I'm getting ready to add a Guardian natural gas generator to the homestead, and have decided to up the main electrical panel to 200 amps at the same time. Then, I'll tap off the panel for the sub-panel in the garage.
Does anyone here have a NG or LP generator? Any comments? Suggestions? Cautions?
natural gas generator! never thought of such a thing...why not run the house off it? all the time.... would it not be cheaper, than using hydro from city? Now that you have to grow some grass,how about a wind generator? and/or solar panels?
Home Depot sells them, but they no longer arrange for installation.
Aside from the obvious hook-up to the NG line, it must be connected to the main electrical panel through a special sub-panel which powers eight circuits of my choice in case the power goes out.
I guess I'll have to track down an electrician who can deal with NG as well.
Carl, once I get the 502 operating on solar panels, I'll deal with the house. The only hiccup, at this point, is the solar panels on the roof of the car are 48 feet long.
I do not have experience with NG generators, but gasoline powered ones I do. I have a transfer kit (indoor box between the main line and the circuit board, expensive, but the way to go) and cable hook-up for my 6200+ watt generator. The electrican said that it will power the whole house (I live in a big old farmhouse) as long as I pay attention to what is being in use at a certain time. I can control the the big power draw items (waterheater, stove, dryer, well pump etc.) by careful usuage or shutting off breakers when not needed. I've got a 3" pvc pipe through the basement wall to the outside with a threaded cap on it, so when I need the cable outside, I undo the threaded cap and pull it through. I have about 20' of cable (you can't have too long of a cable, because of resistance). You can also get a extended meter collar that the cable will hook into the base of the meter, but I didn't like it because your cable is hanging outside exposed to the elements. I would not buy a generator that is under 5000 watts peak power.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
This unit is 7,000 watts (NG) or 8,000 (LP) and kicks in automatically when the power quits. The secondary box allows me to choose 8 circuits that will be powered, so that there is no personal involvement required at power failure. It just starts up.
I'll pick several lights and outlets throughout the house, as well as the fridge, water pump, stove, etc.
The great thing about NG is that if the blackout is lengthy, I never have to worry about running out of fuel.....nor dragging fuel cans back from the service station.
We had (2) 5-day blackouts last winter here on PEI, and the generator was a life-saver. It is a bit of a hassle filling it up (every 8 hours) and dropping the oil (every 16 hours), but well worth it (I went through a blackout that dropped the house temp. to 3C once ... brrrrrr). I have had a stockpile of fuel on site just in case ... I'll fill the truck up in the Spring The NG set up sounds really cool! Enjoy! Why is there a higher wattage rating for LP over NG?
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
Carl, once I get the 502 operating on solar panels, I'll deal with the house. The only hiccup, at this point, is the solar panels on the roof of the car are 48 feet long.
Propane has a higher btu than natural gas. you can't buy a proper regulator so you will have to have a gas guy do the final hook up. the little gray camping regs won't work you will probably need a 2 stage system. lpg that is a red regulator at the tank (company owned) and a green at the house (you will buy from the company) I have done the lpg gas hook ups for these many people in the mountain use this becuase p.g.&e wants to much to run lines.
