Generator advice

Find the best generator for you

When the power goes out, a generator can keep your house warm (or cool), your kitchen cooking, and your computers and phones charging. Power grid problems aside, we all lose electricity occasionally. But when outages become routine, leaving you without electricity for days on end, it’s time to take action by getting a generator.

What is the best choice for fuel, propane, gasoline or diesel?

We have been doing extensive research on the subject and here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of all three fuels for generators: gasoline, diesel, and propane.

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Gasoline:
  • Advantages:
    •  Easily obtained
    •  Portable in small containers
  • Disadvantages:
    • Highly flammable
    • Short shelf life of fuel (approximately 12 months)
    • Storing large quantities of fuel is hazardous
    • May not be available during power outages
Diesel:
  • Advantages:
    • Least flammable fuel source
    • Fuel easily obtained (fuel is easier to obtain during a disaster because it is a necessary fuel for the military, trucking industry, and farming operations)
    • On site fuel delivery available
    • Designed for off-road applications and can operate on dyed or farm/construction diesel fuel which is sold without the road tax and thus is considerably cheaper to purchase.
    • Engines designed to work under a load for long periods of time and perform better when worked hard rather than operated under light loads.
    • In high use situations overall long term cost of operation is much lower than gaseous GenSets.
  • Disadvantages:
    • 18-24 month shelf life, without additives
    • Installing large storage tanks raises cost of system
    • May not be available during power outages.
    • Engine noise is higher on a diesel compared to a gaseous engine.
    • Requires clean moisture free fuel and a bit more maintenance than a comparable gaseous unit;

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Propane:
  • Advantages:
    • Long shelf life
    • Clean burning
    • Easily stored in both large tanks or in smaller 5 – 10 gallon cylinders
    • Home delivery available for larger tanks
    • Quieter engine noise level
    • Less expensive units with air-cooled engines are budget priced.
    • Engine life for liquid-cooled 1800 RPM engines can approach 5,000 to 6,000 hours on industrial quality gaseous GenSets
  • Disadvantages:
    • Pressurized cylinder of flammable gas
    • Fuel system is more complicated (increased possibility of failure)
    • Somewhat expensive fuel, check your local prices
    • Propane can become very dangerous if lines are broken.
    • Initial cost of generator is somewhat higher, 15 to 20% especially in sizes larger than 30 kW.
    • More expensive to operate by as much as 3-times the fuel consumption compared to diesels;
    • Smaller air-cooled gaseous engines are less expensive than comparable diesels but have a short life expectancy as low as 500-hours depending on engine make and use

Which Generator Will Work For You – Continuous, Prime or Standby?

Before you set out to purchase a power generator, it is very important that you be clear about the purpose of your power generator. Sometimes a generator may be required for standby usage only. However, if power outages occur frequently and/or for long periods of time, it might be worth the extra investment in prime or continuous rated power generators to ensure uninterrupted supply of backup power for extended periods of time. 
*If you try to operate your standby generator for longer than the prescribed number of hours at a stretch,it will most likely lead to more frequent breakdowns and malfunctioning of the unit.

 

Our reviews and calculations conclude that a portable generator of 7KW for your home will be good to cover only the fridge, tv, router, laptop, charging your mobile devices and few LED lights in the house! Any portable generator it is NOT factory design to be install for your house back up power!
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Those small portable power generators can not provide continuous power without interruption.

Most portable units are air cooled and and hence ought to be operated in the open for availing maximum air ventilation. Their design is to provide occasional power for few hours 4-6-12, not for days! As the name implies, portable units are not designed for permanent installation. Instead they work with stand-alone applications and are meant to temporarily energize a
few critical applications via external cords.

 

These are usually functional for a run time of less than 12 hours, and provide a
power output of 500W to 17.5kW.  Arrangements should also be made to protect them from rain, snow and such other elements;
else vital parts can rust and corrode severely diminishing the durability of the equipment. Often, portable units do not have a provision for sound insulation and can be extremely noisy in operation.
*Furthermore, there is the added effort that one needs to make in hauling the unit out of its storage,
plugging it in and refueling the tank, every time there is a power outage.

