utility installed semiautomatic transfer switch installed by the meter. Just plug everything in and go. Worked great for almost 20-years. What was a pain was storing the gasoline and rotating it to my vehicles every six months. Now have a 20Kw Cummins natural gas. 3-years old now w/ 101-hours.

[@charlescahoon3557]

Just finished an 11 day run after Beryl hit Houston. Generac 18KW ran great. Did check oil and shut it down an hour or so everyday and also changed oil and all filters during outage. I get change kits on Amazon. My neighbor was using a portable and for the first few days was having to wait in line over an hour to get gas at one of the few operating gas stations. Four other Generacs on our street and all did well. Was able to put up family and friends during it all.

[@KB-ke3fi]

A lot of people, epecially seniors, found out that when their Generacs ran for 10 days like Beryl did to Kingwood, the generators quit running and damaged the motors...the installer never told them about the amount of oil it uses per day, and the service companies they paid for the maintenanace didn't do what they were supposed to. That's why I have a 10K gas generator with 40 gals of gas storage and can run it for a week without a problem. Plus the natgas cost running all that time was about $45 a day. My neighbors did that, she has a Kohler, and it quit on the 6th day. Her son and her waited for 2 weeks to get a repair kit for them to fix it on their own, which was a filter, oil, some cheap tools, and 2 spark plugs. It still won't start.

[@ralphmowery2898]

@@KB-ke3fi I have heard that the Generacs require a lot of oil and oil changes. They have to be looked at every day or so. Seems that they should have a large oil tank hooked to them.

[@jmb-cm7mr]

@@ralphmowery2898 Where did you get that info from? I have had a Generac since April 2024 and do not check the oil everyday maybe 1 time per month if even that.

[@ralphmowery2898]

@@jmb-cm7mr There are many people reporting on the various user groups as to how much oil the generators seem to use. They should be checked every 24 hours of running time during extended outages. Some that did not check the oil had the engines to lock up due to not enough oil.

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

Loved your video. Generac. You mentioned the technical support team would not speak to you. This is why I decided NOT to buy a Generac. There are plenty of more open Companies that value dialogue between Owner and Machine. I’ll spend my money there instead. Cummins, Kohler, Champion. Champion and Cummins have a test function weekly that is crank only. Again great video !!

[@trith72]

In there defense, there are a lot of weekend warriors and do it myselfers who have gotten themselves fried working on their own equipment. Generac gains nothing but liability when the speak directly to a customer. How many widows do you suppose have sued an appliance manufacturer because their husband got cooked by bungling directions from a vendor? I bet its thousands…..

[@freakonaleash235]

Our ecogen blew up last year. I couldn’t get parts for it because they discontinued my generator. I’m currently basterdizing a Briggs and Stratton engine on to the base. Gener-Stratton!

[@staberdearth3130]

⁠@@trith72That might be or should be made VERY CLEAR as a WARNING to DIY’ers. I was asked to install a ductless heat/AC unit. I’ve done it before for myself. Reading the fine print. If you do not install with a certified installer, you void the warranty day one. I declined and told the cline to call the local certified resource.

[@KB-ke3fi]

Kohler sure as heck didn't help my neighbor with hers during Beryl here in Houston. She bought the service contract and they never came out but twice after 8 years and it won't start now.

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

@@KB-ke3fi I purchased a Cummins 17KW Standby Home Generator. It was about $12K installed.

[@jake-mv5oi]

I went with the portable unit/inlet/interlock combo. We don't have enough power outages for me to justify the cost of a permanent unit. Thinking of buying one of those battery power stations to power the fridge & a couple lights for short duration outages.

[@KB-ke3fi]

Just get a Briggs and Stratton 3650 W gas generator. I ran 2 refrigerators, lights, microwaves, 7 computers, 2 tv's, and a coffee pot for 10 days on it and it's quiet. 18 hours on a 5 gal tank.

[@bluearcherx]

i bought a house with one of these... 2 years later we had a 3-4 day power outage from a major wind storm. the generator ran straight through, we didn't change any of our habits, other than switching the downstairs furnace to aux gas heat instead of heat pump.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Impressive. Same size generator? 200amp home electrical load?

