home generators for back up?

If you have natural gas, you might want to look into Generac whole house systems. Once set up they automatically kick in and you wont even notice the power went out. If installed properly (by qualified electrician), they have disconnect boxes between supplier and system and fully automated.

If no natural gas, then go with a 5K genny. The easiest way to figure out your draw (amp ratings) is to read the electrical tag with each appliance. Furnace, Pumps, fridge ect. You have to remember that not all will run at the same time. Also, each appliance a starting surge rating, especially the well pumps and sump pumps. If you can figure out those loads (Amps), it will help you size a generator for your needs.

Most well/sump pumps have a shut off switch or plug. In times of outages, you can manually cycle these on and off as needed until power returns.

In this current high energy prices I have been providing advice to rural power consumers with NG/LPG about reducing cost and installing a whole house geny with a battery bank to supplement continues low draw usage. What that means is using a genny to charge a battery bank (2200 APH average), that provides daily power needs. You only run the genny to charge battery bank or during high power needs.

The cost benefits to rural users is very attractive right now, especially for those NG on property.

Wish we had NG here M. Would make things so much easier and cheaper. Instead I'm looking to solar and batter banks more and more.

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Originally Posted by pinepointer

Security is an issue no matter what transfer switch you use to connect your portable. The noise will broadcast it's presence to everyone.

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Yes, because the lights on in a dark neighborhood wouldn't do that........:tongue:

I've got a Champion 5Kw genny at the house. Now to be fair, we have a NG dryer, and stove, so our electricity usuage is already pretty low, but it has never had an issue.

I start it 2x per year, and run it up to temp. I also make sure the tank is kept full, and a liberal amount of Sea Foam is always applied. Two pull start, every time.

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Originally Posted by impact

Let me clarify. You go to the on/off switch that all furnaces have installed. Undo the wires going to the furnace and pig tail in a 120 volt cord. Proceed and plug into the generator. Easy / peasy and sure beats freezing. A five minute job. Also, you are not introducing any current into the rest of the house distribution panel. Any handy man can do this and there is no law preventing a homeowner from doing this simple bypass.


PS: Did you know that if your furnace is red tagged by an HVAC company and the gas supply shut off you can turn it back on instead of freezing and get a second opinion. Just make sure that you have a working CO2 detector nearby to monitor the air quality.
Got this information from a licensed G1 tech. Prevents fraudulent repairs and bad purchases based on emotions.

Edit: A safety tip when running your generator. If you look closely on the unit you will find a grounding lug. Take the time to drive a stake in the ground and attach a good size wire. Otherwise you have a floating neutral and if you inadvertently get shocked by an appliance well you are now the path of least resistance. It can kill you!

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I have to go with the assumption that nobody knows what they are doing and they cannot do things safely, that is the default.

If you do what you are saying and it is someone who has no knowledge and burns down their house due to an electrical problem then they are SOL for insurance.

I told my wife that if the power goes out we will just drain the water, turn off the breakers and leave, in the winter the only thing that can break are water pipes and with no water we have no problems.

The bigger issue is the ton of extension cords to all areas of the house for critical components but anything over 2500W will get you by, 5000W is ideal and 7500W is the max for most house transfer switches.

You can also look at a UPS system for your furnace and any other critical components, they will kick on automatically and just need to be sized to your component and the batteries will only give you so much time.

Line052, I would be worried about the natural gas supply in a large scale outage, they have backups for pumps but nothing is perfect. If you are oil or propane the Generac automatic generators are great, you would not really know you ran out of power but they are not portable and not cheap.

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Originally Posted by Fox

If you do what you are saying and it is someone who has no knowledge and burns down their house due to an electrical problem then they are SOL for insurance.

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LOL. That right there...

In a previous life when I did renovations for a lot of folks, most of my work was doing plumbing. I'd see some of the electrical work done by owners, and it was scary. I'd often offer to have a look, or make recommendations for an electrician. The owner would usually refuse, and say it was ok, and that they didn't mind electrical, but plumbing was beyond their abilities.

LOL, electrical screw up, people get hurt, people die, houses burn; ..........Plumbing screw up, where's the shut off, and hand me the shop vac / mop.....

I don't mind doing some plumbing. Its really hard to screw that up large. Some wiring I'll do, however I know my limits. Things are a lot better these days, but the most common cause of house fires..........
If you want "eye" openers talk to any fire fighters you know.

People thinking they know what they are doing.
I have a master electrician in the family, and on occasion have had to call him. There has been an occasion where even he was stumped for a few moments and ultimately advised me to wait until he could get out, test a few things, figure out what the electrician that ran the wiring when the house was built did.

Don't get it myself.
It's like many things. There are some things I need a mechanic for. Some things I need an accountant for, some things I need a FA for, etc.
nothing can ruin your life like thinking your qualified to major or complex wiring.
Is $100 or $200 even as much as a deductible?

JBEN email me at [email protected]. I have been giving presentation on going off the grid, A Practical Guide. Feel free to ask any questions and I will email you powerpoint presentation. 45 Slides. I would suggest you join Living off the Grid on Facebook that I am an ADMIN in/for.

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Originally Posted by JBen

Wish we had NG here M. Would make things so much easier and cheaper. Instead I'm looking to solar and batter banks more and more.

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