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Thread Number: 72174
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Generac Standby Generator |
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Post# 954476 8/25/2017 at 16:12 (2,221 days old) by countryguy  (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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Anyone have a whole house standby generator or knowledge of them? I have a Generac 16 KW that was installed in 2007. It has worked flawlessly until 2 weeks ago when the electricity went out. The generator started automatically as it should however there still was no electricity. I called the dealer that installed it. He thought it was the voltage regulator but after waiting 10 days for the part and installing it, there still was no electricity being produced. Now he thinks it is the alternator that needs to be replaced at a cost of $2500 for parts and labour! This sounds absurd. I've asked him for a breakdown of part and labour costs but so far I have not received an answer. I called another dealer and am waiting for a quote from them.
Gary | ||
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Post# 954484 , Reply# 1 8/25/2017 at 16:40 (2,221 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O ) |
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Post# 954497 , Reply# 3 8/25/2017 at 18:24 (2,221 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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There are some of my neighbors have Generacs. I hear them once a week cycling but have never heard they had any problems with any of them. After the big ice storm in January 1998, when we lost power for 2 weeks, those started being installed. I have a Craftsman that I bought when the ice storm started, and it runs everything in the house I need. Problem is, that it eats 5 gallons of gas in 5 hours.
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Post# 954511 , Reply# 5 8/25/2017 at 20:17 (2,220 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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The Generac is model # 0052431. I have little mechanical/electrical skills so I don't plan on repairing the unit myself but I would like to be educated on what has to be done. From the research I have done, the alternator seems to be in the $300-500 range. I don't understand how labour could be $2000, even at a high rate of $100/hour that would mean 20 hours to replace the part? Something just isn't right.
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Post# 954532 , Reply# 8 8/25/2017 at 23:56 (2,220 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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Before the service guy came out to look at the generator, I had an electrician out. He checked and tested the transfer switch and said that everything was OK. He was the one that diagnosed that there was no electricity coming into the transfer switch. He also checked the generator and thought that the voltage regulator was OK. He didn't have the schematics for the generator so couldn't diagnose what the real issue was.
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| Post# 954571 , Reply# 9 8/26/2017 at 08:58 (2,220 days old) by beekeyknee (Columbia, MO) | ||
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| Post# 954609 , Reply# 10 8/26/2017 at 12:23 (2,220 days old) by realvanman (Southern California) | ||
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That or a good old Kohler generator I have several in my collection. :) | ||
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Post# 955169 , Reply# 11 8/29/2017 at 09:37 (2,217 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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*Update*
The generator guy has been no help whatsoever....even so far as to not return my phone call which I made to him about 2 minutes after receiving an email from him yesterday morning. I called another dealer to get an estimate of the cost to replace the alternator and I have not heard from him either. Generac is offering a 10 year warranty on new generators if purchased by Sep. 01 so I have decided to get a new one. The electrician I had out last week will do the swap out of the old one. He knows someone that is looking for a small engine so I may be able to sell the engine out of the generator. It is going to cost me more than I had anticipated but hopefully I will have piece of mind for 10 years. | ||
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Post# 955339 , Reply# 12 8/30/2017 at 17:28 (2,216 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Generac - why make the same mistake twice! There's a reason telephone co.s, fire & police stations, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. usually stick with either Cummins, Kohler or Caterpiller gen sets. Cincinnati Bell Telephone uses Cummins equipment exclusively, both permanent and trailer mounted. | ||
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Post# 956805 , Reply# 14 9/9/2017 at 16:44 (2,206 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Engine RPM's Another thing to look for is one whose engine operates at 1800 RPM instead of 3600 RPM. Many of the less expensive units intended for residential use have the 3600 RPM engines, while most commercial grade have the 1800. The 1800 RPM engines usually last longer with less maintenance. | ||
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Post# 956854 , Reply# 15 9/10/2017 at 00:10 (2,205 days old) by chetlaham (United States) |
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Generac
Electricians call them Genecrap. I'm not kidding. And they can't even use a simple ATS 2 wire start circuit but that might have changed. As Cirle W said there is a reason why Cummins, Cat act are used in real emergency applications.