[@REVNUMANEWBERN]

Worked 40+ years for a lawn Mower MFG that was bought out by B&S, one day we got a shipment in our Ga. warehouse straight from the Savannah port, we opened the trailer door and there was OVER 5 well known U.S. brand names on the boxes of ALL generators, and the kicker was they ALL came out of the same MFG plant in CHINA

[@bills6946]

@@REVNUMANEWBERN Generac uses a lot of Chinese made parts. It wasn’t always that way though.

[@danlah1303]

With a little bit of technical knowledge and a willingness to manage the project and coordinate contractors and the gas meter upgrade yourself, one can save a lot of money over the Generac dealers who show up, don't even bother with a proper sizing, and slap a $15K+ proposal on the table. One guy showed up and looked at my two 200-amp panels and said I would need a 30kw liquid cooled model! I bought my 20kw Honeywell-branded Generac from Costco and got it installed for $8K all-in back in 2019 (my timing was impeccable). Could probably get it done for $10k in 2023. 4 years later and 70 hours of runtime, I could not be happier.

[@westhavenor9513]

I have a portable propane generator that I setup in a shed and installed a transfer switch to support 10 critical circuits. That was several years ago. We just had a 30-hour power outage during a 12F cold snap. The gen worked like a charm to keep us comfortable. Now all my neighbors want one, but I told them this may not happen again in our lifetime. May be cheaper to just stay in a hotel, as many of them did. I spent less than $3k, btw.

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

With the aging power infrastructure, and risks of terrorist attacks, it could definitely happen again.

[@miltonhunter6515]

I went basic with a Westinghouse wgen 9500 I caught on sale at Lowe's for 599 and 895 for a manual transfer switch and it works perfectly

[@igfoobar]

One issue I see here is that by using natural gas, he is backing up one public utility with another public utility. In a major disaster, both utilities could be disrupted. This is why in commercial settings the generator always uses an onsite fuel supply such as propane or diesel.

[@shubinternet]

Yup, that's a risk. During the Texas IcePocalypse of 2021, the grid failed because they lost a number of their natural gas powered generator systems. Fortunately, natural gas delivery to consumers didn't fail, or at least it didn't fail to us -- the only reason we survived was because we have a gas fireplace and a gas cooktop. Everywhere in the house might have been below freezing for days, but we were able to keep one room warm enough for us and the cats to survive, and we were able to use the cooktop to cook food and melt snow for the toilets.

[@DisinterestedObserver]

Yes, a very good comment and one I’d considered and dismissed but I was wrong. I thought I’d protected my home with a standby generator only to see the gas utility accidentally over-pressurize the low pressure gas distribution lines causing numerous house fires and a house to explode killing a teenager. One of those house fires was two houses away from mine and completely destroyed it as even with mutual aid from dozens of fire departments in the eastern part of state as well as nearby states, the fire fighters were overwhelmed. As a result, several square miles of a city and adjoining towns were evacuated and the utility electric power turned off for 60 hours to prevent further explosion hazards. My generator automatically started and ran until I made it home and turned off the house’s main gas isolation valve at the meter. The gas utility paid for a full replacement as they couldn’t certify it to continue under its manufacturer warranty. Unfortunately, the city and town bylaws prevent the storage of propane if natural gas is available on the street. I do know one town issued a special permit to store propane gas despite the town bylaw to backup a radio tower that was part of the EWS.

[@igfoobar]

Wow, that is quite a story! I bought a diesel generator and don't regret it.

[@rupe53]

never saw a NG system go down because of wind or trees falling. Gas is probably the last utility to go down, unless they shut it off in flood prone coastal areas.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Thank you all for sharing your painful stories. Tough to read, but so helpful for others thinking about a similar install.

[@cfoskeeter]

One comment I take issue with is that you should get the 24 simply because it's bigger. I have a 22kw, and I have it because the contractor made a very detailed calculation of everything I have in my house and determined that the 22 would have plenty enough capacity. It was a turnkey job, and before they asked for one penny, the unit was installed and tested. The test entailed simulating a power failure and then turning on everything in the house, including my 5 ton a/c. Everything ran without a problem. When the a/c kicked on, there wasn't even a noticeable pull on the motor.

[@Mr.SisterFisster]

I think I will just stick with my little portable that can power the essentials...I typically lose power for a max of 6 hours once or twice a year, just can't justify the expense of something like this, as nice as it would be. I know a neighbor has one though, can always hear it when the power goes out, lol.

