We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
The Homestead Pilgrim's video of start to finish the installation of the Generac home generator was the reason I chose Alternative Power! It was done so that I was able to understand the basics of what I was buying and how it works. Today was a banner day for me. The technician , start up guy, and his trainee, from Alternative Power, were absolutely fabulous. They answered all my questions and I was thrilled I got to meet the technician who was in the original video I watched. It was because of him I made the choice to go with Generac!! He knows his stuff!!! Thank you !!!
Wow! Joann I'm so happy about your experience with Alternative Power! They are an awesome company. I hope you enjoy the same peace of mind that we are with our Generac! Thanks so much for the awesome comment!
Yes I'm constantly amazed at the innovation of large "appliances" like this. Certainly if you can make the business justification for a generator investment you should do so. Thanks for watching!
Best review I’ve ever seen on a home generator install you guys asked the most pertinent questions and I’ve decided to install a system after all these years totally based on your questions and the install guy I wish he was in my town.
I have had mine for about 4 years. I called the company to see what a turn-key job would cost. I believe it was $ 6,000 total. The crews dug the power trenches to the generator, hooked everything up and was finished in 2 days. It has power shedding so if you have a house with an electric stove, electric water heater, heat the house by electricity and central air the controller will turn on things in order as not to pull down the generator. The city inspectors came out and said it was a 1st class install and gave me green tags. The electric company I had mine put in told me they put in about 2 per day. No more having to store gasoline. If the power goes off a week or two you know the gas stations won't have power. It was a very good investment.
Hi D Hansel! You got a great deal, ours cost twice that. We also believe the generator is a great investment and a huge source of peace of mind, thanks for watching!
Hi Pilgrim! I enjoyed the very thorough coverage of your new generator. Those Generacs are even more sophisticated than I thought! Very impressive! With that 1000 gallon propane tank, you should be all set. Thanks for sharing!
Hi DIY, thanks for watching that episode, we wanted a generator 1.5 years ago when the house was complete for half the house but the contractor upped the pricing too high for our comfort... So, we waited and actually got a bigger generator for the whole house at the same price. Good to shop around and wait for a good deal. Anyway, we are so relieved to have this protecting the house. Take care and have a great week!
It seems mildly amusing that every time that propane tank is mentioned the 1000 gallon capacity is proudly touted. It always seems to happen that the power outage comes right when the tank is at 200 gallons remaining and the roads are closed! :) Oh well... such is life. Great video and nice installation.
GENERAC is a quality product. I have a 36K Generac (2012) - Every 3 months I turn power off and have the generator run on load for about 5 hours - this keeps the generator oil from turning milky and keeps the brushes on generator clean by running.
Hi J R! Great advice on running the generator every 3 months. Sounds like a great practice. Ours runs for 5 minutes every Sunday afternoon. Thanks for watching!
Just ran across your video tonight. I had the same unit installed a little over a year ago. NC here also over between Charlotte and Greensboro. 200 amp service so only a single transfer switch. Have load control device provided by Duke Energy on my AC unit, which has a built in delay timer of 15 min after a power failure, so it won't kick back on immediately during summer outages when generator firsts comes on-line. Only had one initial issue with the generator unit, which was a incorrected gas line from the factory to the engine causing it to only supply about 50% load. If I exceeded 50% the unit shut down and restarted. Once the problem was found and the line connected correctly, the operation has been flawless. Two things I would recommend is 1) check the oil fill cap like your installer suggested periodically. Mine got loose and came off and I had a little mess to clean up inside the unit. Fortunately it was only from the weekly tests and I didn't loose a lot of oil. 2) double check the tightness of the gold/copper colored bolts on the engine in various locations for tightness. I did find one of mine loose in the bottom of the cabinet. After I found where it came from and reinstalled it, I checked all the other bolts I could get to and found several not completely tightened down. Other than that, the unit has supplied power so far for two outages (relatively minor) one for 2 hours and a second for 4 hours. Like you said, sure is a good feeling to have that security. Pleased with the unit, and my dealer did a great job with installation and follow-up. Cost on my installation, less natural gas hookup, was just under $9K.
Hi Frank! Great information and thanks for those recommendations. We had our 1 year maintenance last week and I will be posting a video on what they covered. We had 11.7 hours of generator run time these last 14 months, so we are grateful to have the generator. Stay tuned for the video, I need to put some finishing touches on it. Thanks for watching (and commenting).
Lol, you are right on. Ours was nearly twice the cost and we had outages of 12 hours last year. We felt so good this last 6 hour outage when we could go about our normal activities with Internet, furnace, fridge, everything running. Best investment if you live in the sticks.
I really need this one for these controlled rolling outages we are experiencing since yesterday. Still have about 24 hours of controlled outages. Even though it's for a couple days but will pay itself off in the first outage I think once I get one installed.
Wow... had the same generator installed, I would have be ecstatic to get mine for only $7K. Like the Homestead Pilgrim I paid almost twice that amount. My cost was higher for the same reason as Homestead... they had to extend both the gas line and electric. As a rule of thumb, a low cost installation typically includes running 5-10 feet of fuel line and 5-10 feet of electrical wiring. "If" your gas and electric are in the same spot on your property and you install the generator right next them you're golden. However if you fuel source is in one spot on your property and your electric is someplace else, and the generator isn't installed next to either utility... the installation cost climbs as you pay a costly per foot charge for each of service they have to extend.
Two years ago we bought our stand by generator, which runs off our two propane tanks (100 gallon ea). Best money we ever spent. We went for the 16K instead of the 14K because we wanted to cover the lights, fridge, chest freezer, electric dryer, computer, and my husbands oxygen equipment (COPD). It was husbands oxygen needs that finally convinced us to go for the purchase when during a 6 day power outage our health equipment supplier had to go to Maryland to get oxygen tanks to keep my husband alive. One year ago his health required that we have a ventilator at home and a requirement for install was a generator, which we already had. We are in a 24 x 36 double wide mobile home. Bought the generator and a transfer switch, upgraded the fuse box and had to replace the electric meter because the lever to turn off that meter broke. cost was $15000.00. And I would do it again in a heart beat. My word of warning is research you installer because after my installation I had trouble with my contractor so be very careful. Make sure they have your states contractor lisence number and that they are in good standing with Generac as an installer.
Hi Susan! Great information and I agree whole hardheartedly with you on making sure to research your installer. Our install was a little less than $12,000 which included a 22Kw generator and two transfer switches for the two 200 Amp panels. Good luck to you and your hubby and hoping he is doing well! Thanks for watching!
@@jimmygrant424 Yes, that's me. I got natural gas and Generac 22.5kW installation finished at end of year. It turns out my installer is not in the business of maintaining so I'm thinking of calling Alternative Power. I happen to like how the guy in the video explained everything. More info is always better than less info. I'm going to ask my tax preparer about medical necessity. Husband has COPD and is on oxygen 24x365. If electricity runs out, we have tanks but we've also had outages that lasted as many as 10 days, so I consider it a medical necessity.
@@seawitch8732 agreed, he did a very thorough job of explaining everything!!!! I have always wanted to get a genny, but lack of Benjamins as usual. Yours being a medical necessity I hope it works out very well for you!!!l Best of luck and many and much prayers for you!!!!!!!! God bless you!!!
I wish all my local Lowes and home depot had employees that help you like this. Before I make the investment I'm going to show this video to see if they can do the same installation.
Hi ma88tc! Thanks so much for the positive comment. I agree the guys that serviced us were top notch and professional, very knowledgeable and passionate about their work. Good luck!
I am the second oldest Generac dealer in the country I would not recommend buying a Generac from Home Depot or Lowe's. There's is not up to standard of original Generac dealer. They will all tell you it is not it is cheaply built compared to a Generac dealers generator that he sells and Home Depot only hires service companies for these generators that are not worth a damn I have been almost 30 years with generous I helped start this company with Bill the original owner and my friend Leo we wrote the original tech book. There are now a lot of companies out there that sell these generators and service them most of the companies that are servicing them are not very good at knowing how to repair them when they break especially the electronics or a rotor and stator problem feet to the voltage regulator I have fixed more generators from other companies that have installed them and cannot fix them. Make sure that you get a good dealer who has many years of training with Generac you do not want somebody who has less than 15 years because they do not have the ability to fix certain things on these generators.
Hi LMH! Thanks for the great comment. Texans are in my thoughts with this series of winter storms. Hope you are safe and comfortable. Looking forward to spring.
Yeah, my son said a coworker of his told him to buy crypto in 2015 and now the guy is a multi-millionaire. I'm all good for retirement so I'll stick with what I know. Thanks!
Ordered the 24KW generator in March, right after the freeze in Texas. Just now getting it installed next week. So, yeah, about 6 months delay with Covid and the surge in demand. In March, they thought it might be 8 or 9 months, so at least it showed up quicker than expected.
Today finally came when Wired Electric came out and installed a new engine into our 20KW Whole House Generator. The old engine had low compression on one cylinder. The generator was 2 years out of warranty. After calling Generac and sending them the serviceman's diagnose of the engine they deemed it "Manufacture Defect". The original warranty was 5 years. I had the generator 7 years. The new Generac Generators now carry a 7 year warranty. I got a call from Generac telling me they were going to cover the cost of a new generator. The serviceman worked on it from 11:30 to 3:45. He put oil in it and fired it up. It ran great. I ask him how long have he seen these generators run without stopping. He told me over 3 weeks when the power came back on. At that time you change the oil and filter and put it back in standby mode.
Live on Ga coast put in a 22kw Genrac run on propane 330 gallon tank works great. Have it set to run every other Wednesday. Had auto switches installed will switch on and off loads to protect unit. Holy cow 1000 gallons that baby will go a bit.Great set up.
@@homesteadpilgrim not as much as you are . Man you'll have plenty of gas to go several weeks depending on usage. The people at Genrac are nice and informative.
Generator selection is based on starting loads not running. Would need to know the starting characteristics of the AC units to assess the sizing of the generator.
