Whole house standby generator

Recommendations?

A 22KW generac goes for a bit over 6 grand with 200 amp transfer switch.

I haven't called for installed prices and don't know if this is good or not.

Might as well use the LP in those 2 tanks for something....

 

Costco sells a Honeywell 22k for $5399 with 200 amp transfer switch and an 18 Kw for $4999. Also with transfer switch. You can buy Generac through them as well and earn 10% back on a gift card. Haven't checked pricing yet.

 

22kw is pretty big. Depends on what you have though I guess. They sized our house at 14 kw. Generac with switch $4000. Normally closer to $4400 but advantages of my job. That’s cash and carry price, no install or concrete pad. I would like to hook up with the garage but not feasible. 2 separate panels 40 feet apart. More likely to just pull door opener feeds into the house panel and not worry about lights out there.

 

That was pre 2020 pricing. Everything pretty much doubled or more.

 

Looks like you earn the 10% Costco card on certain Honeywell whole home units as well.

 

Ordered my 22kw Generac from Ziller Elctric online...great company to deal with and fast shipping freight to your door. Install was done by some electrician friends as I supervised, so it was free.

Generac Generators, Parts & Accessories | Ziller Electric

They have a great forum with many helpful installers that are willing to answer any questions for us Knuckleheads that like to try and fix crap ourselves!

Looks like they are at about $6150.00 for the 22kw with t switch. That's quite a bit higher than I paid 4 or 5 years ago.

 

I called a local Generac dealer just a few weeks ago and was surprised when they said their systems, installed, started at $10K...
Our old Honda 6500 watt gen is still going so... I'll get up in the middle of the night to fire it up, for a while longer.

 

10K was the starting point we got just recently too. ABout 5 years ago it was 6K.
10K goes a long way towards some solar panels, batteries, an inverter, some copper wire and you get the benefit of using the system year round rather than hopefully never.

 

Just make sure the engine in the generator is quiet. The neighbor up north put in a generator that auto runs every day to top off the battery system and it's loud as can be. It is a Briggs and Stratton engine, that's all I know, other than it's annoying as all hell

 

All I know about them is that my mom and step dad had one a out that size installed. It was a generac instant start type while house backup.

 

Not sure the brand but at work we have an auto backup generator that runs radio tower. The offices run off their own weir from the powerplant so we're not "on the grid" anyway. That thing auto starts every morning I guess for the same reason and to make sure it's in running order. Starts and goes full high idle right away. Sounds like a 50hp tractor running full tilt to me.

While I could sleep with that outside my house some folks might have to get use to it and never may.

 

Nope, that's just the price of the generator. Since this morning, I have found sites that sell same generator for less.

 

Costco, huh? Never thought of the, thanks!

 

Curios for real life experience?

how much fuel do these consume during the auto cycle?

what is the gal/hour expectation?

propane, at least around here is very expensive if you only burn a couple hundred or less gallons per year.

I have talked to one guy that has a 10k generac and he says it costs a ton to run during an outage and you better have a big tank or be sure a propane truck will be able to get to you. He squeaks when he walks and complains about everything so, I’ll take that with a grain of salt.

 

Daily? Sheesh! I thought those maintenance start-ups were a monthly occurrence.

 

What I found was 2-3 gallons per hour (LP). For a 22KW generac.

If power is out over 4 hours or so, worth it, no?

 

That would depend on the individual. For me right now the inverter and transfer switch work. I usually “enjoy” the simple life for a while. Then use the genset for a bit at night.


I can see how later in life my tune will probly change.

 

I

Can see what the guy was complaining about then that's pretty expensive to operate!

 

Yup.

2.4gal x 4(Al low number here) x 48 hours is like 500 bucks! Ouch!