standbyu gnerators.

 I'm thinking of installing a standby generator.  I have propane
available, so I'm looking at a 17k, 20k or 22kw generac unit.  The
22kw is 1800rpm and liquid cooled, while the others are air cooled
3600 units.  The 22k is significantly more expensive, needs a concrete
pad, etc.  I suspect it would last longer.  My question is, does
anyone have an idea of the life expectancy of these units?  Can the
engines be rebuilt if they get worn out?  I doubt this would happen in
a standby application, but you never know.  I'd also guess that the
bigger unit if not quieter, might have noise that is less
objectionable than the smaller ones.  I don't mind spending the money
if that's what it takes, but I don't want it to be wasted either.  I'm
going for such large units because I want my central ac, refrigerator
and freezer to be powered and i want the whole proces to be idiot
proof.

 

   There is a world of difference between any 1800 RPM unit and any 3600 RPM
unit.  In general the 1800 rpm units will last longer, be quieter, and take less
fuel for the same job.  Speaking of fuel, look up the fuel consumption on the
units you are considering and then do the math for the power outage you expect.
Are you willing to pay up to $100/day for fuel?

   Where I live, power outages following a hurricane can easily exceed two
weeks, so we have a much smaller generator...an 1800 RPM one.  Yes, we sacrifice
our central air, but we have a window unit or two for comfort.


--
Vaughn

........................................................
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Will poofread for food.

 On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:02:25 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"


less

Looks like 2gal per hour at half load on the big one.  That would cost
about $100 a day.  If the outage happened in the summer, it might be
at half load.  If in the winter, much less since furnace and water
heater are both gas.  I really don't have a window air conditioner
option, we have sliding windows and nothing works well in them.  Our
last power outage was about eight hours with no ac; if it cost me $30
to have ac and not to have to worry about using the refrigerator, I'd
pay it.  We currently have a 4kw portable generator, but hauling it
out to run the frig and freezer is a real pain, and I don't like
running it in the rain.  Our last two outages have both been followed
by continuous rain, and I don't remember this generator being rated
for such use.

I really don't see that big a difference in fuel usage per kwh, maybe
I'm missing something.

 On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:02:25 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"

less

Actually, now that I think about it, I have a spreadsheet with kwh/day
numbers on it.  If I look at my highest months I find it maxed out at
45kwh/day.  This would  be about 2.1kwh per hour.  The 22kw has a 25%
rating of 1gal of propane per hour, which would cost me $50 a day, and
maybe less if it uses less propane for the very small draw we'd have.
I didn't see any 25% loads on the smaller units, unfortunately.

 My friend has had very good luck with this unit about the same
size (27 Kw)you mention, and used it for almost a day during Gustav,
and it consumed 2 gallons of Propane per hour full load:

http://01856bc.netsolhost.com/order/01722.asp?pageð1723


He says with a 5 KW load this unit uses less fuel than his Generac 5
KW unit.  He has 3 generators all running on propane, but the one
above runs his whole home and outbuildings.



Jim








On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:02:25 GMT, "Vaughn Simon"


less

sacrifice