@@n.gineer8102 Yes, starting load is a MAJOR concern. Back in the days before digital T-stats gave us a start delay feature (usually not quite long enough) I would install low voltage delay timers so the first AC unit didn't start till at least 3 minutes had gone by, then bring on others every 30 seconds or so. Of course this requires some math and good common sense because there was no load-shed back then. Never bothered with anything for a clothes drier because most will not restart after a power blip. Just have to caution the home owner not to use it during an outage.
Start up guy drank too many coffee that morning😂 this video has great info👍 that generac smart module 50amp is just a delay on make $8 module and a $25 contactor relay.
Hi Jimmy. A generator is a non-trivial investment and depending on circumstances of where you live and how reliable your power is will tip the scale to a purchase. We were out of power on Christmas 2000 in Arkansas (way out in the country) after a big ice storm. We had little kids and it was not fun. We moved to NC to a suburb that had a power station almost next door to us, we we never lost power in my recollection for 17 years... in 2016 when we were building this final house, we knew that we would need a generator and it has provided INCREDIBLE peace of mind for us. Best $12,000 we have spent. Yes, hurricanes are coming and we are also impacted here in Person County, NC. Good luck and hope you and your family stay safe!
Sure could of used one of these this past week. I’m in north Texas and we were without power for 63 hours! Gonna have one by next winter. Just waiting on a sale.
Hi Joanne! Sorry to hear you were out of power so long. It is miserable, we were out for 11 days during the ice storm of 2000 in western Arkansas. Just had an ice storm here and the generator ran for three days keeping us comfortable! The peace of mind alone is worth the investment.
Have the same exact one, I think people that don't know what they're doing bad mouth them for things they have done or not done to keep up the maintenance. Pretty simplistic system , just needs to be maintained.
Hey John! Cool that you have the same generator. It is pretty popular. We are so happy with it an you are right, just have to maintain it for it to last. Thanks for watching!
@@carolferguson2690 I do yearly oil change, change air filter and adjust valves. Even though you don't have to do the valves yearly, I do to make sure it's working at it's peak all the time. Preventive maintenance is the key to longevity.👍
The amount charged will depend on what company you call and what they may or may not claim they discovered on inspection and/or what is needed. You can call "Chuck On A Truck" has pray you don't get raped. Your best would be to consider purchasing a yearly maintenance agreement that includes everything... (Bumper to Bumper) - emergency service calls, 24 hr service, no travel charge, no charges for parts or labor - basically no worries during the term on the contract. Just make sure you are purchasing the maintenace contract from a genuine authorized Generac dealer. As of 2021 such a contract from an authorized Generac dealer is 5 Years for $495 - 7 Years for $695 - or 10 years for $995. Speaking of Generac and warranties... don't be fooled by the 5 Year warranty that comes with the purchase of a new generator. Its a "Limited" warranty as follows: Years 1 and 2 - miles, labor, and parts. - Year 3 - parts only. - Years 4 and 5 - coverage on engine (short block) and alternator (rotor and stator) parts only.
Nice video!!! At my parents house we have a standby generator which is 14kw one that runs the whole house. It's a kohler generator not generac that we have. I know both brands are really popular and they both work well. I know a couple of people who have generac and they love theirs.
Hey Ryan! Yeah we looked at Kohler and they are top-notch machines! We happened to find the best deal for us with a company that installs Generac and we are very pleased with its performance so far. Thanks for watching!
I like the generator man. Great energy, positive attitude, and very informative! Oh, for you slow folks that simply cannot keep up with this man, you can slow the play speed down on the video.
You ARE someone special! Thanks for the positive call out to our generator orientation consultant! He was a blast and exceeded our expectations. Take care and thanks for watching!
No no problem, learned more than i can remember from the day ours was installed. I look back at this for help too. They explained it all, but it by so fast.
Hi Joey. I don't know. What I do know is that everyone is responsible for preparing themselves and their families for risks. We were not prepared back in 2000 during the big Arkansas ice storm and suffered for 11 days without power with three little kids. We promised ourselves to be prepared for the next one. Thanks for watching!
@sagrzmnky1972 My 87 year old cousin living in San Antonio just died at 88, he never regained his health after the freeze, and the 27 inches of snow that fell. His body never recovered from the stress of it all. The record cold killed many elderly people, a cousin of mine included in that number.
Speaking from the UK, 22kw seems generous but perhaps not if you have HVAC-related loads. Glad to see you are not using gas (petrol) for what is mainly a standby facility though we would probably prefer diesel here in europe. Nice one !
Ha Ha! I loved his enthusiasm! He is a fellow Army vet so I think of him as a brother! Really appreciated his assistance and information. Thanks for watching!
Your generator can run more with less affort if you install a soft start on your ac units. They will start up with a lot less power and make your ac units last longer.
Hey Southside Taxi! Congrats on your contract! You will have incredible peace of mind when that generator is online and has that friendly green eye keeping you and your family safe. We are so happy with ours out here in the country. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim Thank you! My wife and I are psyched. We are in hurricane country and it's one less thing to worry about. A fortress of a house is nothing without power and air conditioning. Great video, I watched the whole thing this morning when I couldn't sleep. Two of my neighbors have generators, one a Generac (green eye) and one Kohler, but I think I'll have the biggest tank out of both of them.
@@homesteadpilgrim Tank and unit installed a couple of weeks ago. Unit just started up on Thursday. It's already doing its job...sending those hurricanes away from my residence. Thanks again for your video.
I had my 22Kw installed this past February (2021). Only actual outage run so far lasted about 9 minutes. Otherwise a 5 minute run every Monday morning. All is good.
Hi Mario! Yeah, the peace of mind is worth the investment and when the actual power does go out (and it has several times) you will be able to live normally for the duration of the outage! Take care.
@@homesteadpilgrim hey men sorry question for you,, I didn't see where your signal / control wires at, are they running in the same flex with a feeder wires?? Sorry just asking..
Sorry, just saw this. I did not install the unit so I can't respond to your question. Alternative Power installed the unit, perhaps you can give them a ring.
We sweated bullets every time a hurricane or severe weather blew through the last year and a half. At least this relieves some of the stress and brings some piece of mind. Thanks for watching!
We had a 22kw installed last year, my mom didnt want one, but i did, my dad passed away in 2021 from Alzhiemers, and im legally blind, so its just me and my mom now. We had severe weather come though last Saturday, and lost power 3 days, she was sure glad we got it now, lol. Only consern now is what the NG bill wil be…
@@homesteadpilgrim thank you,and it is, and I do the best I can. My dad would have loved one of these, we used to have a gas Generac 17,500 KW generator. And he wouldn't have any problem taking care of it, he knew all about that stuff, and was a retired electrician. He actually wired up one of my neighbors Generacs. thank you again
@@homesteadpilgrim thank you, and it is. But I do the best I can. My dad would have loved one of these, and wouldn't have any problem at all taking care of it, he was actually a retired electrician. He actually wired up my neighbors Generac
He forgot to mention that Generac instructs to adjust the valves at the same time as the break in oil change. You can buy the air filter, oil filter and valve cover gaskets on Amazon.com. I do my own maintenance because the installer told me that my local service company is unreliable. Better to be self sufficient too. The maintenance is really easy (well, adjusting the valves is a bit of a pain) and there are youtubes on the valve adjustment and oil change. I've had my 22 KW unit for a little over a year and it works great. Been through two rather long power outages with our electric company and it performed flawlessly. It can power my 2400 Sq. Ft. home with A.C. without any problem. Most of the time I'm only drawing about 1/3 the capacity and I also have a well pump in addition to the A.C. Note at about 4 GPH of propane usage that (at my rate) it can cost nearly $10/Hr to run at full load. With long power outages, I manually shut it off to reduce cost of running it. Note on some older homes, it may be necessary to upgrade your service panel before generator installation. Such was my case because there was no provision for "forking off" the bus bar leading from the electric meter.
Cost of a gen set can vary by quite a bit and everybody is their own expert... till they have a problem... and 80% of all problems go back to proper size and installation issues. (usually found within the first year) The other 20% will be operator error and lack of maintenance. That said, anyone can price a gen set and nail that down. The major variables will be the gas and the electric. Gas can be as little as $500 but adding in a long trench, multiple regulators, and purchase or rental of a tank can change that by thousands. Some gen sets include the transfer switch, but you should have an electrician install that only after seeing if the rest of your electrical is up to snuff. I always figure a minimum of $1200 but could range to thousands more. Bottom line is an automatic gen set can be had in the $3 - $6k range then add for the other items, which will generally bring it to $10k or more. Considering the added features in this video I think the owner got a fair shake. I also think Generac was the first to offer the load shed options as a standard part of the transfer switch. I will mention one drawback of the WI-FI system, which will not tell you anything if the power goes out and your internet is also out. The WI-FI will also fail if the gen set doesn't start and your router has no power. Last but usually an oversight... if your router is not on a generator circuit, which happens quite a bit on smaller sets that don't power the whole house.
Hey @rupe53! Great comments! Yeah we were very happy with the cost and believe me we shopped around. We are approaching a year of ownership and we'll have the annual maintenance visit at that time by the installer, Alternative Power. Very happy with their install and it has functioned flawlessly several times the past year when we had power outages. One outage lasted 4 hours but most were fortunately of short duration. Regardless, we are satisfied. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim ... as A long time Generac tech (over 20 years) I will give you one piece of advice. The book says 400 hours to the first valve adjustment. (and plugs) In my experience you are better to do this a bit early, along with new spark plugs. The first shot I recommend is at 200 hours and since the plugs are out anyway, use new ones. Gap plugs at 0.025" (tighter than the book) and adjust valves at 0.004" which is on the high side of spec. You can thank me for easier cold starting and longer engine life in 10 years. Keep using those specs but you can slack back to 400 hours between top end services after the first time. Continue with annual oil changes or more often if you have a longer run times.