[@tomthompson6412]

I've had a situation where when it really really rains the some pump only stops for about 15 seconds at a time and we've had a case where before we finished the basement we had $12000 in damage from the water So now there's multiple some pumps in backup power that will go and go and we can be away from home without worrying about it Finally I'm an electrical engineer and this stuff is fun for me I know that sounds weird but I could afford to do it and somehow talk to my wife into letting me do it

[@Mr.SisterFisster]

@@tomthompson6412 I have considered putting a UPS on the sump. This would keep it going for short lived outages. In spring with the snow melt + rain the sump runs fairly often, but conveniently for me if the sump overflows it will divert to a floor drain, so low(er) risk of damage if or when the sump goes down. I definitely appreciate the fun part. I'm in IT and have a pretty over the top home network. It's more about the cost for me. If I was in an area with regular prolonged outages, then sure, I just can't justify it in my situation. Until then my little portable gets the job done...which happens to be a Generac, lol

[@tomthompson6412]

That certainly makes sense I'm retired just doing some part time work now. This is our forever home and God willing I'll live another 20 years and won't have to think about power I'm my 80s. I will also do all the preventive maintenance on the keeps cost under control

[@jpl57210]

How much extra to separate the grounds and neutrals in your original service panel? Since the transfer switch is now the first disconnect.

[@glockbiker1]

Another facet of installation is the warranty (short) and annual maintenance. Unless you use a reputable dealer to install AND take an annual maintenance contract, good luck on getting service in an emergency. Or after a few years for that matter. In Louisiana, hurricanes and long-term power outages are a likelihood. Having a $10,000 piece of equipment that doesn't run is inexcusable.

[@tylerfoss3346]

Great video! Thank you for this comprehensive presentation of the automatic power solution to an electrical power outage. Kudos! I have not switched to this system (I have a portable gasoline powdered 7500 watt generator that I can plug in (properly wired to my 200 amp service panel) to power my whole house) because my non-automatic system works in case of a power outage. As a test of concept I recently bought a battery & inverter to run my router (non critical and low power hungry, I know). I am seriously considering a whole house battery (Ecoflow Ultra Pro) that can handle what the gasoline generator does for 12 hours (I hope) while I shut down, replenish the fuel and service the generator. The gasoline generator can handle the added load to recharge the whole house battery when it's running and when the battery is down for recharge, too. The Ecoflow Ultra Pro can be solar charged, too which is something I may add down the road (My house and property has terrible Sun exposure for solar power to make it a wise option other than to possibly augment this backup battery system).

[@condor5635]

What was your reference about the Klein meters not measuring the current?

[@tkendr01]

We recently installed a Kohler 38KW liquid cooled unit since it will be very quiet (and it is).

[@jaycahow4667]

Generac may be more popular but there is more to think about. I would rather have an 1800 rotation model than a cheaper 3600 rotation model. it will last longer, be quieter and probably be easy to work on as they usually use car engines and run cooler. Generac does make some high end models with these features but the lower and mid range models are not designed to be run for long periods of time or at high usage and require more maintenance.

[@rupe53]

engine life is also shorter with 3600 RPM sets, when measured in run hours. BTW, last I looked there are no companies making an 1800 RPM air cooled set these days. I believe Onan (pre Cummins) was the last one to make 1800 RPM sets, but that ended in the mid 90s. You could get gas or diesel (air cooled) up to 15 Kw. You might still find some in the marine versions, but those are all water cooled and set up for boats.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Thank you both! Great input!

[@johnnyblaze9217]

@@rupe53yes, but there is a reason it’s running at 3600 RPM which is that it obviously allows more power to be made, yeah you can make an 1800 RPM one, but it certainly isn’t generating 24,000 watts Lmaoo, let alone 200 amps. On the other hand, the general engine is made by generac it’s 3600 rpm but they specifically designed it to be durable for these conditions. Also it’s harder to maintain proper electrical purity at 1800 RPM. So 60 hz clean sine wave power, especially when it gets a load on it 1800 could bog down relatively easily. These can all be fixed but it adds tons more complexity to the engine, and as a result drives up cost.

