Off topic-GENERATOR

[jackieschmidt]

They finally delivered our 25 KW liquid cooled Generac this week, it is sitting on it’s pad waiting to be hooked up.
It runs on natural gas.
We ordered it last May, tremendous backlog

 

[M-61]

Been thinking about installing a 18 or 20 kw unit. How much fuel do these typically burn? What fuel are you all running and how big of a tank?

Propane. Doesn't go bad like gasoline. 500 gallon tank which you can not rent only purchase. (at least in this area)
Even if a diesel was made (must be?) diesel will grow algae requiring an additive. I wanted a care free fuel and one that left the EPA out of the equation.
Consumption? No clue at this point as the moment all was installed and running there has been no power failure in this area.
The decision to get this was made quite apparent to to me in a most unfortunate way. My best friend for what ever reason always wanted a Corvette. He had the money. He died never having bought the Corvette. I want everything in my house to work whether it's my well, furnace or central a/c. I will not go to my grave without it. I have worked my whole life (so far at least)

ps No natural gas in my area...it would have been my first choice

 

[M-61]

It shouldn't hurt anything but you might call the company and ask if it's normal.... Still watch it though...

Called the company and gave them my numbers. They replied that the numbers are correct and normal HOWEVER they will have their tech call me to explain it.
Great company and I'm waiting for the phone call....not to argue but to get an explanation that I understand. I don't want this to die while running as the 12.7V becomes less.

 

[Dub]

my 34KW general has been running 20 minutes a week and through a few short outages on a 500 gallon propane tank that still shows full after 4.5 years. It would probably use the full 500 gallons in a 10 day full outage though

 

[Dub]

here it is

 

[1K6BRA]

Next best thing since my AMP annealer!!

 

[Rsadams]

Called the company and gave them my numbers. They replied that the numbers are correct and normal HOWEVER they will have their tech call me to explain it.
Great company and I'm waiting for the phone call....not to argue but to get an explanation that I understand. I don't want this to die while running as the 12.7V becomes less.

That's great , always nice to deal with a good company.... I demand it anymore... If they can't help me or are rude I will find another company that wants my money... I have seriously been thinking about buying one of those generators I have a portable I can plug in but would like it to do everything when the power goes out... That way if I am not around anymore my wife won't have to worry or learn how to mess with it....

 

[Rsadams]

Called the company and gave them my numbers. They replied that the numbers are correct and normal HOWEVER they will have their tech call me to explain it.
Great company and I'm waiting for the phone call....not to argue but to get an explanation that I understand. I don't want this to die while running as the 12.7V becomes less.

After my 2nd heart attack a few months ago at 53 years of age and losing everything in a Forest fire in 2011 which probably made me have the heart attacks in the first place.... I learned the lesson you're talking about , if you want something and have the money or whatever to get it you might as well get it.... There may not be a tomorrow to put it off to... Especially the way things are going right now , get it while you can...

 

[D Coots]

Another vote for an LP Generac. Great people to deal with here.

Later
Dave

 

[swimster]

Been thinking about installing a 18 or 20 kw unit. How much fuel do these typically burn? What fuel are you all running and how big of a tank?

A 20 kw will burn between 1.5 and 2 gal. Per hr on Lp depending on the load. The weekly exercise cycle lasts around 12 min. At no load. Fuel usage is negligible.

 

[243Lapua]

Just fyi my father in law has the crazy ants on his property... They will kill off the fire ants and take over.... They also get in his electric boxes and he started putting of all things medicated ear tags for cattle in the boxes and that seems to keep them out.... I know when I worked security for Dupont the fire ants would get in the relays for the automatic gates and stop them from working all the time.... Ants do love electric stuff... Maybe the ear tag trick will work for you guys.... I would also put out poison for them anyway.... That's just me though I put out enough poison yearly to kill off the eagle population... I am definitely not a tree hugger....lol

Electrical wire insulation is made of an organic material, therefore the attraction to ants is a constant problem. I've seen whole electrical conduits fried due to short circuit, even causing fires in houses. So constant fumigating is required if you have outside generators.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I don’t know if there’s much to servicing these generators. We bought ours from a guy that services and changes oil annually, well worth it to me!

 

[Old Navy]

They finally delivered our 25 KW liquid cooled Generac this week, it is sitting on it’s pad waiting to be hooked up.
It runs on natural gas.
We ordered it last May, tremendous backlogView attachment 1299984

Cool! Big sucker! You should be able to run all your neighbors to. LOL

 

[Jdne5b]

Using propane heat, and my 20kw propane generator, my 500 gallon tank (that they only fill 80%or so) would last probably a week or less if I started out full. My model is around 2.25 gallons per hr at 50% load, I don't know what kind of load it would run at. Maybe if we kept the high demand electric appliances off, it might run near or less than 50%?

Ideally, I would like a 1000 gallon tank to be really prepared.

 

[Rsadams]

Using propane heat, and my 20kw propane generator, my 500 gallon tank (that they only fill 80%or so) would last probably a week or less if I started out full. My model is around 2.25 gallons per hr at 50% load, I don't know what kind of load it would run at. Maybe if we kept the high demand electric appliances off, it might run near or less than 50%?

Ideally, I would like a 1000 gallon tank to be really prepared.

Things like coffee makers pull super high loads.... A lot of what people think are high loads devices are actually not as bad as you would think... If nobody is home all day putting a timer on hot water heaters from what I understand can save alot... When a hurricane came through my mom's place they were paying about $75 a day to run a portable generator which wouldn't run anything big ( 8kw ).. Unfortunately it cost alot to run a generator...

 

[Larry Klutts]

One can run their gen set as needed, cooling / heating, running well.
I went with the 38 KW to run between 25 to 40 percent load capacity.

 

[dogdude]

My B-inlaw bought a small portable generator to run his big house, it will only run the refrigerator, hot water heater and tv and has to fill it every 3-4 hrs., not fun waking up in the middle of the night to refill it, as Rsadams posted it gets expensive!
I just bought a 22 kw Generac for my house...$11,000 now that's Expensive!!

 

[bugman]

My B-inlaw bought a small portable generator to run his big house, it will only run the refrigerator, hot water heater and tv and has to fill it every 3-4 hrs., not fun waking up in the middle of the night to refill it, as Rsadams posted it gets expensive!
I just bought a 22 kw Generac for my house...$11,000 now that's Expensive!!

I have had a 28K for 8 years. That 11 K sounds like a good deal. After burying a large propane tank, 400 amp switches,and all the wiring and upgrades to related geothermal equipment, your price is very reasonable.

 

[granite1]

My B-inlaw bought a small portable generator to run his big house, it will only run the refrigerator, hot water heater and tv and has to fill it every 3-4 hrs., not fun waking up in the middle of the night to refill it, as Rsadams posted it gets expensive!
I just bought a 22 kw Generac for my house...$11,000 now that's Expensive!!

Ask if that includes some kind of battery charger.

 

[Shooter13]

Ours is powered by natural gas, had to run about 10 ft of pipe.

I'm looking at one now and it would be natural gas also, we don't lose power that often but if it were out a week or two I'm going to have a lot of "new" friends.