Any local electricians?

[V]

Anyone here an electrician in the Bergen Co area?

I have a few questions regarding some future electrical work I will be needing.
Basically, I'm getting a residential standby generator and just want to go over code and permit requirements and so forth. Thanks.

[WildBillyT]

If you go generac, let me know first...

[KevinW]

Why Bill? I have a borrowed Generac XG4000 and like it, but I made need something a little bigger for my place. Was going to look at craigs list after everyone gets power

I just finished making a L14-20 12/4 SOOW cable for my well pump, going to test it tonight if I do not have power.

[1320B4U]

I have a bi-level +/- 2k square foot house and run a 10hp 5k watt backfeed into my main. I also have a 3500/4k one as a spare. My father runs a 6500 generac and that thing is a pig on gas. I can run everything in my house off the 5k and its pretty good on gas (can't run the electric range or dryer but we don't need to in times of outages). After 9days + of no power and w/gas a commodity, i'm happy i didn't go w/the generac w/that many watts (any model really w/over 6k wattage output). I'd say in an average size house, 5k watts will give you the perfect balance of decent gas consumption and power needs. Thats one thing i learned...the other is one can actually live off of nutter butters for 9days.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

What do you consider a pig on gas? Our 15kw generator will burn through its 10 gallon tank in just under 10 hours (~9 pm - ~7am this past night, for example. (It literally sputtered to a stop as I was walking up to it this morning!). We have a fullsize freezer, half size fridge, fullsize fridge, sump, furnace/water heater, well, and some lights/outlets on it.

[BonzoHansen]

the 6500w one I was using (a ridgid) burned about .6 gallons an hour, with max draw about 2000w.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by KevinW

Why Bill? I have a borrowed Generac XG4000 and like it, but I made need something a little bigger for my place. Was going to look at craigs list after everyone gets power

I just finished making a L14-20 12/4 SOOW cable for my well pump, going to test it tonight if I do not have power.

Sorry, I was posting from my phone and couldn't get into details. I am assuming Paul is asking about a non-portable standby unit.

My parents had a 17kw LP permanent generator installed after Irene. Was never used aside from the weekly exercises. Ran a well pump, one furnace, fridge, a small LCD tv and a handful of flourescent lights (as there's no reason to be wasteful during an outage).

Burned out the brushes after ~90 hours of run time at very low use. After talking with the electrician who did it (who does a lot of installs) he said he's had a rash of brush failures in this and similar models. Generac's fix is new brushes and for the technician to dial in the distance between the brush and hub with washers as it probably wasn't right leaving the factory. This is apparently a common problem.

Note I am not talking about a portable Generac.

[LTb1ow]

How old was the generac, really surprised brushes are still being used.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by LTb1ow

How old was the generac, really surprised brushes are still being used.

They called them brushes but they looked a lot like magnets to me.

9 months old?



These. There were 3 pairs of them. Each pair had one melted down.

[LTb1ow]

Very odd, brushes suck

And back to your thread Paul, sorry

[V]

Yes, I'm looking at a non-portable fixed-install unit.

Its a Briggs and Stratton unit about the size of a central a/c unit and puts out 10kw/9kw (propane/Natural gas). It would run off natural gas and be hooked right up to the main gas feed. The supply line into the house is approx 1.5" in size.

I am leaning towards this size unit as opposed to a smaller one since it will be powering a 2 family house, but even then, it wont be powering everything. the A/C units, pool pump, washing machine, dishwasher, dryer,outdoor outlets, etc wont be connected to it.

Basically I need it to power 2 furnaces, 2-3 fridges, 2-4 tvs, Fios box, 1 microwave, and lights, maybe garage opener and other small things. Id rather have more ability than needed. And obviously ALL those things wont be on at once. Oh and both units have stoves that are either gas w/pilot light or gas w/only electric ignition.

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by V

Basically I need it to power 2 furnaces, 2-3 fridges...

you by al gores house? lol.

[1320B4U]

^ right....lol.

[V]

2 family house, + extra fridge in garage. lol

[The_Bishop]

That generac must have been old stock or something, just about everything is brushless now.

[LTb1ow]

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

That generac must have been old stock or something, just about everything is brushless now.

Yea, PMG ftw.

Which is prob what the tech was adjusting, the PMG stator needs to be clocked.

Edit: talked to guy at work, he has new generac and the brushes went on him

[The_Bishop]

Ok, generac off the list. Who else makes a decent standby?

[LTb1ow]

Originally Posted by The_Bishop

Ok, generac off the list. Who else makes a decent standby?

Commercial or civilian?

Kohler, Briggs&Stratton, Honeywell, Siemens etc..

We actually were approached at work for designing the EM side of a standby genset.

[The_Bishop]

Civilian. I lack a sufficient bankroll for a commercial unit.

[WildBillyT]

Neg on honeywell.

[LTb1ow]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Neg on honeywell.

Yea, they blow. But thats another thread