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Whole Home Generator #8053935
01/18/24 09:27 PM
01/18/24 09:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,002
Rock Springs, WI
Z
Zim Offline OP
trapper
Zim  Offline OP
trapper
Z

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,002
Rock Springs, WI
Anybody have one? Been kicking around the idea of getting one, looking at the Kohler 20kw model. seems like Kohler and Generac are the 2 main players.
Need to size one, may have to go one size bigger. Appreciate any feedback and experience you may have.

Zim

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8053936
01/18/24 09:32 PM
01/18/24 09:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,640
North central Iowa
B
Bob_Iowa Offline
trapper
Bob_Iowa  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,640
North central Iowa
Around here most people have gone with a kohler, Cummins used to make one not sure if they still do.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8053940
01/18/24 09:36 PM
01/18/24 09:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,337
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
"HOSS"
Leftlane  Offline
"HOSS"

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,337
The Hill Country of Texas
Meeting with folks who just went through with a hurricane or set of tornados, I have yet to hear a man regret investing in one.


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8053941
01/18/24 09:37 PM
01/18/24 09:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,369
Texas
J
jtg Offline
trapper
jtg  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,369
Texas
Zim, best money that I ever spent. I have a Generac.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8053962
01/18/24 09:53 PM
01/18/24 09:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,087
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,087
SEPA
About five years ago I was trapped for a week at a customer's island vacation home where I was staying while doing some remodeling. We had a bad storm that produced a micro-burst with straight line winds estimated at 80 mph. Downed trees and power poles blocked the only road in.

The year before the owner had installed a Generac whole-house generator. It ran everything for the entire week I was trapped there. It was like I never lost power. the only concern was running out of propane in his 500 gallon tank.

We have been experiencing power outages on a regular basis here in southeast PA for the last several years now. First Energy, our power company, does do not the maintenance or keep qualified personnel on the payroll, we customers pay the price. Outages are nearly monthly and last a minimum of twelve hours and are often days-long.

My Generac 5500 does a good job of providing us with the essentials during outages but it's a pain to drag out of the shop and hook up then put away again.

I'm seriously considering a whole-house set-up. If I go that route it will be a Generac. I've had good experience with their products and that's what all the folks around the lake where I was stuck on the island use.


Eh...wot?

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Lugnut] #8053970
01/18/24 10:02 PM
01/18/24 10:02 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,369
Texas
J
jtg Offline
trapper
jtg  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,369
Texas

I have had mine for around ten years. Power used to go out often, once for a couple of weeks. I had a smaller generator but it's a pain filling it with gas, most of the gas stations where closed and would not run the whole house. I did install an outlet where I could plug in the smaller generator for a back up but never had to use it. I have a 1000 gallon propane tank and it will run the whole house for two weeks. I can also use natural gas.
The Generac cycles every week for 30 minutes and it's simple to service.


Originally Posted by Lugnut
About five years ago I was trapped for a week at a customer's island vacation home where I was staying while doing some remodeling. We had a bad storm that produced a micro-burst with straight line winds estimated at 80 mph. Downed trees and power poles blocked the only road in.
The year before the owner had installed a Generac whole-house generator. It ran everything for the entire week I was trapped there. It was like I never lost power. the only concern was running out of propane in his 500 gallon tank.

We have been experiencing power outages on a regular basis here in southeast PA for the last several years now. First Energy, our power company, does do not the maintenance or keep qualified personnel on the payroll, we customers pay the price. Outages are nearly monthly and last a minimum of twelve hours and are often days-long.

My Generac 5500 does a good job of providing us with the essentials during outages but it's a pain to drag out of the shop and hook up then put away again.

I'm seriously considering a whole-house set-up. If I go that route it will be a Generac. I've had good experience with their products and that's what all the folks around the lake where I was stuck on the island use.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8053986
01/18/24 10:10 PM
01/18/24 10:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,183
Three Lakes,WI 72
C
corky Online content
trapper
corky  Online Content
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,183
Three Lakes,WI 72
I have had a Generac for 10 years with no problems. Natural gas. Love it. 23kw runs every thing including central air, freezers, stove and hot tub. We have numerous outages here.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8053988
01/18/24 10:12 PM
01/18/24 10:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,087
SEPA
L
Lugnut Offline
trapper
Lugnut  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,087
SEPA
Jtg, his self-starts and runs ten or fifteen minutes once a week. I was told is doing self-diagnostics when it's running like that. You fuel consumption sounds about like his. It put a dent in that 500-gallon tank. I don't know the actual size of his but it's a pretty big one. It ran everything, including the electric range, dryer, furnace for heat and hot water, well pump, etc.


