Whole Home Generator Size

[TexasBob]

Drug my feet not wanting to spend the cash. 24KW was sold out so 26KW it is. I'll keep everyone updated. Gas is close for the pool heater, as is the power panel. Might take some work to isolate my neutrals and grounds in that panel but easy enough all in all. I'll have to break out the knockout set to run from the main panel but makes it worth hoarding that when I need it every few years.

[TexasBob]

Any interest in an install thread? From pad to power. I’m out of pocket for a couple weeks, then this will be the focus for storm season

[SaltwaterSlick]

Yessir on the install follow along!

[Big pig]

22 K Generac here and one story 2,600 sq ft home. Two A/C units. Gas stove, electric oven.
1,000 gallon propane.

even during the big freeze of multiple days below freezing three years ago no worries.

BP

[60 Deluxe]

I was afraid that my 33kw diesel was going to break me on fuel consumption but it hasn't turned out to be the case at all. The 48 horsepower John Deere engine is consuming less than 1 1/4 gallons per engine hour, which is slightly over 55 minutes at 1800 rpm. I'm told by the more experienced guys that have been using generators for decades that the big ones don't burn much fuel unless they get loaded up more than a typical house will draw. Our home is 2500 sq. ft. all electric with two heat pumps and two water heaters, plus all the normal stuff. I've never heard the engine tone change as loads are added or dropped out.

[Huntingfool]

I just went through the entire process - 3500 sq foot home with a large barn and all water is from my well. Bought a 26K Generac, transfer switch, and a 2500 propane tank - will service my house and barn and well - since installed we have had multiple outages and it has performed well - total cost for all was 17K but worth every penny IMO

[miket]

OH Lawdy, Lawdy!! I like that!!
I've started the process of getting a unit spec'd, purchased and installed... In my marine engineering days, we had Onan MG Sets, and I used to know how to work on them, but that was a long time ago... I'm a Cummins fan boy as well as Onan... I had it all figger'd out back at the last big Feb. freeze, but since we'd never lost power here since we bought the place back in 2015, didn't really think I'd need it. We did fine in the Winter storms, and never lost power during all the recent hurricanes (Harvey and Ismelda)... Well this past week, we were down for a bit over 24 hours...
So I kicked my project back into high gear/top priority... I had decided on a Cummins/Onan 24KW liquid cooled unit (want to avoid the air cooled 3600 rpm units), but reading on their web site, they've discontinued that unit!
Hard to find a liquid cooled unit in the 22-25KW range... We have 3 big freezers, 2 refrigerators, 3 A/C units, a pool, as well as the 3 water heaters, range/oven and such... We're all electric... If I ran everything, I'd need a 30+KW unit, but can get by with a 22-25 if I take out non-essentials...
We'd be on propane too... Have good service out here from multiple suppliers. They continued their service all during the big Feb. Deepfreeze. Only thing that would stop them practically is flooding.

I have been looking around and it seems like the serious generators made for long term use are 1800rpm. Seems like the whole house generators made for homeowners are pretty lightly built and not made for long term life. I have been looking at the kubota GL14000 but it's 3600rpm. It is liquid cooled and seems to be made for more serious use, but it's hard to be sure. 3600rpm is screaming for a diesel and I wonder about longevity running that hard day after day Since it has a turbo it is more fuel efficient than the cummins onan generators at least. Not sure where to go from here...I guess there is a tradeoff for everything.

There is a company selling Kubota powered open units pretty reasonably priced, but it doesnt say where the heads are made and I suspect China

[RMW]

I’ve been out of power since Monday 2:00am and not sure when power will be restored hopefully this weekend, as of now Saturday 12:00pm my 40kw Cummins has used 310 gallons of propane, my propane guy was in the area so I told him to go ahead and top off. Paid 2.40 a gallon, also running about 40-60% load at different times of the day depending on what appliances are being used.

[BBRU]

About to pull the trigger myself. I’m still up in the air on what size to get.

[mavrick]

I just went through the entire process - 3500 sq foot home with a large barn and all water is from my well. Bought a 26K Generac, transfer switch, and a 2500 propane tank - will service my house and barn and well - since installed we have had multiple outages and it has performed well - total cost for all was 17K but worth every penny IMO

$17,000 with a 2500 gallon propane tank. Heck a 1000 gallon tank is 6 to 8 thousand. Who did you get the 2500 from?

[Scotsman 1]

Shoot me a PM and I will run a load calculation for you, This is what we do.

Thanks Steven

[stevieray54]

What do the service plans cost on the Generac units. I have no experience with them. I have heard that the Generac has some type of mechanical failure once there 2 - 3 years old.

[Huntingfool]

$17,000 with a 2500 gallon propane tank. Heck a 1000 gallon tank is 6 to 8 thousand. Who did you get the 2500 from?

My bad - typo - it is 250 gallon above ground but I was able to lease it from Suburban Propane for $200 a year

[tps7742]

What do the service plans cost on the Generac units. I have no experience with them. I have heard that the Generac has some type of mechanical failure once there 2 - 3 years old.

I have had our generac since January 2017 and to,date haven’t had any issues and we lose our electricity above average I think due to all of the forests in our area. When I purchased ours I bought a 10 year extended warranty between $1000 and 1100 but don’t remember. I have ours service every 100 hours or once a year. It costs me around $200.00 give or take $10. I was not aware of a service plan at the time.

[Txhunter3000]

My bad - typo - it is 250 gallon above ground but I was able to lease it from Suburban Propane for $200 a year

My neighbor had a 24k Generac installed in '22 for 9k.They had a 100 ft electric run to the panel but short 10' run to NG.
Now that you have corrected your post and are renting the propane tank, that price seems extremely high to me.