Spend a few extra bucks and get an Automatic Transfer Switch.
Get a couple of “load shed modules.” They determine which loads need to be disconnected for the generator to start and keep running.
Have a concrete pad poured for it.
A year ago, we installed a 26 kW Briggs & Stratton backup generator fueled by natural gas with the ATS and the load shed modules on the Air Conditioner and electric oven. We had ordered a 20 kW unit, but by the time our order got to the top of the queue, they had stopped making that unit and started building the 26 kW. We went with the bigger unit so we would not run out of capacity. It’s doubtful we’ll really need those load shed modules, but we have that peace of mind.
We have friends who have a portable generator and need to plug it in. I don’t want that hassle — I just want the unit to turn on by itself. I figured that this is a one time purchase and we should do it right. It gives me extra peace of mind when we are away in the winter. We live in an area with lots of tall trees and we get fierce winds out of Montana and from the prairie to the west of us. Day-long outages are common and week-long outages happen every five to ten years.
These new units run very short exercise cycles to avoid heat-up / cool-down condensation. It starts for only 15-20 seconds every week in the summer and every two weeks in the winter. It does a longer 20 minute “burn out” exercise run in April and September to heat it up and drive off any condensation that might have occurred. Our neighbors have older units that run for 20 minutes every week.
Yep, you did it right. You must be rich.