Hey Shawn, didn't know that and I had to trust the installers. Seems it is rated for direct burial.. quick google: From manufacturers website: “Liquid-tight flexible metallic conduit (LFMC) is suitable for use in a variety of environments and applications from general purpose wiring in wet or damp locations, to direct burial and in concrete embedment, to raised computer room floors and site lighting jobs.”Aug 7, 2012
Finally got my Generac running. Continually failed during exercise cycle. Showed a check fuel message. Final answer was it was set up for cold weather area. I'm in Texas. Has been good now for two cycles.
Agreed, that kid was an awesome and professional service technician that provided answers to all our questions and put our minds at ease with this generator. Thanks for the great comment and thanks for watching.
Sorry. I could only watch and listen to minute 13:04. The dude is on some kind of speed drug. I am bailing out and not recommending this video to anyone.
22kW will run both those AC units! Our 5 ton AC unit uses about 3,450 watts including blower under full speed and your water heater. If you didn’t want to run the AC’s you coulda gotten a 10-14kW. First guy didn’t know a damn thing.
Homestead Pilgrim Does your house have a smart Meter? There is a product on Amazon called the Emporia Vue Smart meter. Essentially let’s you see live the “watts” your house uses. I see you have two panels so you might have to get the add-on Kit. Let’s you see live how many watts your house uses whether be on generator or utility power. If you’re not comfortable you can have an electrician install it. You can turn things on and off, and on the app see oh this uses this much. Holy crap that uses a lot! So you can save on your normal Bill. But during an outage see “oh I’m using 4,354 watts currently and have plenty of headroom. Fire up the washer and dryer honey!”
Hey its the first guy, bet you didn't expect me here! The load management devices keep the 400 amp service be powered by a generator that can at a maximum produce 100 amps. To determine the size generator, and number of load management device. You need to do a load calc. To do a load calc you need to study the code book. Boom roasted. Seriously, do the math on your generator install, or you may force the machine into a shutdown. Always use a licensed electrician, and a reputable business like Alternate Power to install your generator.
Questions: Im looking into getting this done. Here’s my thing. My house is older and has aluminum wiring in some parts of my inside electrical box and throughout the house. I have 3 sub panels inside the house for different things. From what I understand is my electrician was just going to hook this up to my house and go straight to the main and have the service rated transfer switch outside the house and this would tackle my entire house with a 22kv generator. After watching this video I’m not sure if I will need one of these other delay boxes with the orange lights for my A/C unit. Should my electrician have mentioned this to me or is there someone that comes out for an electrical assessment prior to the install? I just want to make sure this is all done right . I already have a small dual fuel generator that plug into my house and I have to manually kill the main and all the breakers and just turn on the circuits I want to run. But I do like the idea of a one and done set up hands free with automatic transfer switch. Also I’m a mechanic and I can do all my own maintenance. Does anyone know if I got a generator from Home Depot would it come with a warranty? Would the warranty be voided if I don’t have a service plan. Is a service plan paid for when you buy their generator or is that a separate contract? I’d like to get this done to code. I want to run propane. I don’t mind doing my own maintenance and I actually prefer it cause I’m anal about maintenance being done right. I don’t want to void a warranty if there even is one. Lastly…..are all the generac parts made in China and if we have tensions with China and parts availability compromised , would my generac be a giant paperweight?
Hi Viking Robot! Looks like you have quite the skillset and I recommend you call a certified Generac Installer to get your technical questions answered. We talked to at least 6 companies until we decided on our provider, Alternative Power. As far as whether Generac parts are made in China, I did a quick search and it appears that Genuine Generac Parts are made in the USA... however, I would fully expect that Chicom companies try to counterfeit parts for anything made in the USA... My mantra is Try Not to Buy Chicom! Good luck with your install!
Hi Sanitary103. No, we never get noise complaints from neighbors, but then again, we live smack in the middle of 24 heavily wooded acres so the sound wouldn't carry to our nearest neighbors very well.
We live so far in the rural part of the county that we do not have natural gas lines. We only have the 1,000 gal propane tank. If we had gas lines we wouldn't need the tank.
Do you have any idea where to purchase the plastic cover for the LED indicator light. The cover looks like a bubble which protects the LED. Any help will be appreciated! Thank you.
GP Outdoors (UA-cam) has a video on what can go wrong with these generators that will cause them to not start when you need them the most. Also the lost oil could cause engine damage and destroy the generator. This can happen wherever there can be freezing temperatures.
Great info here, as I am truly considering getting one for my house. Do you mind telling roughly how much would somebody need to installed? A complete installation with permits and everything.? It would definitely get me ready minded NOT discourage . Thank you for your content.
That lady sounds like she has a lot of confidence in her husband’s ability to take care of that generator. I bet she’s a real “Karen” if she doesn’t get her way. She hardly lets her husband speak to the guy and cuts him off almost every time he talks. 😂😂
Hi Wheelchair Warrior! Yeah, she's the love of my life and we are a great team. I've always had a fetish for smart confident women! Thanks for watching!
whats the sqft of your house? the reason I ask is because we are looking into one of these and have a 3K sqft home we need to power. we're unsure of the size of generator to get.
Very informative video, thank you. Have you ever run your generator for an extended period of time during an outage? About how many gallons per hour did the generator burn please?
Did he (Service Guy) take his medicine today, the homeowner (lady) is just compounding the situation. Please teach the young man to stop and take a "Breath".........he is just all over the place with his tutorial class to the customer/owner. Helps us Lord!
Haha! Thanks EG. Well, we definitely are all over the place here on the homestead. The start up guy was amazing and we really appreciated his attention to detail and enthusiasm/customer service. Thanks for watching!
I’m curious as to how much a system like this costs to purchase and install. . Seems like a serious investment to your home. I’m considering a backup generator for my home due to I live in North Fort Worth and at least 1 or 2 times a summer the power goes out for 6-12 hours thanks to heavy power usage in our 100+ degree weather.
Here in NC, with a 400 AMP service (two 200 Amp panels), three smart monitors, two transfer switches, the 22KW generator including labor worked out to be about $12,000.
I just had a Honeywell 16 kw installed by my power utility, including 250 gal of lp, concrete pads for both tanks and generator, the total cost was around 7500 dollars.
Hi Alexis, thanks for pointing that out. We can barely hear the generator when inside the house but yes, it is noticeable when outside. It is air cooled whereas the water cooled generators are somewhat quieter. Thanks for watching!
I’m in a rural part of N.C. as well, we are always the 1st to lose power and the last to get it restored...I have been researching generators...I think I’ve found the one I want.
Good luck with your generator purchase. Alternative Power solutions was a great company for us and we already had a several hour power outage last month. The generator worked flawlessly! So much peace of mind!
@@homesteadpilgrim I am thinking about purchasing one of these machines. Did Alternative Power solutions coordinate all the work requirements for installation i.e power, gas, trench digging etc.
Hi Yoka! Our setup cost just less than $12,000 in all. We have two 200 Amp panels and they installed three smart management modules. Each of the two heat pump condensers and the water heater had the modules. Our generator is 22Kw for the whole house. Thanks for watching.
I just had the 22KW installed at my home in Texas a few weeks ago. I have 1800 Sq.Ft home, one 3.5 ton central AC and the regular house stuff. 2 freezers and 2 fridge's. I had to upgrade the utility box for $1800 first, and the Gen install was $3000, and the 22KW Generac was $4700, (on sale). The 4" pad was $300. About $10200 after tips. I got sick last year and am on O2 all the time. I'm on the Texas coast, and in the middle of hurricane season. One year I lost power for 23 days. That was not fun. The Generator is 6 feet from the house, and you really need to make sure the installer gets permits from the city you live in to keep up with the code. I used the electrican who upgraded the utility box, and he never installed a generator, but he did a good job. I think I would suggest a proven generator installer thou. No guess work there. As an after thought, my house uses natural Gas, and so does the Generator.
@@billtobler7218 I got my 22KW installed about 2 months ago. Haven't had to use it yet but this being Florida it will probably get a workout this season. I also had to upgrade my panel from 150amp to 200amp. That cost about $2k because I elected to get an entirely new panel and new breakers. My total bill including new updated NG gas lines was about $13k with an ATS. But I should make at least $1600 back when I sell my two portable generators once they sell out here. One is a 10KW and the other is a 6KW. The 10KW I will be asking $1100 for and the 6KW I'll ask $500. Maybe more. Complete with heavy duty electrical cables and ground cables and rods for backfeading. One is set up for 50amp, and the other is set up go for 30amp. The $13K seems like a lot, but at 68 years old It's getting a little rough having to search out the gas and moving those heavy generators around during Hurricane season, plus my wife also has breathing problems that require oxygen. I got mine oversized at 22KW, at 1650 sq ft I could have got by with an 18KW generator but I wanted it oversized in case someone with an RV could park in my Drive way and tap off it also.
Anyone Notice, they voided that NEMA3 box. Wonder why that guy drilled the top of what I assume was ATS B, and the gas guy did not vent that secondary regulator properly.
I thought when you install a generator generac you supposed to do a psi test on the ground or concrete where the unit is going to set. I don’t see that
Great generators! Installation violates US NFPA 37 though. Must have 3’ of clearance behind the unit from a combustible source ( wooden fence). If it was brick or hardy plank you could be 18”.
Hi Craig... OOOPs! Oh well, we had to rely on the installation contractors as well as the county inspector to get the clearance distance correct.... I'll research that for sure. Thanks for the info!
The Generac generators have been lab tested and are listed for the 18” distance from the wall. The units comply with NFPA 37 as well national codes when installed per the instructions. This unit appears to meet the installation requirements. We are a Generac dealer near Raleigh, NC, we can help address questions, but the Generac.com website is a good resource. Thanks GPServices USA / Jerry.gentle@gpservicesusa.com
I noticed that this generator does not have a double 110 VAC outlet on the side. I have had mine several years and it never failed me. People ask how loud is it? I tell them it's like a neighbor two doors down mowing their yard. One day when the power grid goes down we will be one of the only houses in the neighborhood that will have power. People wait until their is a disaster before wanting a whole house generator. They will call the contractor and he will tell them there is a 8 month backlog. Do you really want to wait until it's too late?
