Re: Whole house generators (slightly OT)

["BruceR" <razrbruce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, that's some good info.

 L. M. Rappaport wrote:
> 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.