If you want a real generator go for a 1,800 rpm liquid cooled unit. For low cost or outages that don't occur often go for 3,600rpm Kohler. | ||
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Post# 956855 , Reply# 16 9/10/2017 at 00:20 (2,205 days old) by askolover (South of Nash Vegas, TN) |
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Post# 956862 , Reply# 18 9/10/2017 at 01:56 (2,205 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc) |
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I was wakened by a partial power failure-called GUC and it was fixed in less than an hour! | ||
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Post# 956918 , Reply# 19 9/10/2017 at 11:02 (2,205 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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The Generac I have now, has been installed for 10 years and until this last episode...ran fine without any issues. We get power outages frequently. We had one for almost 24 hours starting on the afternoon of Dec. 24. The electricity did not come back on until noon on the 25th. My house was the only one on the street with electricity. The longest the electricity has been out is for 3 days about 10 years ago which prompted me to get the generator. I live in the country and as such I required electricity to run the water pump, sewage pump, etc. There are no dealers in this area for residential units for the other manufacturers mentioned.
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Post# 957132 , Reply# 22 9/11/2017 at 15:36 (2,204 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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Post# 995181 , Reply# 23 5/25/2018 at 16:07 (1,948 days old) by DaveAMKrayoGuy (Oak Park, MI) |
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Always have somewhere to put what will spoil! Had one last month; pics & relating stories below:
Right when the clothes washer was filling and I dumped the soap in it, the power went right out--from thinking I just blew a fuse, to the whole house becoming pitch black & me clamoring to get up & out of that dark basement, to seeing the whole neighborhood in darkness...
SO, then, thanks to bringing everything that was highly perishable (dairy products, meat, milk & fish) over to my dad's (& he is in a much more power outage-prone area than we are) I saved everything; a little in his refrigerator, a LOT in his freezer!
(Eating what was nearly-empty & couldn't fit in there)
Then, at last, I had awoken at SEVEN-A.M. to everything finally back on, so I tirelessly, had to run back to dada's to retrieve everything I had brought over hours before, & brought back home... (Funny what a difference an address can make: On my way back from there, after dropping everything off, I saw one half of a block that didn't have its electricity, right next to to the lucky half that DID!) & too bad that Laura's school still lost its power, so there was no school for her today...
-- Dave
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Post# 995224 , Reply# 24 5/25/2018 at 22:53 (1,947 days old) by robbinsandmyers (Conn) |
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I dont have a Generac | ||
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Post# 995241 , Reply# 25 5/26/2018 at 08:00 (1,947 days old) by paulg (My sweet home... Chicago) |
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How do you test them? | ||
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Post# 995313 , Reply# 26 5/27/2018 at 05:22 (1,946 days old) by retro-man (- boston,ma) |
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The ones that I have seen have a timer with an automatic testing startup. Usually once a week it will run for 20-30 minutes then it shuts down. The one that does our building at the beach starts on Monday morning at 8:30am till about 9:00 am. Jon | ||
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Post# 995321 , Reply# 28 5/27/2018 at 08:32 (1,946 days old) by chetlaham (United States) |
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Gencrap
Electricians don't think highly of them (aka Genecrap), however they have improved a bit the last couple of years. Kohler, Onan, ect are what sparkies use on their own home.
Tolvic is right, test under load. Starting is a start, but testing under load makes sure the alternator side of things are working and it allows for the engine to warm up. Warming up is essential for diesels, forgiving on gas units- but still a good idea. | ||
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Post# 995337 , Reply# 29 5/27/2018 at 12:42 (1,946 days old) by robbinsandmyers (Conn) |
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No thanks | ||
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Post# 995379 , Reply# 30 5/27/2018 at 19:05 (1,945 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada) |
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The Generac tests itself weekly on the day and time selected. It starts, runs for 5 minutes and then shuts down. If I want to test that it will supply electricity when the electricity goes out I just have to turn off the main switch on the electrical box that brings electricity into the house. After 30 seconds the generator will start and everything that the generator has been wired to run, should work.