[@rupe53]

@@johnnyblaze9217 the main reason to use 3600 RPM has to do with the ability to make enough HP for the number of watts. For example, if you needed 30 HP then you run a small engine at near its limits to do the job.... or... you run a larger engine and it can loaf along to make the same HP.... and that can probably make 30 HP at 1800 RPM with no problem. Larger engines cost more but are desirable for industrial application where longer service life is necessary. BTW, the set in the video is a "standby" set, not a prime power set. It's geared to be more cost effective in consumer applications. (which is not continuous run or full output for long periods) It's also a design borrowed from B&S with a few minor modifications to get a longer life span... but not approaching that of a liquid cooled 1800 RPM set.

[@johnnyblaze9217]

@@rupe53 agreed on most things said here. Making a 1800 rpm engine generate 22-24kw would be difficult, even if engine cooled. Making a 3600 RPM one do the same thing is very easy, especially when trying to maintain frequency and sine wave output.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

Kohler is about 10dB QUIETER than the Generac. Super important when trying to NOT bother your neighbors at night. I am even considering some type of battery powerwall for evening usage. Things I learned in this video: (1) Menards will give an 11% discount... some times. No idea why nor when as presenter did not share. (2) He LIKES to talk about what it "would have taken" to run gas lines, etc. Valid aspects but no need to consume 25% of the video on those aspects. (3) No sound testing AT ALL nor any distinctions on the differing models available from Generac nor competitors so will continue looking for more videos... NOTE: I did thumbs up this video so there's that

[@ElectricProAcademy]

This is valuable constructive criticism, thanks! We'll try to include more of the _right_ details in our product videos going forward.

[@teter129]

Generac is a noisy fuel hog, so many better options in Kohler or Cummins. . . great video BTW, lots of great information in this video.

[@TCPLY]

Diesel ( liquid cooled/quieter) is the way to go for me, a little more cost at first, but more economical to run. My diesel fuel tank is under generator. Natural gas is not available in my location. I would advise liquid cooled even on gas, quieter, generally longer life, lower generator speed.

[@lonelyp1]

I have a hardwired generator but not a standby system. Last time the power did go out was late night and pouring rain. I didn't go out to start it. The power came back on before I had too.

[@dixiechileranch]

Just curious. Why doesn't anyone discuss the cost of operating the Generator during an outage? Now I have a 10kw Propane Natural gas generator I use for critical systems during an outage. My typical cost from the electric company for our electricity is from $5 to $7 per day When using the Generator on Natural Gas at current gas rates using 74.30 Cubic feet per hour the cost to operate our generator for 24 hours is $30 or $210 per week. Propane will cost you in the range of $75 per day About 3.333 gallons per hour. All I'm saying is to calculate your operating cost numbers so you can budget how long you can afford to run your generator each day. if one is used to an electric bill in the $250 range and after say a 10-day outage, your gas bill will increase an additional $300 for natural gas or $750 for propane. Now grant it your electric bill will decrease by $50 to $70 equating to a net increase cost for the power of $250 or $700 for those 10 days. Grant it everybody's costs will be a bit different based on the size of the generator, the efficiency of the engine, the cost per cubic foot of natural gas, or the cost per gallon of propane but well worth the research and calculation so you don't end up with a financial surprise. What we have added is a 3KW backup battery system with a 3kw inverter connected to our critial systems (Mostly refrigeration and freezers and some lights.) We then only need to run the generator for a couple of hours each day to recharge the battery bank and to fill a pressurized100 gallon fresh water tank from our well.

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

On Natural gas, it could be a surprise. If you run Diesel or Gasoline, it wont be a surprise, but it may be harder to find a source for the fuel if the infrastructure is down.

[@dixiechileranch]

Storing gas and diesel is a huge problem. Gasoline degrades as it sits and diesel is subject to gelling and algae, along with storing enough for even a week is dangerous.@@PremiumFuelOnly

[@blupupher]

Cost will vary greatly based on location, which fuel, price of fuel, size of generator and load placed on generator. I am at a point in my life that my comfort (and especially my wife's comfort) is worth the cost. I have a Westinghouse Tri Fuel (12,000 peak/9,500 run on NG) generator, ~ $3,000 all in for me to have a manual whole house backup. ~$32/day to run on NG. On gasoline, it would be ~$150/day using around 2.5 gallons/hour with price of $2.55/gallon today. Propane would be about $180/day using 2 lbs an hour @ $3.89/lb. In the summer, I am spending $7-9/day on electricity. Winter is about 1/2 that (but my load on the generator will be less, but I am sure more than $20/day in NG use). NG is the easy answer for me. I have never had NG go out in the 30+ years I have been in my home. During the Texas freeze a few years ago, having a natural gas fireplace on full blast for 2 days kept us from freezing and only added $30 to my gas bill. Gasoline and propane cost more, require my attention to keep running, require me to store fuel, and possibly need to go find more fuel (which would be near impossible if I am running my generator more than 24 hours). I no longer store gas in my garage since I switched to battery powered yard equipment, but I do have two 20 lb propane cylinders for my gas grill that could be used for a few hours if the NG did ever go out for any reason.