Awesome, D. Hansel! Yes, you need to get on the list if you have not done so already. Having this generator and 1,000 gal propane tank give us incredible peace of mind.
Thanks, Bunakkaptan! We live in NC and it rarely gets icy for an extended period. I'll ask the technician to check these as well. We are coming up on our 1 year maintenance checkpoint.
They won't sell you a stepping motor for the carburetor you have to buy the hole assembly , 1 service call to diagnose replace yourself , $ 800.00 and you need to be a contortionist to manipulate the replacement with allen key ball drivers .
Hi, George. Hopefully I don't need to have that level of maintenance any time soon. We have our 1 year maintenance visit with Alternative Power this week. Thanks for watching!
Hi Earno, the two small boxes on the side of the house are smart modules. Learn more here: www.norwall.com/products/Generac-Smart-Management-Modules-SMM-7000/
Hey Tomcat, lol, he was great! Very enthusiastic and thank goodness I recorded it since he talked so fast! He is a fellow Army vet so I have special feels for him! Thanks for watching!
There were a couple of characters in the video that might benefit from: 1) "Doggie downers" (with apologies to Saturday Night Live) and 2) A vitamin B complex to calm nerves and enhance focus and concentration.
Why 2 transfer switches. It would of been more cost efficient for 1 400amp transfer switch in my opinion. Also why are using the external load shedding module when the transfer switch has ac shedding modules built into it. Just curious why you would do it this way
Hey, gdegroot8740! Well, I don't know why. I'm not an electrician. If I were to guess, I would guess that there are two transfer switches because the builder had put in two separate 200 Amp panels in our house. You can call Alternative Power and I'm sure they will have a better answer for you. Good luck!
If you do your own maintenance it will nullify the warranty he did not tell you that if you do any work on the generator it says in their owners manual it will nullify all warranties
Great video. We're bout to bite the bullet because I am sick of the outages. So many tornados & storms this year in TN. Have a special needs adult child & can NOT be without power. 6 hours w/o power due to tornado & just recently last weekend 4 hours..Yep we're getting one. Just doing my research....
Hey Destinyatk! Thanks for the positive comments. We were in your situation when we lived in AR 20 years ago, many tornado threats and we lived waaaay out in the country. Well, Xmas 2000 we had an ice storm and were without power for 11 days with little kids. We vowed to ourselves to get a generator once we built our final home in the country. Fast forward we finally got it and the peace of mind is priceless. Good luck on your research and final purchase! Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim You did not read my comment. There are various panels temporarily piled on the running Condensers. Wrong! Depending on your location, mount the Generator well above any possible ground water level.
Hi Gord, just saw this. We have the generator mounted on a slope, so there is no possible way for water to gather at the generator... that is... unless Noah starts building his ark again and we get a 2,000 year flood.
Can someone explain why they are using Smart Management Modules on the AC units when the ATS right next them already has a Smart AC Module in it already to manage those loads?
I googled this and found this on Amazon.com product description: Generac's Smart Power Management System is designed to optimize the performance of a standby generator. The system can consist of up to 8 individual Smart Management Modules (SMM). Unlike other load management systems that depend on another control device, the SMM modules are actually self-aware and operate autonomously. Frequency is the true measure of generator engine performance and does not need to factor in increased ambient temperatures, elevation changes, or generator fuel type. The modules monitor the frequency of the power being produced by Generac's standby generators and if it falls below a certain threshold, the module will automatically follow a power management algorithm to ensure that the generator is not overloaded.
@@homesteadpilgrim My understanding is that the SACM in the transfer switch already does that. You would only need the SMMs if you had more than 4 AC units or wanted to manage a dryer, other high wattage appliance.
Your only concerns with the generator are: 1. Keeping it running with fuel (natural gas, propane, gasoline, or diesel) and 2. Keeping it maintained so that it keeps running. The Generac when running, will power your home if #1 and #2 are taken care of.
These generators actually run from 11 to 14 minutes each week. 5 minutes the technician cannot set the timing it is set into the CMA computer module assembly for 11 to 14 minutes. The only thing he can control is the time that the generator runs not for how long only the larger four and six-cylinder generators can be controlled for how long
We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Great news!
The Homestead Pilgrim's video of start to finish the installation of the Generac home generator was the reason I chose Alternative Power! It was done so that I was able to understand the basics of what I was buying and how it works. Today was a banner day for me. The technician , start up guy, and his trainee, from Alternative Power, were absolutely fabulous. They answered all my questions and I was thrilled I got to meet the technician who was in the original video I watched. It was because of him I made the choice to go with Generac!! He knows his stuff!!! Thank you !!!
Wow! Joann I'm so happy about your experience with Alternative Power! They are an awesome company. I hope you enjoy the same peace of mind that we are with our Generac! Thanks so much for the awesome comment!
Hi Joann, great to know this. I am in the market for a whole house generator and I really liked this video. Thanks for your input.
It’s incredible how smart these generators are. Every home should come equipped with an emergency generator
Yes I'm constantly amazed at the innovation of large "appliances" like this. Certainly if you can make the business justification for a generator investment you should do so. Thanks for watching!
Must be nice if you can afford one and afford the gas bill that comes with every run. Not to mention the installation costs and labor costs.
Best review I’ve ever seen on a home generator install you guys asked the most pertinent questions and I’ve decided to install a system after all these years totally based on your questions and the install guy I wish he was in my town.
Hi MOPAR2U! Thanks for the positive comments. Good luck on your purchase and install! Thanks for watching!
Contact your power provider they will help you. This is not a diy job by any means.
William Hritz I agree thanks.
Yup for real too.
Great video, i wish our guy was that friendly and took so much time to explain things.
Yeah he was very customer oriented and we appreciated him
I have had mine for about 4 years. I called the company to see what a turn-key job would cost. I believe it was $ 6,000 total. The crews dug the power trenches to the generator, hooked everything up and was finished in 2 days.
It has power shedding so if you have a house with an electric stove, electric water heater, heat the house by electricity and central air the controller will turn on things in order as not to pull down the generator.
The city inspectors came out and said it was a 1st class install and gave me green tags.
The electric company I had mine put in told me they put in about 2 per day.
No more having to store gasoline. If the power goes off a week or two you know the gas stations won't have power.
It was a very good investment.
Hi D Hansel! You got a great deal, ours cost twice that. We also believe the generator is a great investment and a huge source of peace of mind, thanks for watching!
Hi Pilgrim! I enjoyed the very thorough coverage of your new generator. Those Generacs are even more sophisticated than I thought! Very impressive! With that 1000 gallon propane tank, you should be all set. Thanks for sharing!
Hi DIY, thanks for watching that episode, we wanted a generator 1.5 years ago when the house was complete for half the house but the contractor upped the pricing too high for our comfort... So, we waited and actually got a bigger generator for the whole house at the same price. Good to shop around and wait for a good deal. Anyway, we are so relieved to have this protecting the house. Take care and have a great week!
It seems mildly amusing that every time that propane tank is mentioned the 1000 gallon capacity is proudly touted. It always seems to happen that the power outage comes right when the tank is at 200 gallons remaining and the roads are closed! :) Oh well... such is life. Great video and nice installation.
I have one at my house and I love it. Great peace of mine
Hi Ronald! Yep Yep! Love ours for the peace of mind and... the protection from the storms!
Great video and very helpful. It's one the best ones I've seen. Thanks for sharing.
Hi @Fred Finch! Wow, thank you for enjoying our vid on the Generac install. Really appreciate the kind words, sir! Stay safe!
GENERAC is a quality product. I have a 36K Generac (2012) - Every 3 months I turn power off and have the generator run on load for about 5 hours - this keeps the generator oil from turning milky and keeps the brushes on generator clean by running.
Hi J R! Great advice on running the generator every 3 months. Sounds like a great practice. Ours runs for 5 minutes every Sunday afternoon. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim Has your oil turned milky yet?
We are having our one year maintenance check in November and I'll check at that time.
I'm the electrician that did the service, if i remember right I was eating old bay sunflower seeds while explaining the transfer switches.
Yes! I remember as well. Hope you and yours are staying safe and doing well.
Doing great, hope y'all are as well.
The lady said she just wants to be able to flush toilets...😆 lol.
What’s the install costs?
@@natespics8276 varies widely, between 8k and 15k. This guy probably spent 11k
Just ran across your video tonight. I had the same unit installed a little over a year ago. NC here also over between Charlotte and Greensboro. 200 amp service so only a single transfer switch. Have load control device provided by Duke Energy on my AC unit, which has a built in delay timer of 15 min after a power failure, so it won't kick back on immediately during summer outages when generator firsts comes on-line. Only had one initial issue with the generator unit, which was a incorrected gas line from the factory to the engine causing it to only supply about 50% load. If I exceeded 50% the unit shut down and restarted. Once the problem was found and the line connected correctly, the operation has been flawless.
Two things I would recommend is 1) check the oil fill cap like your installer suggested periodically. Mine got loose and came off and I had a little mess to clean up inside the unit. Fortunately it was only from the weekly tests and I didn't loose a lot of oil. 2) double check the tightness of the gold/copper colored bolts on the engine in various locations for tightness. I did find one of mine loose in the bottom of the cabinet. After I found where it came from and reinstalled it, I checked all the other bolts I could get to and found several not completely tightened down.
Other than that, the unit has supplied power so far for two outages (relatively minor) one for 2 hours and a second for 4 hours. Like you said, sure is a good feeling to have that security. Pleased with the unit, and my dealer did a great job with installation and follow-up. Cost on my installation, less natural gas hookup, was just under $9K.
Hi Frank! Great information and thanks for those recommendations. We had our 1 year maintenance last week and I will be posting a video on what they covered. We had 11.7 hours of generator run time these last 14 months, so we are grateful to have the generator. Stay tuned for the video, I need to put some finishing touches on it. Thanks for watching (and commenting).
Great info. Thank you.
The only time that someone is actually hoping for a power outage is after installing a $7,000.00 Emergency Power Generator.