Gary | ||
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Post# 995408 , Reply# 31 5/28/2018 at 00:09 (1,945 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc) |
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At both work and home the power is VERY reliable.For work the generator is used more for load management than emergency use.For at home a home genset is just not worth it to me. | ||
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Post# 1160520 , Reply# 34 9/27/2022 at 19:39 (361 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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Post# 1160523 , Reply# 35 9/27/2022 at 20:19 (361 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Don't waste money and time on those old petroleum powered generators. You'll still be dependent on gas which, if supply is interrupted will mean you have no power in two ways.
The big new stuff is with Solar generators. It's basically a solar charge controller, inverters, several batteries, and a bank of various outlets all neatly packed into a convenient generator sized package with a handle. And you can charge it either with typical home power, or simply plug solar panels into it and charge it for free. It makes no or little noise so you can have it inside where it's safe. And they are affordable and no installation is necessary. No gas piping to install. None of that garbage. And at a fraction of the price. One could easily buy a couple of theses, the solar panels, and a window AC unit to use when the power goes, for much MUCH less than that old dangerous gas stuff. You might like it so much you'll decide to continue using it even when/if the grid tied electric comes back on. Why? Because it's FREE electric. CLICK HERE TO GO TO bradfordwhite's LINK | ||
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Post# 1160525 , Reply# 36 9/27/2022 at 20:33 (361 days old) by qsd-dan (West) |
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simply plug solar panels into it and charge it for free. | ||
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Post# 1160530 , Reply# 37 9/27/2022 at 21:16 (361 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Hurricanes only last for about a day, then the sun comes out and it's beautiful again. ...well except for all the subdivisions and infrastructure that has been leveled but, whatever....
One can buy a standard 100 watt solar panel for about $100 these days. Affordable. I think I would have 5 panels on my roof or on a rack in my yard. I would be taking them off as a storm is approaching and bring them in. Very easy to uscrew and unplug them. The generator is already indoors so one is all protected during the storm and can use the power in the batteries of the generator. The next day, when it appears that all hope is lost, the power is out, an numerous subdivisions are now dust... I'd simply re-install said panels as that sun will most likely be shining.
You can also now buy foldable solar panels. Just unfold them, and plug them in.
And remember, one doesn't need bright sun, especially in FLA, to still get solar charging. The batteries in these generators last for days without ANY charging at all.
It's all these technology advancements AND reduced prices that makes solar so incredibly AWESOME!
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Post# 1160535 , Reply# 39 9/27/2022 at 22:23 (361 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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Post# 1160541 , Reply# 40 9/28/2022 at 00:06 (361 days old) by robbinsandmyers (Conn) |
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We hardly ever lose power here yet I have a 5000 watt 20 year old Honda on standby because when its out its for days. If you live in an area of the country where you lose power seasonally from hurricanes or tornados it is wise to have at the least a 6500 watt generator and four 5 gallon gas cans for reserve fuel in case damage is so bad gas will be hard to find. Engine powered generators are still the best option and 8500 watts is best if you want run most things as if line voltage was still live and you dont want to balance not running the washer if the fridge is running etc.
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Post# 1160544 , Reply# 42 9/28/2022 at 00:30 (361 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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And How MUCH do these gas powered jobbys cost up front? holy-ScHmIT !
And I know they are loud. Back in 2000 I had a neighbor who foolishly got suckered into buying one of these and had it installed between our two homes. When ever that would cycle, like once a week or something, you could definitely hear it come on.
If someone is willing to flush that kind of money down the drain they can certainly do a lot toward a solar set up that's permanent.