Permanent installation

The cost for your house back up power installation is the same in any scenario because you need a professional electrician for installation regardless whatever power the generator is. So, there is associated labor, wiring and equipment – additional electrical panel and parts that needs to be install and connected to your existing power panel in order to have your house main power connected in automatic transfer mode and your generator to start automatic whenever power failure is detected !

Better Safe then Sorry!

Our proposal 20Kw power generator – water cooled engine – special design to run in hot area for long period of time continuous will fit your house needs without problems. This unit provides power by being hard-wired into the main distribution panel and can be started  automatically or even manually in the event of a power outage.

 

During a power failure, the automatic transfer switch isolates the electrical wiring from the utility grid and signals the  generator to start functioning. The generator begins to feed power to the lines. When power is restored, a reverse action takes place, wherein incoming feed is once again procured from utility lines and the generator ceases to function and goes into a standby mode.  The transfer time is usually about 20 to 40 seconds. Hence, it is essential to make provisions  for uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in the interim so that computer systems and applications are not abruptly shut down during transfer time.

Professional wattage calculations

Check again the specialized online websites for an cross verification and re-calculation for the power generator level needed to cover the whole house and on minimum configuration, the experienced professionals from USA recommend to be at least 14KW !!!
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How much does it cost to install a backup generator?

Most modern households are heavily reliant upon electrical energy supplies. The installation of a backup generatorcan deliver whole-house energy during a loss of power, or it can be designed to supply only necessary systems until electrical service is restored.

There are small, mid-sized and large generators available, and they work in the following ways:

  • Small – will deliver 7-10 kW, and will be able to run a few basic household systems, but cannot sustain the needs of the entire home. These tend to need manual start and will average from $2500 to $4500 with another $500 to $1000 in installation costs.
  • Mid-Size – will deliver 12-20 kW, and will be able to function more effectively than a small system, but still will not deliver the power needed for the entire home. This is a good option for those who need heating during cold weather situations. These will cost from $4000 to $10000 and will also come with $1000 or more in installation fees.
  • Large – will deliver 22-45 KW, and will be able to operate the entire home. These will usually be permanently in position and contained in protective “cases”. They are usually liquid cooled and can be permanently connected to the home. Many will come with installation fees of a few thousand dollars. These will cost from $9000 to $15000.

Cost breakdown

Unless the homeowner is knowledgeable in home electrical systems, the installation of a backup generator is not to be considered a “DIY” project. Traditionally installation can include:

  • Assessment of home energy needs to select suitable equipment (unless whole-house supplies are the goal). To understand the needs of the building the homeowner must do simple math that totals all appliances and household systems, and use the total kW figure to select the proper equipment;
  • Selection of equipment and list of installation requirements from contractor or supplier;
  • Preparing site nearest to current electrical meter and power panel;
  • Pouring of suitably sized concrete pad with cost of $75 per yard;
  • Installation of fuel tank to feed generator throughout use. This must be done by a utility company and can rely on propane or diesel. The tank can be buried or positioned next to equipment, and professional connection is also usually required;
  • A new subpanel must be installed near the original electrical panel and an automatic transfer switch should be included as well; and
  • A detailed plan of which appliances and electronic devices should be disconnected during use is necessary as well. Usually only the installer can indicate items such as televisions and computers that will be damaged by the fluctuating energy of the generator.
  • Provide electrical wiring and lighting to code – This is going to depend upon the amount of work required, but electricians average from $65 to $85 per hour. This project might be priced on a per item basis, or the electrician might simply base it on the square footage.
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Enhancement and improvement costs

  • Higher volume gas meter installed by utility company.
  • Automatic transfer switch if one is not included in installation.
  • Purchase of a portable generator if a permanently installed generator is too costly.

The wisest course of action for backup generator installation is to work with a licensed contractor who can help to accurately determine the appropriately-sized system for the home. Always request references, obtain information about warranties, and seek at least three bids before selecting the provider. Consider too if any provider is excessive in installation fees in order to compensate for a lower equipment quote.

*All the above references and calculations are based on the estimated costs in the USA. On any other territory the costs may vary due to the market specifics.