Lol, you are right on. Ours was nearly twice the cost and we had outages of 12 hours last year. We felt so good this last 6 hour outage when we could go about our normal activities with Internet, furnace, fridge, everything running. Best investment if you live in the sticks.
I really need this one for these controlled rolling outages we are experiencing since yesterday. Still have about 24 hours of controlled outages. Even though it's for a couple days but will pay itself off in the first outage I think once I get one installed.
Wow... had the same generator installed, I would have be ecstatic to get mine for only $7K. Like the Homestead Pilgrim I paid almost twice that amount. My cost was higher for the same reason as Homestead... they had to extend both the gas line and electric. As a rule of thumb, a low cost installation typically includes running 5-10 feet of fuel line and 5-10 feet of electrical wiring. "If" your gas and electric are in the same spot on your property and you install the generator right next them you're golden. However if you fuel source is in one spot on your property and your electric is someplace else, and the generator isn't installed next to either utility... the installation cost climbs as you pay a costly per foot charge for each of service they have to extend.
When did Noah build the Ark?
Before the rain!
@@jonathanbellows113 and then he recorded the song, later plagiarized by the rock group, CCR , entitled “Who’ll Stop The Rain”.
Two years ago we bought our stand by generator, which runs off our two propane tanks (100 gallon ea). Best money we ever spent. We went for the 16K instead of the 14K because we wanted to cover the lights, fridge, chest freezer, electric dryer, computer, and my husbands oxygen equipment (COPD). It was husbands oxygen needs that finally convinced us to go for the purchase when during a 6 day power outage our health equipment supplier had to go to Maryland to get oxygen tanks to keep my husband alive. One year ago his health required that we have a ventilator at home and a requirement for install was a generator, which we already had. We are in a 24 x 36 double wide mobile home. Bought the generator and a transfer switch, upgraded the fuse box and had to replace the electric meter because the lever to turn off that meter broke. cost was $15000.00. And I would do it again in a heart beat. My word of warning is research you installer because after my installation I had trouble with my contractor so be very careful. Make sure they have your states contractor lisence number and that they are in good standing with Generac as an installer.
Hi Susan! Great information and I agree whole hardheartedly with you on making sure to research your installer. Our install was a little less than $12,000 which included a 22Kw generator and two transfer switches for the two 200 Amp panels. Good luck to you and your hubby and hoping he is doing well! Thanks for watching!
Since it is a medical necessity were you able to do a tax write-off of some of the expense?
@@seawitch8732 with her last name I would think she is doing okay (just saying , I know just a coincidence)
@@jimmygrant424 Yes, that's me. I got natural gas and Generac 22.5kW installation finished at end of year. It turns out my installer is not in the business of maintaining so I'm thinking of calling Alternative Power. I happen to like how the guy in the video explained everything. More info is always better than less info. I'm going to ask my tax preparer about medical necessity. Husband has COPD and is on oxygen 24x365. If electricity runs out, we have tanks but we've also had outages that lasted as many as 10 days, so I consider it a medical necessity.
@@seawitch8732 agreed, he did a very thorough job of explaining everything!!!! I have always wanted to get a genny, but lack of Benjamins as usual. Yours being a medical necessity I hope it works out very well for you!!!l Best of luck and many and much prayers for you!!!!!!!! God bless you!!!
I wish all my local Lowes and home depot had employees that help you like this. Before I make the investment I'm going to show this video to see if they can do the same installation.
Hi ma88tc! Thanks so much for the positive comment. I agree the guys that serviced us were top notch and professional, very knowledgeable and passionate about their work. Good luck!
I am the second oldest Generac dealer in the country I would not recommend buying a Generac from Home Depot or Lowe's. There's is not up to standard of original Generac dealer. They will all tell you it is not it is cheaply built compared to a Generac dealers generator that he sells and Home Depot only hires service companies for these generators that are not worth a damn I have been almost 30 years with generous I helped start this company with Bill the original owner and my friend Leo we wrote the original tech book. There are now a lot of companies out there that sell these generators and service them most of the companies that are servicing them are not very good at knowing how to repair them when they break especially the electronics or a rotor and stator problem feet to the voltage regulator I have fixed more generators from other companies that have installed them and cannot fix them. Make sure that you get a good dealer who has many years of training with Generac you do not want somebody who has less than 15 years because they do not have the ability to fix certain things on these generators.
Great video! I need one of these with what is going on here in Texas. Keeping and eye on GNRC stock!!!
Hi LMH! Thanks for the great comment. Texans are in my thoughts with this series of winter storms. Hope you are safe and comfortable. Looking forward to spring.
To heck with the stock market, buy cryptocurrency instead. You can thank me later
Yeah, my son said a coworker of his told him to buy crypto in 2015 and now the guy is a multi-millionaire. I'm all good for retirement so I'll stick with what I know. Thanks!
@@ruster2luster769 Crypto only works when the power is on..
Ordered the 24KW generator in March, right after the freeze in Texas. Just now getting it installed next week. So, yeah, about 6 months delay with Covid and the surge in demand. In March, they thought it might be 8 or 9 months, so at least it showed up quicker than expected.
This generac startup guy is either way too excited or he just found out about adderall.
He was very passionate about the job and we appreciated him so much.
was thinkin he thought yall were hard of hearing. no prob hearing him over the gen.
@@homesteadpilgrim That is very kind of you.
Step away from the coffee buddy, wow.
He made it hard to watch.
Today finally came when Wired Electric came out and installed
a new engine into our 20KW Whole House Generator.
The old engine had low compression on one cylinder.
The generator was 2 years out of warranty. After calling Generac
and sending them the serviceman's diagnose of the engine
they deemed it "Manufacture Defect".
The original warranty was 5 years. I had the generator 7 years. The
new Generac Generators now carry a 7 year warranty.
I got a call from Generac telling me they were going to cover the
cost of a new generator.
The serviceman worked on it from 11:30 to 3:45.
He put oil in it and fired it up. It ran great.
I ask him how long have he seen these generators run without stopping.
He told me over 3 weeks when the power came back on. At that
time you change the oil and filter and put it back in standby mode.
Live on Ga coast put in a 22kw Genrac run on propane 330 gallon tank works great. Have it set to run every other Wednesday. Had auto switches installed will switch on and off loads to protect unit. Holy cow 1000 gallons that baby will go a bit.Great set up.
Thanks, Pat sounds like you are all set!
@@homesteadpilgrim not as much as you are . Man you'll have plenty of gas to go several weeks depending on usage. The people at Genrac are nice and informative.
Is the 1000 gallon tank under ground?? How much did the 1000 gallon run you ?
Yes it is in-ground. The tank and install was free but we had to purchase all our gas from the installer.
Nice video, straight forward, great info for many you tube viewers.
Hey Jerry! Thanks for the positive comment and thanks for watching!
I have a 20kw and run 3 Carrier AC units. A 2 ton, 3 ton, and a 4 ton. Runs them all just fine without the smart cutoffs on the AC’s.
Hi Clint! Wow, that 20Kw generator running three AC units sounds great and gives me confidence in our generator. Thanks for watching!
Generator selection is based on starting loads not running. Would need to know the starting characteristics of the AC units to assess the sizing of the generator.
@@n.gineer8102 Yes, starting load is a MAJOR concern. Back in the days before digital T-stats gave us a start delay feature (usually not quite long enough) I would install low voltage delay timers so the first AC unit didn't start till at least 3 minutes had gone by, then bring on others every 30 seconds or so. Of course this requires some math and good common sense because there was no load-shed back then. Never bothered with anything for a clothes drier because most will not restart after a power blip. Just have to caution the home owner not to use it during an outage.
I’m ready for this. This is my 2023 goal!
Awesome, Omar! You won't regret it.
Start up guy drank too many coffee that morning😂 this video has great info👍 that generac smart module 50amp is just a delay on make $8 module and a $25 contactor relay.
Thanks 👍we were appreciative of the technician for sure
Thanks for the video. I'm trying to talk my parents into getting one. Hurricane season is near
Hi Jimmy. A generator is a non-trivial investment and depending on circumstances of where you live and how reliable your power is will tip the scale to a purchase. We were out of power on Christmas 2000 in Arkansas (way out in the country) after a big ice storm. We had little kids and it was not fun. We moved to NC to a suburb that had a power station almost next door to us, we we never lost power in my recollection for 17 years... in 2016 when we were building this final house, we knew that we would need a generator and it has provided INCREDIBLE peace of mind for us. Best $12,000 we have spent. Yes, hurricanes are coming and we are also impacted here in Person County, NC. Good luck and hope you and your family stay safe!
Generac is the worst brand, go Kohler
Blake Rymer Please elaborate on your comment. What problems have you experienced with General?
Sure could of used one of these this past week. I’m in north Texas and we were without power for 63 hours! Gonna have one by next winter. Just waiting on a sale.
Hi Joanne! Sorry to hear you were out of power so long. It is miserable, we were out for 11 days during the ice storm of 2000 in western Arkansas. Just had an ice storm here and the generator ran for three days keeping us comfortable! The peace of mind alone is worth the investment.
@@homesteadpilgrim wow! That’s a long time. Glad you had one this time around. We are getting one either way, just a sale would make it much better. 🙂
This start up guy has scatter brains, he’s all over the place, just like me! Must be our OCD lol
The startup guy was responding to our questions and was very passionate and professional. We appreciated his customer service attitude.
He needs to slow down and focus.
Bigtime scatter brain! Gave me anxiety lol
Take a deep breath and have a beer! Prosit!
Maybe but he answered every question 100% accurately and hit all the correct points.
Have the same exact one, I think people that don't know what they're doing bad mouth them for things they have done or not done to keep up the maintenance. Pretty simplistic system , just needs to be maintained.
Hey John! Cool that you have the same generator. It is pretty popular. We are so happy with it an you are right, just have to maintain it for it to last. Thanks for watching!
what do you need to do to keep it maintained>>C
@@carolferguson2690 I do yearly oil change, change air filter and adjust valves. Even though you don't have to do the valves yearly, I do to make sure it's working at it's peak all the time. Preventive maintenance is the key to longevity.👍
Husband: I could do the maintenance every year.
