Standby Generator Thoughts (warning, kinda long)

I searched this site a little bit, and got some good info. Here are some thoughts and questions for y’all.

- I want to get a unit that runs on Natural Gas. I figure it’s easier and safer than having a gasoline or diesel powered unit. Not to mention, in the even of a major Katrina-style catastrophe, gasoline and diesel will probably be in short supply.

- Looking around the web, it seems like that major manufacturers are Guardian and Generac. Any other suggestions of ones I should look at?

- These things look like a big box that would be installed on a concrete pad outside my home. Isn’t this kind of attractive to thieves? Wouldn’t this thing be pretty easy to rip off? Does anyone make a natural gas powered generator I can install in my basement, and just vent to the outside?

- I figure I’ll get one that supplies power to only pre-selected circuits, i.e. I’ll only energize the circuits I absolutely need, i.e. furnace, water heater, well pump, fridge, and a couple of lights. The furnace and water heater are gas-fired.

- Looking around, it seems like the smallest stand-by units are 7kW. Would this be enough for what I’m planning? How about if I added in a window air conditioner?

- As far as prices go, it looks like the generator will be somewhere around 2300 bucks. Does that sound right? Any rough guess-estimates on how much it will be to get the electric hooked up? How about the gas?

Hospitals, schools, nursing homes all use big natural gas indoor generators. The NG units I've seen, theres no danger of them being stolen without a crane.

Natural gas is OK; it's just that there is a weak link having to depend on an outside source for fuel.

I just found a useful formula.
Tank Size in Gallons X .81756 / Fuel Consumption in m3/hr=hours running time. In the case of this 8.5 generator at 100% load, and a 150-gallon tank it would run for 2.5 days. At 50% load 5 days....

• 8.5 kW Kohler Specs

Things I looked at were upkeep on another engine that would maybe sit unused for 99.999% of the time and being portable. I have several wells for cattle so I need to be able to move the generator to fill waterers. I have two tractors and keep diesel fuel in a storage tank. So that's why I went with the PTO type.

Before I bought the PTO generator we'd be without power for up to 7 days in a hurricane or noreaster snow or ice storm. Since I bought the generator the longest I've run it was 9 hours. So if you want to stop having long term power outages just buy a generator. LOL

The PTO generator has come in handy on the farm. Can have power anywhere I need it now. Use it for small projects and repair work. It's easy to hook to the tractor and I think if I had to do it again I'd still buy the PTO type. Can also help out neighbors. Have plenty of eldery neighbors close to me and they need looking after when we have storms come through. That's what has worked out pretty good for me.

Just a thought, all the best
God Bless,
Rex

I never would have though of doing it that way! It is way too easy and practical.

I have always seen PTO generators mounted on the three point, or small trailer so that they are portable. The obvious down side to that is they can be a big pain to hook up. Thanks for the great idea! I will continue to use my 56 pound Honda for portable power and mount the PTO generator out of the weather where it is easy to connect to the tractor, and is connected to the transfer switch.

Gary