[@johnr1350]

If you live in the country and have other equipment, consider a diesel generator. Far more efficient than LP or LNG. More power output per unit of fuel. Much quieter. Less maintenance and usually cheaper to repair with readily available parts. Most of them use Yanmar, kabota or Cat engines that are used in many heavy equipment machines and tractors. You can use the strawberry flavored diesel fuel you use in your tractor or skid steer, so no need for running new lines for LNG or your propane tank. The drawback is that diesel has a shelf life of one to three years or so, where gas does not. If you are also using diesel for other equipment, that shouldn’t be an issue though because you can cycle it out. Also in emergencies, many gas stations might run out of gas, but almost always have diesel available because it is used less, with off road diesel even more so.

[@peterduthie1806]

Most people don't do the research and end up with an overly large whole house standby generator, and the generator is larger than they need or they really can afford to operate. In Florida they sell whole house generators because people think that is what they need to run their AC. Nor true with a $35 hard start kit on the AC a medium size portable generator has no problem running an AC unit. Even better put a soft start kit on and extend the life of your AC compressor. Also people don't realize the cost of fueling a generator 24/7. Neighbor was going to install a 30 KW unit which according to specs was going to use 3 gallons of propane per hour at half load and with the cost being over $4.00 per gallon, keeping the power on with this large of a generator was going to cost her at least $288 per day. Finally while most whole house generators are rated to provide power with less than 5% THD you can now buy portable inverter generators in the 12KW- 14KW size that provide extremely clean power with less than 2% THD. I live in Florida and get by with a 7,500 KW dual fuel portable generator. Tell the wife not to use the oven or the dryer and if she is being a sissy about taking a cool shower I shut off the AC and switch the water heater on.

[@1drhnsd1]

Did you calculate your electric need? 21kW is huge for a house that has natural gas appliances or heat. Did you check the cost of solar plus a battery system that kicks in when the utility power fails?

We have a22 kw , during the last 4 day outage we had over 35 people drive up and ask to charge batteries and even shower. Told them all to leave. I have learned to turn off the outside lights and black out the windows. Crazy how strange people act over just 4 days no power.

[@RCMServices]

If you are using LPG for fuel, make sure to have a 500 gallon tank installed. Last year our power from the grid was out for 8 days.

[@MegaDrew1984]

Just ordered mine. Cant wait for an outtage.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

😂, so true!

[@wanderingwade8877]

Next power out - party at this guys house!

[@condor5635]

I got an estimate for a 22kw generac. Little surprised they recommended that large of one. 2300 sq ft but all gas house - water heater, furnace, dryer, stove top. Only big electrical draws is 4 ton AC and a double oven. Don’t you think 22kw is way overboard?

[@dennisgates2202]

they probably only went with the size of your house on that.

[@DominicMazoch]

Have a 6500w genny. Shoreline to proper fuse box. Can run potacool, lights, frig, computer, and one 50w and one 100w ham radios.

[@griffic37]

Great video and good choice adding in a generator for whole home power back up. The wife will appreciate it when the power go out and she can't bake cookies when the grand kids are visiting 🤣. Thanks for sharing.

[@gcraig0001]

The cost of a turnkey setup is excessive in most cases, and it still doesn't cover all your costs. Then you have ongoing maintenance costs, even if you never have a power outage. I just mention that because a lot of people look at the price at the big box store and think "six grand isn't too bad, let's do it". Then they find out they need thousands more for the rest of the system (electrical, fuel supply, etc), maintenance costs, and in the case of certain brands with short warranty's, a longer term service contract to cover failures. Actual all-in cost is usually almost double that generator only price. Just saying, do ALL your homework first before signing on the bottom line.