Eh...wot?

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054060
01/18/24 11:39 PM
01/18/24 11:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,836
Asheville, NC
C
charles Offline
trapper
charles  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,836
Asheville, NC
When I lived for 15 years on the NCOuter Banks, I designed my power with a pigtail for my generator. I used a 12 kw gasoline model that was on wheels. The majority of its life was inside my first floor spaces. Did this because of the salt air. I doubt that generator had 60 hours on it, but it saved a lot of frozen food.my lowest level was about six feet up, so the generator stayed dry during storms. I had to turn off the lower level AC unit, but was ok with one unit running.

Sold the home after14 years. At the closing I asked the buyer if he would like to buy the generator. Sold it to him at a profit above my original price.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054061
01/18/24 11:40 PM
01/18/24 11:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,975
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,975
Indiana
Dad has a 10kw generac it runs all the necessary things and used half the fuel of a larger one. He never notices when the power goes out.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Providence Farm] #8054085
01/19/24 12:27 AM
01/19/24 12:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,002
Rock Springs, WI
Z
Zim Offline OP
trapper
Zim  Offline OP
trapper
Z

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,002
Rock Springs, WI
Thank you all for the input.

Zim

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054091
01/19/24 12:32 AM
01/19/24 12:32 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,601
Ohio
N
newtoga Offline
trapper
newtoga  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,601
Ohio
We put in a generac, natural gas powered. Best thing we ever did.


lifetime member NTA, OSTA, GTA
Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054102
01/19/24 01:11 AM
01/19/24 01:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,626
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Offline
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,626
Green County Wisconsin
my Great aunt has a Generac it is easy enough to work on , runs on LP

batteries ,and maintenances kits (oil ,filter and plugs) have been all it has needed 10-12 years
runs every Saturday at 6pm and auto switch over if the power goes out


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054148
01/19/24 06:12 AM
01/19/24 06:12 AM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,969
new york
M
mike mason Offline
trapper
mike mason  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,969
new york
Neighbor has a Cummins, really sucks down the propane but does the job.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054169
01/19/24 06:53 AM
01/19/24 06:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,225
Kansas
Pawnee Offline
trapper
Pawnee  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,225
Kansas
I’ve got 6 of them and I deal with them all the time on our backup wells. I tell everyone that’s thinking about getting one to go with a manual transfer switch. The automatic transfer switch is very convenient until doesn’t work. If you are handy and can wire around it it’s fine but most folks don’t know how. I have a friend that is a master electrician that swore I was nuts but after a few years he agrees. I just don’t think it’s that hard to walk outside start the generator and pull the double throw down. That’s my two cents.


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054178
01/19/24 07:15 AM
01/19/24 07:15 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 281
western ky
P
pappy t Offline
trapper
pappy t  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 281
western ky
We got the Generac after the 2009 ice storm knocked power out for 3 weeks here. Best money ever spent.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054181
01/19/24 07:21 AM
01/19/24 07:21 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
E
Eagleye Offline
trapper
Eagleye  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
I've been watching the thread- don't need a whole house generator but was looking at the Generac Powerpact for furnace and basic lighting. When I renovated the cabin - I put in a transfer switch, this was helpful.

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054191
01/19/24 07:43 AM
01/19/24 07:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,338
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
trapper
Pete in Frbks  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,338
Fairbanks, Alaska
I've had a propane powered Briggs & Stratton 10kw for several years with no problems experienced. We lose power a LOT!

Pete

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Pete in Frbks] #8054231
01/19/24 08:58 AM
01/19/24 08:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,392
Hudson valley , NY
S
slowpoke Offline
trapper
slowpoke  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,392
Hudson valley , NY
I install stand by generators
We have had good luck with either Kohler or Generac brand ..
I'm waiting at my shop today , to accept delivery of a Generac 24 KW ..
They are a good investment, and increases the resale value of your home also ..

Re: Whole Home Generator [Re: Zim] #8054247
01/19/24 09:22 AM
01/19/24 09:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,022
Ohio
OhioBoy Offline
trapper
OhioBoy  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,022
Ohio
If you are wondering what size to get you probably know how well the generator you have been using works. Does it run everything you want it to? Mine pretty much does, which tells me a permanent one 1.5 or 2 times the size of my small one should be fine. My small generators main breaker is 30 amps at the generator itself. It runs about everything I need it to. The PTO generator I bought for the tractor has a 60 amp main. It should be a dandy.

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