Posted on 06/04/2024 8:42:56 AM PDT by eastexsteve
I live in rural NE Texas, and we experience power outages often. Some last for days. This year, we've been hammered by bad weather, and this round is the 12th time I've been on generator power this year. I've played the "generator game" for decades, starting off with one that I thought would be just good enough to keep me going, running the bare minimum appliances until the power came back on. This was torture. In my opinion, most people make bad decisions when it comes to buying a generator. They think small, and short run times. The truth is, here in Texas, you need one big enough to power your whole house, including A/C. For a 2,000 sqft house with a family of four, (that is VERY energy efficient with all LED lights etc.,) you are talking at least a 12KW - 13KW running watt (not surge watt) generator. If you want to stay married and keep your kids from running away from home, don't think about anything smaller. And, you want it fuel efficient enough to run all day. Also, you want one built to go extended run times. Most of these smaller camping or job site generators won't cut it, since they won't run very long under a load between fueling, and require oil changes every 50 hours. You're not powering a tent or a garage shop. You are powering your house, and you may have to do it for many days. Propane/Natural gas generators are VERY inefficient. Gasoline is somewhat better. Diesel is the best. Here in Texas during the "big freeze" a few years ago, some people even lost natural gas pressure! With the world like it is, and getting worse, you need to consider things like fuel, fuel storage, and fuel availability in case of a SHTF scenario. Before you go plop down hundreds of dollars on a generator thinking you need just enough to get you by, you better give it some serious thought.
Anyone who has propane can also buy a propane heater in case the generator breaks down.
Exactly.
I’m a snowbird. Up north I live in a quiet circle. Nobody comes here unless they are looking to come here. If I’m in Florida for the winter and the power goes off here I need a generator to kick in automatically. Can’t have the house get below freezing and all the pipes burst. Or even later in the spring wet season and the sump pump has no power; yes you can get one with battery backup but that only lasts several hours and then your basement is a swimming pool.
In 2020 we had a major windstorm with serious damage across a 30 mile wide swath across 70 percent of our state and into the neighboring state. Our power was out for just over a week. Fortunately it was summer and not even especially hot or humid. My brother loaned me our late father’s tiny ancient generator so we were able to keep the fridge going and charge phones. Ran the pedestal fan at night to sleep until the fuel ran out about 4 AM. Cooked outside on the propane grille. Fortunately water was fine from city and gas water heater kept us in warm water.
Looking to get a whole house NG unit in the next couple years.
Your house gets SINGLE phase. It’s called “split phase” because it carries the alternating peaks of the single phase on two wires.
There is no such animal as “two phase” power in use anywhere.
So I did some reading after pfflier’s comment and, not being an electrician by trade, was a little confused. But sometimes its use of language more than not knowing a subject that causes confusion. I am pretty sure both of you know more about this type of house wiring than I do so no criticism from me. But I am still trying to understand what my real generator needs are going to be. If I have items, like an oven, or possibly my Central Air/Heat, that are ‘split phase’ will I not be able to run those from a single phase generator, or is it just a matter of some additional wiring and hardware to make that single phase from the generator ‘split’?
They won’t hear the racking! Just the BLAM!
That's the two day average so far.
It’s simply single phase for the majority of residential homes. 3 wires (legs) feed from the pole to the home. Two of the wires are 120 volts while one is considered a neutral or ground. When utilizing both 120 volt wires, you utilize 240 volts like a sine wave. Stove/oven, clothes dryers, HVAC units, hot water heaters are examples of 240 volt appliances while the rest are 120 volt. Hope this helps.
You are right I was trying to oversimplify.
I think so, I guess when I talk to the folks whop would install the generator, I just need to ask if the generator supports a ‘split’ 240 volt feature?
My brother-in-law gave me a diesel generator. It’s a pain in the butt. You have to run it regularly or the battery goes dead. It’s been dead for several years.
The battery is super-heavy...I disconnect it to recharge it (just to be on the safe side).
Not necessarily split just if it will output 120 volts as well as 240 volts.
Thanks, yeah, I was just reviewing the specs and it looks like the single phase generators do support 120/240 V. So maybe thats all I need. If it runs the central air/heat, and maybe the electric dryer, thats what I wanted. I can survive without an oven for any power outages.
Just gotta make sure it can handle the initial amperage draw especially in an electric central air and heat setup. Figure your loads then add at least 10% overhead.
https://www.calstatesolar.com/product/220v-nema-rated-receptacle/
The supply connector for the appliances will tell you what type of power they need. Single phase will be the conventional two pin and a ground you use around the house on lamps and small appliances.
Your big appliances should have connectors that will not fit in a convenience outlet.
Thanks again, Im going to let the installers doing the free estimate figure all this out as well. Just trying to get smart on it, at least enough to ask the right questions when they come out.
I am almost there in understanding. I am not at the home right now so I can visually check some things later today. The Kohler I am looking at has this in its spec: Single Phase, Voltage @60 Hzs 120/240.
Thats for the 26KW unit.
The 20 KW unit actually says: Single Phase/Three Phase, Voltage @60 Hzs 120/240|277/480
There are probably only three things in the house that run 240V: The oven, the Central Air/Heat, and the clothes dryer (maybe Washer too?).
It may be where you live but I am down south temperatures don’t get that cold for the most part. I have know a few people who have Generac generators and they can run for about 6 to 7 days on 200 gallons of propane. I had thought about a 500 gallon tank but the longest we have ever been out was 7 days. For me a 250 propane tank seems logical for a short outage. I live in the country and don’t have access to NG that would be the best way to go if you have access, I assume you don’t
Your single phase generator will work just fine for everything in any average house. HWT, Range, dryer, all work single phase.
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