backup generator questions...

oli

Member
I've been thinking of getting myself a pto powered generator for emergency backup... not needed one yet, but i'm sure the time will come.

Anyway, first question is my house and the cattle yards are one separate meters, so is it possible to use a single generator as a backup for both (two changeover switches etc)???

Second, what size to get? We have electric heat (forced air) but also a pellet stove, so i'm not worried about using the forced air (it's not used at the moment unless we go away and the pellet stove runs out of pellets), but we run the usual household appliances, hot water, range for cooking, lights, computers etc, along with two (currently) or three (next year) drinking bowls and a geothermal heat pump for the workshop heat (can't remember it's six off the top of my head). I was wondering if a 25kw generator would be big enough???
 
You can easily use separate transfer switches for loads on separate. A 25kW is kind of an oddball size, you are money ahead to upgrade to the 35-40kW range.
 
To find out what size you need. You will need to take a total load amp reading. As David said you can supply power to both with very little trouble.I agree with him 35-40 range would be the best. Better to have more power than you need than not enough.

Generator tech for over forty years.
 
i bought a miller bobcat welder witha 11000 watt gen.it will run my whole house including central/air unit.
RICK
 
I can't imagine this is not enough for a house and shop. Does my entire house and shop like nothing.
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About 100 yards apart... the run the the adjacent poles from the utility company... nothing that can't be connected with a little wire and a couple of poles (creek in the way for underground)
 
I have a 25kw. It should be more than enough to run what you have. Mine will run everything I have.
7.5 hp milk pump
two 3hp bulk tank compressors
1.5 hp well pump
two 3/4hp motors (bulk tank/receiver jar)
plus everything in the house

In the summer I also have 6- 1hp fans but can't run all of them while I am milking but can run 3 of them.
 
Oli, not knowing all your exact loads, I can only venture a somewhat educated "guess" but my guess is a 25 KW will be plenty big enough no problem.

If you want to get by using only two pole transfer switches (IE switch the two UnGrounded Conductors, and NOT the Grounded Conductor) the Utility Neutral bonds to the Genny Neutral (often at Transfer Switch) and in the Genset any Neutral to Case/Frame Ground is to be removed/disconnected. This is for a configuration where the genset is NOT used as a "Separately Derived Source"

If you used the genset as a "Separately Derived Source" you would have to use a 3 pole transfer switch (switch 2 Hots and Neutral), establish a Neutral to Case/Frame bond, and connect to a Grounding Electrode, sort of the same as at the utility transformer.

YES Billy Bob, Im well aware many are NOT wired properly but can still "work"

John T
 
Geo thermal heating can take a lot of juice, better plan on 10kW just for that. Most of the REC's are running separate 100amp service in for that.
 
(quoted from post at 22:19:47 01/23/15) I can't imagine this is not enough for a house and shop. Does my entire house and shop like nothing.

Three phase pto generators in that size are far and few between. It's out puting 120V and 208V, not 240V. 12.48Kw and 14.4KW is the most she can produce on single phase.
 

One of these on the house service. Then run 240 overhead back to the other service from a pair of breakers.
Get rid of the 2nd electrical service and it's monthly charge.
http://www.reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?TWB2012DR
 
the co-op where I used to work, on your electric bill you will see your kwh usage, and also with the new electronic digital meters they will show you the kw draw on each meter, I think if you total your kw from both meters, and add a fudge factor of 10 or 20% that would give you a pretty good idea of the size in kw gen you need.

Dick ND
 

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