Wife: we will have generac do the maintenance.
LOL, yes, she is much smarter than I am and I wouldn't be successful without her.
Easy to service they will charge you 3 to 400 dollars.
8
The amount charged will depend on what company you call and what they may or may not claim they discovered on inspection and/or what is needed. You can call "Chuck On A Truck" has pray you don't get raped. Your best would be to consider purchasing a yearly maintenance agreement that includes everything... (Bumper to Bumper) - emergency service calls, 24 hr service, no travel charge, no charges for parts or labor - basically no worries during the term on the contract. Just make sure you are purchasing the maintenace contract from a genuine authorized Generac dealer. As of 2021 such a contract from an authorized Generac dealer is 5 Years for $495 - 7 Years for $695 - or 10 years for $995. Speaking of Generac and warranties... don't be fooled by the 5 Year warranty that comes with the purchase of a new generator. Its a "Limited" warranty as follows: Years 1 and 2 - miles, labor, and parts. - Year 3 - parts only. - Years 4 and 5 - coverage on engine (short block) and alternator (rotor and stator) parts only.
After seeing this, my eagerness to purchase has gone down about 1000.
Oopsy, good luck with whatever you choose to do!
Nice video!!! At my parents house we have a standby generator which is 14kw one that runs the whole house. It's a kohler generator not generac that we have. I know both brands are really popular and they both work well. I know a couple of people who have generac and they love theirs.
Hey Ryan! Yeah we looked at Kohler and they are top-notch machines! We happened to find the best deal for us with a company that installs Generac and we are very pleased with its performance so far. Thanks for watching!
I like the generator man. Great energy, positive attitude, and very informative! Oh, for you slow folks that simply cannot keep up with this man, you can slow the play speed down on the video.
You ARE someone special! Thanks for the positive call out to our generator orientation consultant! He was a blast and exceeded our expectations. Take care and thanks for watching!
How does slowing him down stop the blathering?
I hope you have better luck with those modules than I did. Had 4 of them go bad in 12 months. I went with a different brand and they work perfectly.
The modules actually had a defective part that our service company replaced before failure.
@@homesteadpilgrim ours were replaced multiple times with alleged “new versions.” Each time we load tested they failed. The PSP ones actually work.
I will keep this in mind, thanks so much for this info!
Very informative. Thanks for sharing!
Hey, John, thank you for watching!
Great video, thanks for posting very informative
Hi Josh, thanks for the positive comment!
No no problem, learned more than i can remember from the day ours was installed. I look back at this for help too. They explained it all, but it by so fast.
I wonder how jealous neighbors would react during the current Texas Arctic Blast? You have electricity, and they don't?
Hi Joey. I don't know. What I do know is that everyone is responsible for preparing themselves and their families for risks. We were not prepared back in 2000 during the big Arkansas ice storm and suffered for 11 days without power with three little kids. We promised ourselves to be prepared for the next one. Thanks for watching!
Just charge them $5 an hour for a kilowatt. And make them beg.
@sagrzmnky1972 The elderly suffered greatly during that freeze in San Antonio. Many died months later, never being the same afterwards.
@sagrzmnky1972 My 87 year old cousin living in San Antonio just died at 88, he never regained his health after the freeze, and the 27 inches of snow that fell. His body never recovered from the stress of it all. The record cold killed many elderly people, a cousin of mine included in that number.
That's a clean install 👌 also that delivery expert is on point.
Hi Raul, yes, we are very happy with the install so far. Thanks for watching.
Speaking from the UK, 22kw seems generous but perhaps not if you have HVAC-related loads. Glad to see you are not using gas (petrol) for what is mainly a standby facility though we would probably prefer diesel here in europe. Nice one !
Hi Rhian! Yes, the 22kw has been adequate for us in several outages since we had it installed. Thanks for watching!
I bet im not the only one looking into generator videos in this winter 2021 diaaster....but im getting one asap
Trust me we will be prepared
Hi X S! Yep, go for it! Best insurance policy you can buy for power outages. Spring can't come any sooner!
The start up guy drop me nuts. He needs to calm down!
Ha Ha! I loved his enthusiasm! He is a fellow Army vet so I think of him as a brother! Really appreciated his assistance and information. Thanks for watching!
Looking into the same set up. The Generac reps need to slow down the $$$$ presentation. Glad you were taking video notes in this case.
Yeah, at my age its best to video tape instructions like this so I can remember!
@@homesteadpilgrim o
Your generator can run more with less affort if you install a soft start on your ac units. They will start up with a lot less power and make your ac units last longer.
Hi Chris, interesting... I'll have to check that out! Thanks!
I just signed a contract for a 22kw Generac standby generator with a 1,000 gallon underground propane tank. I can't wait until it's in and ready.
Hey Southside Taxi! Congrats on your contract! You will have incredible peace of mind when that generator is online and has that friendly green eye keeping you and your family safe. We are so happy with ours out here in the country. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim Thank you! My wife and I are psyched. We are in hurricane country and it's one less thing to worry about. A fortress of a house is nothing without power and air conditioning. Great video, I watched the whole thing this morning when I couldn't sleep. Two of my neighbors have generators, one a Generac (green eye) and one Kohler, but I think I'll have the biggest tank out of both of them.
I'm so excited for you as well. It is worth the price to have that peace of mind and a big fuel tank is priceless as well. Good luck!
@@homesteadpilgrim Tank and unit installed a couple of weeks ago. Unit just started up on Thursday. It's already doing its job...sending those hurricanes away from my residence. Thanks again for your video.
I had my 22Kw installed this past February (2021). Only actual outage run so far lasted about 9 minutes. Otherwise a 5 minute run every Monday morning. All is good.
Hi Mario! Yeah, the peace of mind is worth the investment and when the actual power does go out (and it has several times) you will be able to live normally for the duration of the outage! Take care.
@@homesteadpilgrim hey men sorry question for you,, I didn't see where your signal / control wires at, are they running in the same flex with a feeder wires?? Sorry just asking..
Sorry, just saw this. I did not install the unit so I can't respond to your question. Alternative Power installed the unit, perhaps you can give them a ring.
Nice setup.
Thanks!
Nice generator. I have always wanted one, but never pulled the trigger......
We sweated bullets every time a hurricane or severe weather blew through the last year and a half. At least this relieves some of the stress and brings some piece of mind. Thanks for watching!
We had a 22kw installed last year, my mom didnt want one, but i did, my dad passed away in 2021 from Alzhiemers, and im legally blind, so its just me and my mom now. We had severe weather come though last Saturday, and lost power 3 days, she was sure glad we got it now, lol. Only consern now is what the NG bill wil be…
So sorry about your Dad, and being legally blind must be tough. Good job taking care of your Mom!
@@homesteadpilgrim thank you,and it is, and I do the best I can. My dad would have loved one of these, we used to have a gas Generac 17,500 KW generator. And he wouldn't have any problem taking care of it, he knew all about that stuff, and was a retired electrician. He actually wired up one of my neighbors Generacs. thank you again
@@homesteadpilgrim thank you, and it is. But I do the best I can. My dad would have loved one of these, and wouldn't have any problem at all taking care of it, he was actually a retired electrician. He actually wired up my neighbors Generac
He forgot to mention that Generac instructs to adjust the valves at the same time as the break in oil change. You can buy the air filter, oil filter and valve cover gaskets on Amazon.com. I do my own maintenance because the installer told me that my local service company is unreliable. Better to be self sufficient too. The maintenance is really easy (well, adjusting the valves is a bit of a pain) and there are youtubes on the valve adjustment and oil change.
I've had my 22 KW unit for a little over a year and it works great. Been through two rather long power outages with our electric company and it performed flawlessly.
It can power my 2400 Sq. Ft. home with A.C. without any problem. Most of the time I'm only drawing about 1/3 the capacity and I also have a well pump in addition to the A.C.
Note at about 4 GPH of propane usage that (at my rate) it can cost nearly $10/Hr to run at full load. With long power outages, I manually shut it off to reduce cost of running it.
Note on some older homes, it may be necessary to upgrade your service panel before generator installation. Such was my case because there was no provision for "forking off" the bus bar leading from the electric meter.
Hey Barry F! GREAT information! Thank you! Its nice to hear some positive news about the Generac as well.
Hopefully in a week or so i'll be hooked up and ready. I think my biggest obstacle will be moving the generator from the garage to the concrete pad.
Awesome! Great to hear you are close to having protection. Take care and don't injure the back!
Cost of a gen set can vary by quite a bit and everybody is their own expert... till they have a problem... and 80% of all problems go back to proper size and installation issues. (usually found within the first year) The other 20% will be operator error and lack of maintenance. That said, anyone can price a gen set and nail that down. The major variables will be the gas and the electric. Gas can be as little as $500 but adding in a long trench, multiple regulators, and purchase or rental of a tank can change that by thousands. Some gen sets include the transfer switch, but you should have an electrician install that only after seeing if the rest of your electrical is up to snuff. I always figure a minimum of $1200 but could range to thousands more. Bottom line is an automatic gen set can be had in the $3 - $6k range then add for the other items, which will generally bring it to $10k or more. Considering the added features in this video I think the owner got a fair shake. I also think Generac was the first to offer the load shed options as a standard part of the transfer switch. I will mention one drawback of the WI-FI system, which will not tell you anything if the power goes out and your internet is also out. The WI-FI will also fail if the gen set doesn't start and your router has no power. Last but usually an oversight... if your router is not on a generator circuit, which happens quite a bit on smaller sets that don't power the whole house.
Hey @rupe53! Great comments! Yeah we were very happy with the cost and believe me we shopped around. We are approaching a year of ownership and we'll have the annual maintenance visit at that time by the installer, Alternative Power. Very happy with their install and it has functioned flawlessly several times the past year when we had power outages. One outage lasted 4 hours but most were fortunately of short duration. Regardless, we are satisfied. Thanks for watching!
