Posted on 04/05/2010 7:40:19 AM PDT by DCBryan1
Freepers: The new wife has given me a new "honey do" list. Included, in this quarter's budget is to install a backup generator in our somewhat remote home.
We have a 4k sq/ft home in Arkansas, and her criteria is to be able to run everything in the house if the power goes out. We are next to the last connection on a long line down a valley, down by the river and can expect a long power outage if we get tornados, storms, ice, etc.
We are expecting our first child, and I think that a good standby generator would be a good investment given our location.
I don't want to list all of our appliances, normal for most households, but we do have x2 freezers, and I have a small machine shop and a small wood working shop, and a koi pond. I understand that we will not be using everything at once, but would like a very capable generator.
Are you on municipal water or well? All motors have an inrush starting value that can be quite high.
So YEP.
I do this for a living and have done so for thirty years. Procurement Managers don't just get to buy whatever the hell they want based on anecdotal experience or premonitions.
If it doesn't meet spec. the bid is thrown out. If it does meet spec. lowest bid gets it. That is why the bid system is used and why it works.
This is standard business practice unless corruption is involved. The spending of other's money based on one's brand loyalty or "opinion" IS corruption no different from accepting a kick-back.
Service, warranty, reliabilty (sic), the whole TCO.
The above is part of meeting spec.
Duh.
always buy the best, and always buy brushless generators.(self exciting)-waukesha engines with kato generator ends are the best on the market today for reliable power- it will cost alot more, but it will last you a lifetime- and the resale will be very good many years from now, even used..
http://www.kraftpower.com/equipment/attachments/96/VRG330-6217.pdf
http://www.power-technology.com/contractors/powerplantequip/kato/
She would need it broken gently to her that there may be some things that would be like "camping" if they lost electricity. It's more a matter of what she would be willing to do without that just saying she wants everything. I have a 2750 sq ft house with a 200 amp service. I'm sure a 4k sq ft house would mean she would have to do without some things during an outage. He even mentioned a shop. I would think putting off welding would wait till the storm has passed. I have a 6kw generator for my house and we can't run anything other than the refer, freezer, and a bedroom window unit with a few bulbs thrown in. That has a 30 amp 220 breaker so doing simple math I come up with 7 times 30 = 210 amps so I would figure 7 times 6kw would be about 42kw generator for a 200 amp output. That is huge! I know businesses that don't have generators that big.
I would set it up with Nat gas because diesel will spoil over time and takes some maintenance. Propane is good but follows the price of gasoline pretty much.
I would have a family meeting and make a list of absolute "have to haves", and figure the amperage. besides the freezers, they need a way to cook and keep warm or cool. I would block off a rooom for sleeping and use a window unit for that. 20kw would go a long way for a large house, but it would seem primative for some. I went for 31 days after Rita with no juice. I got a window unit, and a generator and was glad for it. It cost me up to $20 a day for gas that I had to drive 40 miles to buy. Just keeping the generator going was a full time job. We let it run for a few hours and then cut it off for a few hours to save gas. It kept the freezer frozen but the other people in the house were constantly griping that they wanted the TV on or were tired of this or that being off. A nat gas conversion would be a great touch for this type situation. You need to remember that if your juice is off, there may be a chance the service station is off also. Wal Mart was closed and food had to come from the Nat Gaurd or a town 40 miles away that was always out of food when you got there.
Buy the best, a Kohler, get a service contract and you're in business. Now if there's a possibility that you may be moving in the next 10 years, get a portable rig that you can slip the tires on and tow it on up the road to the new house.
The rest of you guys, how much do you have tied up in guns, boats, private aircraft or whatever your hobby is? I'll bet $10K is on the short side. Making life as easy as possible for my Mrs. has always been a major priority with me and it sure has paid off. Think about it.
Hey,
I just purchased a generator from Sportsmans Warehouse.
Master Quality® 2,000W Portable Generator
Product: WX2-177782
Expected availability: March 31, 2010.
Quantity: 1, Unit Price: $269.97, Total Price: $269.97
I hope it is not a piece of junk. Would have been nice to get a Honda but this fits my budget for one of those things to have IF things get out of hand.
MFO
I sell gensets...
You need 40~50 kW...
LOL!
That’s why proper spec writing and tech tabs still get engineers free lunches.
< grin >
well thats what i have on about the same square footage house with all electical appaliances.. you have to figure in for starting amps.. you cant figure if you house pulls 100 amps that you can get a gen. that will pull 100 amps.. it has to be alittle over rated—(example) cause like your air condition will pull alot more amps when it first starts then when its running after it starts.. so thats why you have to over rate it alittle.. you can put a amp probe on @ the main 220 and see you amps with all items on in your house. that will decide the KW needed— well, i own a generator rewinding shop, build generator packages for offshore use, i’m a electrician,ect.
The selection of proper KW generator size for your home back-up electric power...
http://www.gillettegenerators.com/sizing/sizing02.html
bookmark
lmao- a 5 kw only pulls 12.5 amps@220.. example- a 5 ton AC pulls aprox 70 amps at start, and 28 amps running— thats just the AC dummie— a avarage home has 200 amp main breaker
Muncipal water, and we have natural springs in the creek out back.
True, but it isn’t always LOWEST BIDDER, in your world it may be, but in private world it almost never is. So you are correct for commercial applications, but they happen to also have excellent equipment and have to meet the quality and TCO.
But you aren’t being helpful with the Lowest Bidder thing. This is about helping *this* person get what they need and how have you helped? You are being unhelpful and not supplying any useful information unless you though everyone knew it was “common knowledge”.
Try to contain your comments a bit to HELP this person and not knock down other please.
bflr
I am letting them know that Kohler isn't the "best" simply because some city or individual bought one. Actually you recommending a manufacturer is doing them the disservice.
I think you are reading more than I said. I never said Kohler was BEST.
I digress, help the man out then.
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