[@FosterFarmsOk]

I install these. Typically turn key cost is usually $10k-$15k

[@filsoficonerd]

I have a question with the table 210-24. Could you make a video about this table and explain what the word taps refers to?

[@morpheus3190]

The possible issue is that sometimes in an emergency situation like a hurricane or tornado, the gas company cuts off all the natural gas to customers. Had a friend that it happened to, he didn’t have backup power. Think I would have both LPG and NG if it can be easily switched over on demand. If not then just LPG.

[@Dr.GeoDave]

Generac never notified me of a recall on defective manifold on my whole house unit. Hence, it failed during the Great Texas Freeze. On the other hand, my mom’s unit has been perfect. 50-50 chance?

[@MarkKuehnel]

First power outage she love you tremendously for it .

[@fredlettuce7962]

Moved to Florida 2 years ago, but grew up in Wisconsin, by Generac production plant. Generac, generators did not have a good reputation for reliability, if used often…

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Just in the middle of having a 26kW unit installed. My insurance is picking up the tab for the Generac and the panel replacement as part of a larger claim. Another consideration is noise. These things are loud. In a perfect world, I would have the unit at the back of my lot 100 feet from the house and my neighbors houses. We very rarely have power failures, so no real issue. It will turn itself on for 5 mins every two weeks to keep the engine in good shape. The noise is no worse than a lawn service coming in with two lawn mowers and some leaf blowers. Moving the unit away from the house could double the cost with long gas and electric runs. I set mine up for Thursday afternoons which is when all the gardeners show up to manicure the lawns for the weekend. I figure no one will notice. Just one more noisy engine for a few minutes. One other cost is annual service. Just like a car, you need to change the oil regardless of use. Spark plugs and air filter are also replaced. It appears to be an easy DIY with $50 in supplies. A service company will do it for several hundred. Every 4 years you have to lash the valves. Also DIY possible, but that looks painful. It requires removing valve covers and setting the valve clearance between 2 to 4 thousands. A substantial pain in the butt. I do think it is an asset. Knowing the house will have power when you travel is big peace of mind. In winter, pipes will freeze and food will spoil. Also good to know security systems will stay on and you can monitor your home from abroad. When you come to sell your home, it is a nice differentiator that this is all in place. Just another check box on home automation.

[@lamarhenry8378]

Here after Milton. Still without power on day 4

[@larryhudson3930]

Do they really add value to house?

[@josephpuchel6497]

These whole house systems are nice but expensive. These systems even though they have a pressurized lube system they are not 100% duty cycle. Every so many hours they need down time and oil/filter changes. So don’t think they can run continuously for weeks at a time. If you need continuous run time because your on some type of medical equipment your best bet is a Diesel generator. They are 100% duty cycle. I suggest anyone looking for whole house generator look at natural gas / Propane and Diesel.

[@WVBUCK1]

Cost? One such project on our street turnkey for a Kohler whole home generator where due to property line spacing the unit was on the opposite side of the home from the electrical/gas service was approximately $36K in DFW. It's not cheap!

[@xtremearmor]

Great information 👍🏻

[@donie5780]

Financial Liability. You might use it once in 10 years. A portable 5500 works great for a fraction of the price especially considering how often you will use it.

[@bobbygene8274]

Or, your 5500 will not work at all depending on how your gasoline management goes long term...

[@rkujay]

Backup jennies may save the freezer, but won't save the roof, nor prevent the river from wandering through your house.

[@Enlightn76]

A generator is like a fire extinguisher, a pistol or good insurance. You don't need it until you do. I opted for an 8500kw generac with ATS and 8 circuit E-panel to keep furnace, freezers and essential circuits going in case of long term power outages. Cost was about 2300.00. I did all work myself. Don't have to be concerned with frozen burst pipes or a two freezers of meat going bad if the grid power is out. I opted for the smallest version with an ATS sonic comes on even if I'm not there, for up front cost and reduced fuel consumption.

[@Thetruthmattersnow]

Actually Kholer is superior in every way from efficiency and how clean the power is. Talk to any company that sells both and Kholer always win.

[@bobbygene8274]

No, the reason generac has the largest market share is that they are the cheapest major generator brand to purchase. Not a bad machine over all, but having worked on many different brands, there is a reason that they are cheaper.

