Re: Whole house generators (slightly OT)

[L. M. Rappaport <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:42:41 GMT, "BruceR" <razrbruce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote (with possible editing):

>Enduring Sunday's 6.5 earthquake was no big deal... I only lost one
>picture window.  The real hassle was being without power for 16 muggy
>hours.  If that happened very rarely I'd be happy with my little 6000
>watt Costco special that runs the reefers and a few lights.  However,
>Hawaiian Electric Company's newest generator is 30 years old and they
>just haven't kept pace with growth on the island. That results in ever
>more frequent outages lasting up to 30 hours (recently).
>
>So, I think it's time for big honkin' generator to serve the whole
>house.  I've been looking at the Generac line and I'm considering a
>35,000 watt unit to serve my 200amp home.  I'd appreciate any info or
>suggestions that any of you have to offer.  I'd like to run it off
>Natural gas with LP gas as a backup.
>

We have a 16kw diesel with a 200 amp automatic transfer switch.  The
generator runs every Saturday at 11:45 am.  I picked diesel so that I
could run off of 1 fuel - the same as is used by the boiler and
furnace - we have a 2000 gal tank in an insulated underground bunker.
It runs EVERYTHING including two air conditioning compressors, oven,
clothes dryer, etc.  I believe I could have made it smaller.  I have
had virtually no trouble with it since it's installation several years
ago.  I soundproofed the thing by building it in a separate indoor
enclosure equipped with two motorized louvers - 1 in front of the
water cooled radiator and one up high, baffled to supply intake air.
(I am in northern New England).  Construction included soundproofing
material purchased especially for generators.

I think 35kw is WAY too large.  Since you have gas, I'd use that with
propane as a backup (you said you had earthquakes).

If I can help in any way, please ask.
--

Larry
Email to rapp at lmr dot com