Advice on a Generator

[valley ranch]

Hi, Generator is a good idea. To do it right and safe, you'll need a Transfer Box. Then there won't be any cords or wires from the box to the main it will be hard wired in, you can have a cord from the Generator to the transfer box.

The transfer box will be wired into your main, so that when the power goes out you push the buttons on the transfer box, you'll have 8 buttons I'm sure, this will disconnect from the power lines so your generator doesn't kill a Lineman.

The generator for what you want can be 5,000 watt, that will do for what you want, the voltage will already be AC. You husband more than likely can set this up.

I installed a transfer box that has a plug on the front. The Generator can be put any place as I have a 10 guage cable that connects the Generator to the box. you will have two legs of 110volt AC, that will give you 220v for a pump if needed.

I can go on about it if you need a bit more. Good idea.

 

[valley ranch]

The transfer box, when a button is pushed, connects one line, say to the fridg, as it disconnect form the breaker in your main box. As you push buttons it connect what other lines you've selected when installing the box.
I hope I'm saying this clearly.

A 5000 watt generator {5kw}, most, will surge to 6500, and run at 5000.

 

[valley ranch]

Transfer Switch is what they are calling them.

• • 
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  Gentran transfer switch
  • $125.00
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  • This on has view meters, one for each leg. It has only 6 lines, three on each leg.
  • Bet of we look for a while we can find one at this price or less with 8 lines.
  • Each line has it's own breaker and switch, each bank or leg has it's own meter.

 

[Smart Red]

Learning a lot from this thread. I've always wanted a generator -- just in case. Thanks everyone.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There is a covered space down stairs outside, that I think would be best for it, with a concrete floor. And couldn't it be hooked up to natural gas? Or is that just for those whole-house installed generators?

You can get generators that run on different fuels; diesel, propane, gasoline, or natural gas. You can get kits to convert some from one to another. There are a lot of options on the market.

Covered but open sounds great to me.

 

[baymule]

Of course.. if you had a big yellow gas tank hidden in your backyard.....

It's diesel. And I won't be buying a diesel generator. They cost too much. The garbage company I used to work for had a 1947 locomotive engine converted to a generator. Flip a couple of breakers.......and it was business as usual.