[@ericfraser7543]

If you got $20K + $500/yr in maintenance/fuel costs to install that type of system for that once in a lifetime event, all the power to you, my interloc and 10KW generator runs my whole house for $1K, what happens if your boiler fails, there is a natural gas outage, or flood? it's a lot easier to move and maintain my $500 generator. They sell standby sump pumps, you can put antifreeze in your boiler, and drain your pipes when you go on vacation, as for anything else there's homeowners insurance. Do you really want an unattended generator running day and night when you are away on vacation just to power your sump pump and keep $200 in food from going bad? Tom, from a fellow over-engineering engineer, I am with your wife, fix your floors, save your money for your next vacation, and take it at a more appropriate time of the year when you won't be worried about the home front. In 10 years, that generator will be obsolete, SPAN will have taken over (LOL that's a plug for Joel), hybrid solar systems will be cheaper, more efficient, and pay for themselves.

[@rupe53]

for some people that once in a lifetime event is every year... and sometimes several times a year. When you live rural, a week long outage means no well water, no septic pump, no fridge / freezer, and no heat. What are you willing to pay to avoid that?

[@ericfraser7543]

@@rupe53 My portable generator with an interlock powers all that and more. I have had years where I uses the generator multiple times and then long stretches where it sits in the basement. I even own have a backup generator and UPS for short/fliker outages which are the norm for me. It really depends how hands on you are and how much you want to spend. I would totally agree that during an outage a ATS Generator is a nice luxury.

[@rupe53]

@@ericfraser7543 ... if you are elderly, have medical issues, have on-site childcare while you work, etc, sometimes it's more than a luxury.

[@ericfraser7543]

@@rupe53 A battery jump pack with a built in inverter will run a CPAP all night long. There are probably better more reliable backup options like a solar generator these days. But sure when I retire that may be more of an option for me.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

SSPPAANN haHAA! Great value assessment and great discourse in the comments! We are generally weighing Midwestern risks when we talk about installs like this, but we're really thankful to have our eyes opened to the rest of the country and even those in other countries!

[@DCSIDPA]

I have a 27kW water cooled Generac - Residential.

[@colesmith2541]

Hi-pressure gas- isn’t that 2PSI?

[@MrRW88]

Um where us your ATS sir?

[@ninerout399]

Kohler generates cleaner power…plenty of tests online comparing all the different brands.

[@Strike0_]

Correction: 26kw is the largest air cooled offered currently.

[@whattheschmidt]

That's a lot of money to just have backup. When not use the same money for solar + battery? Even if you spend more, it pays for itself. The backup may not be 22kW, but it can be pretty close for around 20K or so. I spent 13K on solar + 200 amp upgrade of service, + subpanel 100 amp in garage (detached). In 1-2 years I will buy the house battery + auto backup and that will also pay for itself by shifting my electric usage. Should be right around 10K for the battery (11kW - 14kW of power is what I am aiming for). While my house is smaller, at least these systems are used every day and are even more reliable than a generator! Not to mention the return on investment...

[@bills6946]

We stay away from Generac and mostly go with Kohler. More reliable in our experience.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

How many have you done, @bills6946?

[@bills6946]

@@ElectricProAcademy The company I work for used to install Generac. We are now a Kohler dealer. Far fewer warranty service calls. Warranty work are headaches and the backup paperwork is time consuming. Angry customers wont recommend you either. We only sub out the gas piping because he is not licensed to do that work.

[@OverKillPlusOne]

I don’t really see how the ATS qualifies as a disconnect. Throwing that entry breaker just results in a generator start followed by the house going live again. Coming from a firefighters point of view labeling the ATS as a service disconnect for the house seems wrong (but might be correct according to NEC since it is isolating from the utility)

[@OverKillPlusOne]

Obviously having said from firefighter point of view, I’m here, and I know what an ATS is so I’d also be finding the generator disconnect or start inhibit regardless of what disconnect I found if I spot a transfer switch. (Day job in IT, been responsible for facilities with megawatt scale plants etc, not full time fire, so definitely not the usual firefighter)

[@bobbygene8274]

A "ATS" with a built-in main breaker for the utility feed (as most generac air cooled ATS' do have a 200 amp breaker) most definitely qualifies as a disconnect. The internal factory installed breaker is what qualifies the ATS as a disconnect. Seems like by now you would have done the easy thing-cut off the generator first. Generator will not run in the "OFF" mode-or on most models, turn off the LP or Natural Gas gas valve located within a few feet of the generator-won't run long after that either.

