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Standby generator

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PAUL STANLEY

12-24-1998 20:21:11




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I have a 500 square foot building that will have a gas fired radiant in floor heating system, a washer and electric dryer, and about 12 lights. How big a generator would I need and what brands are good. What features should I look for? Should I consider one that runs off the pto of a tractor? Thanks and Merry Christmas!




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John T Electrical Engineer

12-31-1998 16:58:36




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 Re: standby generator in reply to PAUL STANLEY, 12-24-1998 20:21:11  
Paul, In reading all the comments below, I am confident you will pick a winner as far as size is concerened. A few of the more important things to remember are that motors draw approx. 6 times their normal full load current at start up. Therefore, say you need to operate a motor that consumes 1000 volt amperes at full load. Now a 1000 VA generator would not be capable of starting the motor even though it could run it. You would need more like a 2kva generator or so (depending on mfgr.) to get it started. So, if you want to run a lot of refrigerators or compressors etc. with that generator, better look closely at its rating before you purchase. If you add up all your resistive loads (lights & heaters etc.) then add up your motor loads, you better figure a fudge factor oversize to start those motors. To compute this exactly a person needs to know the horsepowers and duty cycle etc of all your loads. A good generator sales person can do that for you. Dont forget that transfer switch because if you back feed 120 v to your supply transformer, it will introduce something like 9600 volts or so (dont know your local supply voltage)on the aerial power lines plus damage your generator when the pwr comes back on. Happy New Year John T in Indiana [email protected]

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Sam

12-30-1998 15:39:43




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 Re: standby generator in reply to PAUL STANLEY, 12-24-1998 20:21:11  
Buy as big as you can afford so that you wont be worrying about overload.
Fit a proper change-over switch
Fit a frequency meter so that you get the speed
right- voltmeters are USELESS

Finally fit a new fanbelt to your tractor or buy
a large box of hankies!!!!!
suggest 10kw min if cooking or waterheating or
electric shower.



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Paul Stanley

12-26-1998 11:25:04




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 Re: standby generator in reply to PAUL STANLEY, 12-24-1998 20:21:11  
Should mention. This genterator is for power outages only. They are common around here during the winter time. Just when you need power, like a snow storm.



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MikeH(Tx)

12-26-1998 06:22:50




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 Re: standby generator in reply to PAUL STANLEY, 12-24-1998 20:21:11  
I've thought about generators for awhile now, both pto and gas driven. My worry about pto is that, by definition it will tie up the tractor (one of the tractors). The generator would be useless for working on the tractor, or running while the tractor was in use elsewhere (like Momma doing laundry while you are mowing). In my thoughts about getting power to a remote barn, I have just about concluded that a stand alone unit will be my best choice.

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Paul Fox

12-25-1998 06:59:41




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 Re: standby generator in reply to PAUL STANLEY, 12-24-1998 20:21:11  
A good way to estimate is to add up the rating in watts for each device. For example if those 12 lights are 100 watt incandescents, there is 1200 watts right there. If you can't find a watt rating, you can multiply amps times voltage. For instance, if your circulator pumps draw 5 amps on a 110V line, that would be 550 watts each. The only snag I see would be the electric dryer. Those suckers take some real power to run. The rest of the shop would probably run nicely on a 8000-10000 watt generator, maybe less. A PTO generator would be a reasonable investment, especially if you're running it off a diesel tractor, for a couple of reasons: 1. Much better fuel economy, 2. You won't have to shut down every hour or so to fuel up, 3. One less engine to do maintenance on, 4. Easier portability, 5. Quite probably, quieter.

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mitch

12-24-1998 20:52:05




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 Re: standby generator in reply to PAUL STANLEY, 12-24-1998 20:21:11  
Paul, Ive got a radiant floor heating system also
and am heating about 3300 sq ft. Im located in northen VA and used 178 gallons of #2 fuel oil
to heat with last winter(mild one). Ive got a colman gen. but dont rember off hand how many watts. Im kind of looking into the PTO generator
myself. Ive got six zones that I can tinker with if the colman dosent do the job. It should though the oil furnance dosnt run all that much and the zone pumps only draw about 4 amps each.
drop a msg if you have any more questions.
mitch
[email protected]

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RYAN

12-27-1998 12:27:59




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 Re: Re: standby generator in reply to mitch, 12-24-1998 20:52:05  

the easiest way to size for a generator is to add up all the equipment you plan to run, then double the wattage. this will give you three things. 1st- the generator won't be running at max all the time and 2nd- it will allow for future expansion and 3rd- it will allow for the large draw caused by motor starting (washer & dryer) motors can draw 2-10 times the nameplate amps when they start especially if they are under a load. living in northern calif in a semi-remote area, i am very familiar with power outages. also- if you plan to use utility power and the generator for emergency backup the national electrical code REQUIRES that you have a safety transfer switch installed. this prevents you from backfeeding the utility when it goes down. GENERAC makes one of the nicest packages i've installed. they have a lot of different sizes available and some are multi-fuel. remember- if the unit is a gasoline unit and you run it on natl gas or propane the rated wattage output will be decreased. they also have the automatic start/transfer switches for their stuff.
RYAN
owner/ IRON HORSE ELECTRIC
CA. lic# 643937

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MICHAEL J. BATT

09-29-1999 14:41:59




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 Re: Re: Re: standby generator in reply to RYAN, 12-27-1998 12:27:59  
I AM INTERESTED IN BUYING A 8KW OR LESS (PREFEREABLY LESS) NATURAL GAS 120/240 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH. I NEED THIS HOME EMERGENCY BACK-UP ELECTRIC GENERATOR VERY SOON

MICHAEL J. BATT



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Mike Day

04-30-1999 12:59:34




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 Re: Re: Re: standby generator in reply to RYAN, 12-27-1998 12:27:59  
Stay away from Generac PP5000T it has defective oil switch and has disapointed me and several friends who also puchased the same equipment. Spend a few extra dollars and go with experiance like Honda or Cola. they will save you the hassel of working in the dark.
They make a very good switching device that balances your load well and that I an recommend but there generator with the Tucumsa 10 HP engine has a good chance of being an annoying disapointment for you. Good Luck in your choice.

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