If a person doesn't have any sunlight reaching their lot or house that's an unhealthy situation and some of those trees should be removed. It's also rather dreary and depressing living without the natural vitamin D that sunshine provides. | ||
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Post# 1160561 , Reply# 45 9/28/2022 at 10:53 (361 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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My Generac was a very good investment. I did not get suckered in and certainly did not flush money down the drain. I can not cut trees as I am in a Resource Protection Zone because of the lake. There are 2 big solar farms going in nearby that people can buy into. Solar may work for some but not for me. And my electric usage is low so any savings would be minimal.
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Post# 1160572 , Reply# 46 9/28/2022 at 14:09 (361 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Solar panel racks are great because they can serve several purposes: Hold the panels and make them accessible
Over a garden you can plant things beneath them that will give the plants a break during parts of the day from blistering sun.
Here in Calif, and no doubt other places, it's not unusual to see structures over parking lots/parking spaces giving cars protection from the sun
As a patio canopy providing protection from the sun.
Of course if one has a large solar array on their roof and it's damaged from what ever disaster, it should be covered by your home owners insurance policy for replacement. If you've rented your roof to a solar installer to install their panels than they would be responsible to replace them.
Another benefit of covering your roof with solar panels is it prolongs the life of your roof. If you can keep the sun and weather off direct contact with it's surface it's going to last much longer.
Like I stated, I wouldn't leave PERSONAL solar panels up when the threat of hurricane exists. Just as one wouldn't leave loose garden furniture and other things you wouldn't want damaged outside.
Solar panels are meant to withstand wind and rain and depending on how well they've been anchored in place they shouldn't blow off. With hurricane winds and tornados ANYTHING can be damaged including powerlines, substations, and even one's own electric meter can take a direct hit that would knock out your power.
Some people cover their windows with boards during hurricanes for protection with plywood. If they can do that, they can just as easily remove their solar panels temporarily until after the winds pass.
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Post# 1160597 , Reply# 48 9/28/2022 at 21:18 (360 days old) by luxflairguy (Wilmington NC) |
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Gee Bradford! I wonder how many solar panels are still standing in Southern Florida right now! | ||
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Post# 1160608 , Reply# 50 9/28/2022 at 22:40 (360 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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#48 You'll have to investigate that Greg. It will be interesting to know how many HOMES are no longer standing due to the 155 mph winds and the fact that even though the hurricane has been on land now for several hours, it's still considered a hurricane. Usually they quickly fall apart once reaching land.
This storm is the 5th worst hurricane in weather history to hit the U.S. It's slow moving and will dump several feet of rain in the next couple of days.
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As for hail on solar panels, I've had fears of that too. Apparently they can handle up to 1" hail
Putting wire mesh is a good idea. Do you leave that over them all the time or put it over when you know it's supposed to hail? I would think it would create a shadow that would affect output.
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Post# 1160677 , Reply# 51 9/29/2022 at 23:43 (359 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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See how sunny it was today in Lee County where the hurricane landed yesterday.
If you were lucky to be one of the homes that wasn't too badly damaged/demolished, had a solar system as described above, and you'd taken your solar panels in over night, this morning one could simply re-install and you'd be set with electric.
Turn on your AC unit, enjoy a refrigerator, charge cel phones, all while the rest of the county has little or no electric from the grid (and probably won't for quite a while).
It's supposed to be sunny and in the 80s for the next week in Lee County. You can count on it being miserably humid as well.
Of course the solar generator would still have had power in its batteries as the batteries last several days. So last night, when the hurricane knocked out power, you'd have had silent electric lit lights to ride out the storm with.
And look at that, there are at least a couple of homes that survived AND have what appears to be solar panels on their rooves. They are all set to go depending on what type system it is.
I doubt a gas generator installed on the ground would be any good with a 9' surge of water. Not even a 2' surge would save those over priced and noisy clunkers. Then the question is, is the gas working? And of course in FLA., is there gas service AT ALL since, experience has shown, they really don't need it in homes in FLA. and many areas don't have it. And if you're thinking propane, remember the tanks float.