[@ShaquilleOatmeal94]

You already have high pressure gas under your house/in your house. Just saying, cost effective i gotcha though

[@tallbrian100]

High pressure gas is 2 psi.

[@a.g8517]

super

[@aerofart]

Too much audio compression

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Thanks for the A/V feedback! We're electricians 1st and content creators 2nd so we appreciate input like this!

[@bobbygene8274]

It is almost always cheaper to run electric than gas.

[@eleventy-seven]

Generacs are hit and miss by model. Get a Kohler or Briggs

[@jmackinjersey1]

Patches? We don't need no stinking patches.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

😆

[@quikflag]

Why does he keep touching and petting it?

[@kllgrogto5838]

😂

[@ittybitbobo7657]

Yeah what about the crazy expensive price. To to to expensive

[@alvingoodman6539]

I’m getting dizzy watching him walk back and forth and touching the decal on the generator.

[@amirharris473]

Your gas bill is going to be higher when you use the generator

[@1966spyderco]

Separate accounts. Never need a Permission slip from the wife

[@tomthompson6412]

Happily married for 46 years so we work things out together

[@rupe53]

@@tomthompson6412 ... after being together 48+ years we still make jokes about that.... I had 20 great years, then I got married. I'd like you to meet my first wife. (didn't say there was another) One of us has a strong constitution. (patting my own back)

[@grosjarvis8061]

Generac is the WORST buy that there is. Service is problematic and lengthy wait time. $5 part failure $640 labor and fails ever 14 to 16 months. After two years you have paid for the entire generator again and start the cycle all over. Get something else or invest in solar

[@salvatorecarapazza248]

Why not just do it all yourself like a real man and save thousands

[@glenpitts6813]

"Peace of Mind" is a click bait phrase. Immediate turn off.

[@russrockino-rr0864]

One problem: They probably will shut down the natural gas pipe lines during natural disasters and when the SHTF, to prevent damage from explosions and vandalism. Just a thought. Great video as always, Joel.

[@rupe53]

we have some low areas where NG is shut off during periods of high water, but it's a VERY small percentage of our 7500 customers.

[@ElectricProAcademy]

Good input, thanks @Russ' Rockin O-RR!

[@jimsbagels1991]

24kw is not the biggest residential Generac do, they go up to 150kw for residential. Also, a high pressure AND 1-1/4" Line for gas? whoever told you that knows NOTHING.

[@ironiczombie2530]

The 150kw is a commercial series gen. You should do some research B4 you announce your stupidity to everyone

[@tomthompson6412]

This entire endeavor was A-blast and Joel's team is phenomenal Just the experience of working with them and getting my hands on and learning a whole bunch of stuff was worth the cost even if we'd never really use it

[@shubinternet]

150kw would be for commercial use, not residential. I bet you couldn't even get a 150kw unit into a residential neighborhood if you tried.

[@rupe53]

@@shubinternet ... what happens after 50 Kw is you are outside the Guardian line of home standby sets. After 50 Kw it's Generac, but not Guardian. BTW, we have up near 400 Kw is residential settings. 150 - 250Kw is not uncommon in fancy neighborhoods. We are a larger dealer and have near 7500 customers with 17 techs. (I am recently retired)

[@ElectricProAcademy]

For keeping your crypto-mine running during an outage 😂

[@edd736]

Let's see. Nope.

[@gdurant]

Folks stay away from generators by themselves as they are extremely expensive to run and they produce very dirty power which will damage your electronics within your house. The only way to have a generator is to have a smaller one to recharge your batteries from your solar system that you can use everyday and lower your bills tremendously. Leave a comment for me and maybe one of our systems installers for the combo system which is going to be less expensive and actually save and make you money as opposed to just draining your wallet like this 22,000 layout above. The downside to stand alone generators like this is that you rarely use them and the upside with solar is if you've got it set up properly you're going to save 2/3 of your electric bill in many cases with a backup generator to charge your batteries when needed. Long story short don't go with the standalone generator thinking that's going to solve your problems as you may spend $2,000 if your house is knocked out for a month in a nice stone just on natural casserole propane.

[@rudbeckia885]

Generac junk

[@patiencezero-xc9zl]

Wow, I had a 22kW installed turn key for $11,500 through a dealer.