@@homesteadpilgrim ... as A long time Generac tech (over 20 years) I will give you one piece of advice. The book says 400 hours to the first valve adjustment. (and plugs) In my experience you are better to do this a bit early, along with new spark plugs. The first shot I recommend is at 200 hours and since the plugs are out anyway, use new ones. Gap plugs at 0.025" (tighter than the book) and adjust valves at 0.004" which is on the high side of spec. You can thank me for easier cold starting and longer engine life in 10 years. Keep using those specs but you can slack back to 400 hours between top end services after the first time. Continue with annual oil changes or more often if you have a longer run times.
@rupe53, thanks so much for this information! Appreciated!
Just FYI, those "boxes" go bad all the time.
Thanks
I was today years old when I learned from this video that LFMC and LFNMC are rated for direct burial.
Hey Shawn, didn't know that and I had to trust the installers. Seems it is rated for direct burial.. quick google: From manufacturers website: “Liquid-tight flexible metallic conduit (LFMC) is suitable for use in a variety of environments and applications from general purpose wiring in wet or damp locations, to direct burial and in concrete embedment, to raised computer room floors and site lighting jobs.”Aug 7, 2012
Great Info really appreciated
Glad it was helpful!
Love the wife! She runs the show, as she should.
Yes, particularly since she is smarter than me!
Lol........he should cut WAY back on the caffeine! MY install guy gave me the same info in a CALM manner! Overall though, this IS great peace of mind!
HaHa! Thanks for the comment Richard. We really enjoyed his setup knowledge transfer. Thanks for watching!
Finally got my Generac running. Continually failed during exercise cycle. Showed a check fuel message. Final answer was it was set up for cold weather area. I'm in Texas. Has been good now for two cycles.
Hi Doug, great that you got that little configuration item resolved. Congrats on your generator. Welcome to the "Peace of Mind" club!
That kid was tell to much of nothing, but been young it we’ll happen.good job
Agreed, that kid was an awesome and professional service technician that provided answers to all our questions and put our minds at ease with this generator. Thanks for the great comment and thanks for watching.
That Generac guy talks so much his tongue got sunburned.
Hi Michael, we appreciate his information and guidance even though he injured his tongue (sunburn). Perhaps he can draw workers comp??
@@homesteadpilgrim lol
They ran conduit for the propane line for the first like 5 feet on either end and then it's just bare copper in the middle.....what's that about?
Hi Kevin, not sure ... You can call Alternate Power and ask the installers.
The young tech giving the tutorial on that day must have been on Speed. Slow down Buckaroo!!
My Goodness! The young man IS ON SPEED! I get annoyed by these type of people.
Sorry. I could only watch and listen to minute 13:04. The dude is on some kind of speed drug. I am bailing out and not recommending this video to anyone.
We really appreciated the young technician as customers. That is what counts... thanks for watching.
22kW will run both those AC units! Our 5 ton AC unit uses about 3,450 watts including blower under full speed and your water heater.
If you didn’t want to run the AC’s you coulda gotten a 10-14kW.
First guy didn’t know a damn thing.
Hi @xzibit8614! Good information, thanks. That gives me confidence that our setup will be adequate for sure.
Homestead Pilgrim Does your house have a smart Meter?
There is a product on Amazon called the Emporia Vue Smart meter. Essentially let’s you see live the “watts” your house uses. I see you have two panels so you might have to get the add-on Kit.
Let’s you see live how many watts your house uses whether be on generator or utility power. If you’re not comfortable you can have an electrician install it. You can turn things on and off, and on the app see oh this uses this much. Holy crap that uses a lot! So you can save on your normal Bill. But during an outage see “oh I’m using 4,354 watts currently and have plenty of headroom. Fire up the washer and dryer honey!”
Hey its the first guy, bet you didn't expect me here!
The load management devices keep the 400 amp service be powered by a generator that can at a maximum produce 100 amps.
To determine the size generator, and number of load management device. You need to do a load calc. To do a load calc you need to study the code book. Boom roasted.
Seriously, do the math on your generator install, or you may force the machine into a shutdown.
Always use a licensed electrician, and a reputable business like Alternate Power to install your generator.
No, we don't have a smart meter. Great information, thank you!
Questions:
Im looking into getting this done.
Here’s my thing.
My house is older and has aluminum wiring in some parts of my inside electrical box and throughout the house.
I have 3 sub panels inside the house for different things.
From what I understand is my electrician was just going to hook this up to my house and go straight to the main and have the service rated transfer switch outside the house and this would tackle my entire house with a 22kv generator.
After watching this video I’m not sure if I will need one of these other delay boxes with the orange lights for my A/C unit.
Should my electrician have mentioned this to me or is there someone that comes out for an electrical assessment prior to the install?
I just want to make sure this is all done right .
I already have a small dual fuel generator that plug into my house and I have to manually kill the main and all the breakers and just turn on the circuits I want to run.
But I do like the idea of a one and done set up hands free with automatic transfer switch.
Also I’m a mechanic and I can do all my own maintenance.
Does anyone know if I got a generator from Home Depot would it come with a warranty?
Would the warranty be voided if I don’t have a service plan.
Is a service plan paid for when you buy their generator or is that a separate contract?
I’d like to get this done to code.
I want to run propane.
I don’t mind doing my own maintenance and I actually prefer it cause I’m anal about maintenance being done right.
I don’t want to void a warranty if there even is one.
Lastly…..are all the generac parts made in China and if we have tensions with China and parts availability compromised , would my generac be a giant paperweight?
Hi Viking Robot! Looks like you have quite the skillset and I recommend you call a certified Generac Installer to get your technical questions answered. We talked to at least 6 companies until we decided on our provider, Alternative Power. As far as whether Generac parts are made in China, I did a quick search and it appears that Genuine Generac Parts are made in the USA... however, I would fully expect that Chicom companies try to counterfeit parts for anything made in the USA... My mantra is Try Not to Buy Chicom! Good luck with your install!
You didn’t tell them the lugs on that 22kw are only sized for 2/0
Thanks for the comment, Travis
with the cover on, do you ever get noise complaints from neighbors? not sure how close you are to other houses but was just wondering.
Hi Sanitary103. No, we never get noise complaints from neighbors, but then again, we live smack in the middle of 24 heavily wooded acres so the sound wouldn't carry to our nearest neighbors very well.
Unless your state doesn't allow it, why did you just connect a permanent line to the natural gas coming in?
Or will it ONLY work with Propane?
We live so far in the rural part of the county that we do not have natural gas lines. We only have the 1,000 gal propane tank. If we had gas lines we wouldn't need the tank.
Do you have any idea where to purchase the plastic cover for the LED indicator light. The cover looks like a bubble which protects the LED. Any help will be appreciated! Thank you.
I would call a local Generac installer to order the part for you.
GP Outdoors (UA-cam) has a video on what can go wrong with these generators that will cause them to not start when you need them the most. Also the lost oil could cause engine damage and destroy the generator. This can happen wherever there can be freezing temperatures.
Thanks for the comment, Oby-1
How much did the entire system with install cost?
Hi 9mmsteve. It was $12K
If you don’t mind me asking, how much did the whole system set you back?
Hi Mr. Smiley! $12K was the approx total cost. Good luck, Sir!
Wow that’s a lot! Great investment though!
OMG I can’t take this guy
Hehe, Pepe...Oh Pepe Pepe. Take him or leave him he was one of the best service men we have dealt with. Fellow Army vet to boot!
I love this model but noise is a concern for me so I might get a Champion with less wattage but 10 yr warranty and way more quiet.
Sounds good! Literally! Thanks for watching!
Great info here, as I am truly considering getting one for my house. Do you mind telling roughly how much would somebody need to installed? A complete installation with permits and everything.? It would definitely get me ready minded NOT discourage . Thank you for your content.
It cost us $12k all-in, but that was 2 years ago. Good luck!
If it catches fire while it's running, there's a kill switch on the back next to the cables & gas line.
Thanks, Tod. Great info.
That lady sounds like she has a lot of confidence in her husband’s ability to take care of that generator. I bet she’s a real “Karen” if she doesn’t get her way. She hardly lets her husband speak to the guy and cuts him off almost every time he talks. 😂😂
Hi Wheelchair Warrior! Yeah, she's the love of my life and we are a great team. I've always had a fetish for smart confident women! Thanks for watching!
whats the sqft of your house? the reason I ask is because we are looking into one of these and have a 3K sqft home we need to power. we're unsure of the size of generator to get.
Hi Ashontay, it's 3,700 sqr feet. We have 400 amp service. Good luck!
@@homesteadpilgrim perfect. thank you so much for the prompt reply. take care and stay safe
Very informative video, thank you. Have you ever run your generator for an extended period of time during an outage? About how many gallons per hour did the generator burn please?
Hi Al, I answered this question of yours in another post you did.
Did he (Service Guy) take his medicine today, the homeowner (lady) is just compounding the situation. Please teach the young man to stop and take a "Breath".........he is just all over the place with his tutorial class to the customer/owner. Helps us Lord!
Haha! Thanks EG. Well, we definitely are all over the place here on the homestead. The start up guy was amazing and we really appreciated his attention to detail and enthusiasm/customer service. Thanks for watching!
💉💊
I’m curious as to how much a system like this costs to purchase and install. . Seems like a serious investment to your home. I’m considering a backup generator for my home due to I live in North Fort Worth and at least 1 or 2 times a summer the power goes out for 6-12 hours thanks to heavy power usage in our 100+ degree weather.
Here in NC, with a 400 AMP service (two 200 Amp panels), three smart monitors, two transfer switches, the 22KW generator including labor worked out to be about $12,000.
Homestead Pilgrim Thank you so much for the info! Where in NC do you live? I spent 15 years in the Raleigh area. Good place to live.👍🏻
We live north of Hillsborough. Love it here. Take care!
What was the cost of this project?
About $12k
I just had a Honeywell 16 kw installed by my power utility, including 250 gal of lp, concrete pads for both tanks and generator, the total cost was around 7500 dollars.