If you have an electric car a home solar system will allow you to charge your car for FREE. And you can do it that way all the time. No worrying about gas rationing and sky rocketing prices. Or even the pumps not working because the electric is out. | ||
| Post# 1160692 , Reply# 52 9/30/2022 at 05:00 (359 days old) by neptunebob (Pittsburgh, PA) | ||
Radio Stations are limited to 50,000 watts
Tolivac, why would your radio station need a 2,200,000 watt generator to run the transmitter? Even with other systems at the station it could not possibly be that much. Maybe a total of 150,000 watts for the whole station with the AC, lighting, etc. Are you exaggerating?
2.2 MW megawatts = 2,200,000 watts 50,000 watts - 50 Kw Kilowatts 150,000 watts = 150 kilowatts. | ||
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Post# 1160699 , Reply# 53 9/30/2022 at 07:17 (359 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR) |
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Of course if one has a large solar array on their roof and it's damaged from what ever disaster, it should be covered by your home owners insurance policy for replacement.
We have 27 panels on the roof. I don't know if that's considered large solar array or not. They are warranted for 25 years from any kind of damage or production failure, etc. They monitor the panels remotely and if they see any panel has reduced production they will come out and repair or replace. I can monitor via a phone app and if I see and issue I can call them as well for repair.
They warranty the roof against any issues for 10 years. I called our insurance company when we installed them and she told me if something happened that they didn't cover it would go through our home insurance. We had a new 30 year roof put on the house about five months before we got the panels so likely the only thing that might happen is a leak where the panels are attached to the roof. There is only one hole through the roof for the entire installation where it comes into the attic and across the house to where the panel is on the side of the house. They did a really nice, very clean job of installing.
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Post# 1160724 , Reply# 54 9/30/2022 at 17:02 (359 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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#53 | ||
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Post# 1160725 , Reply# 55 9/30/2022 at 17:07 (359 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.) |
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Picture of a home who's solar array apparently made it through the storm, but the house didn't.
With the roof on the ground it would be easy to reach the panels to carefully remove them and put them in storage. No ladder necessary. That's what I'd do. Re-install them where ever the party ends up moving to.
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Post# 1160781 , Reply# 57 10/1/2022 at 09:02 (358 days old) by CircleW (NE Cincinnati OH area) |
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Rex, it sounds to me that they need to install a second large generator for part of the equipment. I went past a business the other day that has just installed three large Kohler generators at the side of their parking area. Don't know what KW they are, but each was the size of a large car, but taller. | ||
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Post# 1160814 , Reply# 58 10/1/2022 at 13:37 (358 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine) |
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Solar may work great in places that have alot of sun but in this neck of the woods we have alot of clouds and fog. What we do have is abundance of off shore winds. A past governor tried to have wind mills put in to get that free power but the feds nixed it because it would harm the whales. Now it is the lobster fishing industry that they say is killing whales but only 1 has been entangled in rope in 2 decades and that was off Mass.
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Post# 1160900 , Reply# 60 10/2/2022 at 10:11 (357 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md) |
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Solar panels and storms
Reply number 51
You do not remove solar panels when a storm is coming from your roof it’s not like taking in the patio furniture. These panels are designed to withstand severe storms, I even walk on my solar panels although I don’t know if they recommend it or not lol. It takes multiple people to install the panels they’re heavy it would be very dangerous to even consider removing them. John L | ||
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Post# 1161037 , Reply# 61 10/3/2022 at 10:22 (356 days old) by chachp (North Little Rock, AR) |
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Walking on Solar panels, etc.
I had a chat with the installers on this subject. He said they are built to withstand 1XX MPH (can't remember the exact number but it was high) winds, hail up to I think 2 inches and they can be walked on.
We are lucky to have a roof large enough to accommodate our 27 panels in one large array like a big square. They had to walk on them to do the install and will have to walk on them to service as needed. I asked if they would remove some to get to others and he said no they are strong enough to be walked on. They are large and heavy and won't be removed in advance of a storm. | ||
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