If you’re interested in the sound level, it starts at 24:59
Hi Alexis, thanks for pointing that out. We can barely hear the generator when inside the house but yes, it is noticeable when outside. It is air cooled whereas the water cooled generators are somewhat quieter. Thanks for watching!
I’m in a rural part of N.C. as well, we are always the 1st to lose power and the last to get it restored...I have been researching generators...I think I’ve found the one I want.
Good luck with your generator purchase. Alternative Power solutions was a great company for us and we already had a several hour power outage last month. The generator worked flawlessly! So much peace of mind!
@@homesteadpilgrim I am thinking about purchasing one of these machines. Did Alternative Power solutions coordinate all the work requirements for installation i.e power, gas, trench digging etc.
I’m sorry to ask but I want to get an idea on the real price, how much it costs?
Hi Yoka! Our setup cost just less than $12,000 in all. We have two 200 Amp panels and they installed three smart management modules. Each of the two heat pump condensers and the water heater had the modules. Our generator is 22Kw for the whole house. Thanks for watching.
Mine cost about $11k installed. 22kw Guardian model. Then another $700 for the upgrade for the NG service.
Im in California, rates are a little higher $15,200
I just had the 22KW installed at my home in Texas a few weeks ago. I have 1800 Sq.Ft home, one 3.5 ton central AC and the regular house stuff. 2 freezers and 2 fridge's. I had to upgrade the utility box for $1800 first, and the Gen install was $3000, and the 22KW Generac was $4700, (on sale). The 4" pad was $300. About $10200 after tips. I got sick last year and am on O2 all the time. I'm on the Texas coast, and in the middle of hurricane season. One year I lost power for 23 days. That was not fun. The Generator is 6 feet from the house, and you really need to make sure the installer gets permits from the city you live in to keep up with the code. I used the electrican who upgraded the utility box, and he never installed a generator, but he did a good job. I think I would suggest a proven generator installer thou. No guess work there. As an after thought, my house uses natural Gas, and so does the Generator.
@@billtobler7218 I got my 22KW installed about 2 months ago. Haven't had to use it yet but this being Florida it will probably get a workout this season. I also had to upgrade my panel from 150amp to 200amp. That cost about $2k because I elected to get an entirely new panel and new breakers. My total bill including new updated NG gas lines was about $13k with an ATS. But I should make at least $1600 back when I sell my two portable generators once they sell out here. One is a 10KW and the other is a 6KW. The 10KW I will be asking $1100 for and the 6KW I'll ask $500. Maybe more. Complete with heavy duty electrical cables and ground cables and rods for backfeading. One is set up for 50amp, and the other is set up go for 30amp. The $13K seems like a lot, but at 68 years old It's getting a little rough having to search out the gas and moving those heavy generators around during Hurricane season, plus my wife also has breathing problems that require oxygen. I got mine oversized at 22KW, at 1650 sq ft I could have got by with an 18KW generator but I wanted it oversized in case someone with an RV could park in my Drive way and tap off it also.
Anyone Notice, they voided that NEMA3 box. Wonder why that guy drilled the top of what I assume was ATS B, and the gas guy did not vent that secondary regulator properly.
Goes to show how dependent homeowners are on professionals and their work.
I thought when you install a generator generac you supposed to do a psi test on the ground or concrete where the unit is going to set. I don’t see that
Hi Dimas, the concrete pad was delivered already prefabbed, so no testing is needed, just had to level out the ground and lay it down.
Great generators! Installation violates US NFPA 37 though. Must have 3’ of clearance behind the unit from a combustible source ( wooden fence). If it was brick or hardy plank you could be 18”.
Hi Craig... OOOPs! Oh well, we had to rely on the installation contractors as well as the county inspector to get the clearance distance correct.... I'll research that for sure. Thanks for the info!
The Generac generators have been lab tested and are listed for the 18” distance from the wall. The units comply with NFPA 37 as well national codes when installed per the instructions. This unit appears to meet the installation requirements. We are a Generac dealer near Raleigh, NC, we can help address questions, but the Generac.com website is a good resource. Thanks GPServices USA / Jerry.gentle@gpservicesusa.com
Great, thanks, Jerry!
I noticed that this generator does not have a double 110 VAC outlet on the side.
I have had mine several years and it never failed me.
People ask how loud is it? I tell them it's like a neighbor two doors down mowing their yard.
One day when the power grid goes down we will be one of the only houses in the neighborhood that will have power. People wait until their is a disaster before wanting a whole house generator. They will call the contractor and he will tell them there is a 8 month backlog. Do you really want to wait until it's too late?
Awesome, D. Hansel! Yes, you need to get on the list if you have not done so already. Having this generator and 1,000 gal propane tank give us incredible peace of mind.
Young man DO NOT forget the ICE Build Up in the Filter box and REMIND the Customer to clean that ICE and check the OIL LEVEL regularly OK ????
Thanks, Bunakkaptan! We live in NC and it rarely gets icy for an extended period. I'll ask the technician to check these as well. We are coming up on our 1 year maintenance checkpoint.
Yeah I saw that video too!!!! and I don't even have a generator but still good to know
Please what is the power out put of the Generac generator
22kw
They won't sell you a stepping motor for the carburetor you have to buy the hole assembly , 1 service call to diagnose replace yourself , $ 800.00 and you need to be a contortionist to manipulate the replacement with allen key ball drivers .
Hi, George. Hopefully I don't need to have that level of maintenance any time soon. We have our 1 year maintenance visit with Alternative Power this week. Thanks for watching!
Good video but what are the A/C boxes at 22 minutes ? What size Generator was that ? How many KW?
Hi Earno, the two small boxes on the side of the house are smart modules. Learn more here: www.norwall.com/products/Generac-Smart-Management-Modules-SMM-7000/
I cant listen to that start up guy. Holy crap he needs to take a few deep breaths lol first day on the job maybe? Nice setup though!!
Hey Tomcat, lol, he was great! Very enthusiastic and thank goodness I recorded it since he talked so fast! He is a fellow Army vet so I have special feels for him! Thanks for watching!
I would prefer a metal enclosure and and GRC to protect against a CME or EMP.
Hi John, absolutely do that to mitigate those risks. Keep us updated on your progress. Thanks for watching!
wow
There were a couple of characters in the video that might benefit from: 1) "Doggie downers" (with apologies to Saturday Night Live) and 2) A vitamin B complex to calm nerves and enhance focus and concentration.
I resemble that remark!
Why 2 transfer switches. It would of been more cost efficient for 1 400amp transfer switch in my opinion. Also why are using the external load shedding module when the transfer switch has ac shedding modules built into it. Just curious why you would do it this way
Hey, gdegroot8740! Well, I don't know why. I'm not an electrician. If I were to guess, I would guess that there are two transfer switches because the builder had put in two separate 200 Amp panels in our house. You can call Alternative Power and I'm sure they will have a better answer for you. Good luck!
If you do your own maintenance it will nullify the warranty he did not tell you that if you do any work on the generator it says in their owners manual it will nullify all warranties
Thanks, James. We have a yearly maintenance contract with our installer. I just checked the oil that is the only thing I've done. Thanks for the info.
Great video. We're bout to bite the bullet because I am sick of the outages. So many tornados & storms this year in TN. Have a special needs adult child & can NOT be without power. 6 hours w/o power due to tornado & just recently last weekend 4 hours..Yep we're getting one. Just doing my research....
Hey Destinyatk! Thanks for the positive comments. We were in your situation when we lived in AR 20 years ago, many tornado threats and we lived waaaay out in the country. Well, Xmas 2000 we had an ice storm and were without power for 11 days with little kids. We vowed to ourselves to get a generator once we built our final home in the country. Fast forward we finally got it and the peace of mind is priceless. Good luck on your research and final purchase! Thanks for watching!
Buy a Kohler, Generac will disappoint.
Blake Rymer again with this comment? Please share your experiences with all of us, otherwise, you’re just spam.
@@biffjohnson7107 I'm a generator tech, who tf are you to censor free speech? Communist.
Both AC units have fans blocked!!! Generators should be mounted 1' above Grade in case of Water Event.
Hi Gord. I have to respectfully disagree. The Generator unit is 10 feet from the condensers.
@@homesteadpilgrim You did not read my comment. There are various panels temporarily piled on the running Condensers.
Wrong! Depending on your location, mount the Generator well above any possible ground water level.
Hi Gord, just saw this. We have the generator mounted on a slope, so there is no possible way for water to gather at the generator... that is... unless Noah starts building his ark again and we get a 2,000 year flood.
Can someone explain why they are using Smart Management Modules on the AC units when the ATS right next them already has a Smart AC Module in it already to manage those loads?
I googled this and found this on Amazon.com product description: Generac's Smart Power Management System is designed to optimize the performance of a standby generator. The system can consist of up to 8 individual Smart Management Modules (SMM). Unlike other load management systems that depend on another control device, the SMM modules are actually self-aware and operate autonomously. Frequency is the true measure of generator engine performance and does not need to factor in increased ambient temperatures, elevation changes, or generator fuel type. The modules monitor the frequency of the power being produced by Generac's standby generators and if it falls below a certain threshold, the module will automatically follow a power management algorithm to ensure that the generator is not overloaded.
@@homesteadpilgrim My understanding is that the SACM in the transfer switch already does that. You would only need the SMMs if you had more than 4 AC units or wanted to manage a dryer, other high wattage appliance.
My concerns are what if we have no power and how would the Generac regenerate its power
Your only concerns with the generator are: 1. Keeping it running with fuel (natural gas, propane, gasoline, or diesel) and 2. Keeping it maintained so that it keeps running. The Generac when running, will power your home if #1 and #2 are taken care of.
These generators actually run from 11 to 14 minutes each week. 5 minutes the technician cannot set the timing it is set into the CMA computer module assembly for 11 to 14 minutes. The only thing he can control is the time that the generator runs not for how long only the larger four and six-cylinder generators can be controlled for how long
Hi James. It seems like our generator only runs for 5 min. I'll try to time it this Sunday when it is scheduled for its weekly run.