 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4
 ·VOIPo
| reply to SwedishRider
Re: Generator Time!!! I was actually thinking abotu picking this up. Thoughts?
»www.homedepot.com/Electrical-Alt···_reviews |
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 alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | Looks good.
You can use its full capacity through the 30A 240V twist lock.
Its fuel consumption is average.
Enough reviews with consistent high scores to know people are satisfied with it.
However you should calculate the load of what you'd run with that generator, because maybe you could down size. 1000W out of a 3000W generator uses less fuel than 1000W out of a 6800W generator. Correct me if I am wrong.
Since I heat with natural gas (and water too), I found that 3000W was plenty, as long as I didn't plan on using the dryer and range.
6800W might allow you to cook OR use the dryer, but not both, and I don't think it would be able to kick start a whole house AC. Correct me if I am wrong. |
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ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | For me I would be looking for lights, TV, fridge, and oil heat. Stove would be nice as well. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | said by ptrowski:Stove would be nice as well. It would be a luxury of short term.
If I wanted to cook a pizza or something for the stove (not range), I'd use my toaster oven. Heck I already use my toaster oven for everything as long as it fits. I hate the pre-heat delay on full sized stoves.
As for the range, you can always buy a cheap little 1800W single element range for the emergency times.
The toaster oven and "hot plate" can run on 120V. My generator doesn't even have 240V but nothing of 240V could run on it anyway.
Consider that on prolongued outages, you'll be using maybe 1000-1500W. So maybe for a 48 hours outage, you'd only use 1000-1500W for 46 of those hours. Fuel efficiency comes in handy, especially for gasoline generators.
Again, guys, correct me if I am wrong about larger generators being less fuel economic than smaller generators for small loads. |
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ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | I would eventually have the transfer switch wired in as well. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | said by ptrowski:I would eventually have the transfer switch wired in as well.
Yes, doesn't mean you cant use a smaller generator with a transfer switch.
If you are buying a generator, get the switch at the same time, if not before. It takes time to install a transfer switch and the wiring for the generator. |
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Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to ptrowski
said by ptrowski:I would eventually have the transfer switch wired in as well.
Get an interlock if possible. Much easier to use, much cheaper to install. You just backfeed the existing panel and can use any of the circuits you have instead of choosing 6-10 you need most. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | said by cowboyro:instead of choosing 6-10 you need most. Yeah, that's a double edge sword.
Wait until your distracted wife tries to start the AC or the dryer 
I have a fuse panel so I had no choice but to get a transfer switch (Which added a lot of room for extra circuits as a bonus). I made sure that no heavy load circuits were going to get fed by the generator. I just KNOW my wife would try to cook or use the dryer just because the lights are on.
As for "cheaper", well I saw some interlock kit prices. Some were as cheap as 50$, but some were as much as 150$. My transfer switch cost me 150$. Sure I needed breakers for it, but as I said, to me it was adding room for new circuits. My fuse panel only has 18 slots for 120V. My transfer switch added 24 more spaces. |
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Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| said by alkizmo:said by cowboyro:instead of choosing 6-10 you need most. Yeah, that's a double edge sword. Wait until your distracted wife tries to start the AC or the dryer No problem. My generator starts a 2.5ton compressor. Dryer only takes 4500W or so on high heat.
said by alkizmo:As for "cheaper", well I saw some interlock kit prices. Some were as cheap as 50$, but some were as much as 150$. My transfer switch cost me 150$. I'd venture to guess that for most people there would be an electrician involved. Labor is expen$ive. Installing an interlock takes 30min total. Moving circuits from the panel to the transfer panel can be a surprise if the wires are too short. |
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ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | Mind me asking what an interlock is? |
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 dosdoxiesPremium
join:2004-12-15
Wallingford, PA | reply to cowboyro
said by cowboyro:said by ptrowski:I would eventually have the transfer switch wired in as well.
Get an interlock if possible. Much easier to use, much cheaper to install. You just backfeed the existing panel and can use any of the circuits you have instead of choosing 6-10 you need most. In my case, I went with a Square D generator panel as I was out of spaces in my main panel and I was able to gain 6 spaces by giving up 2 in the main panel. This was cheaper and easier than changing the main panel. The circuits in my genny panel are heater (oil furnace), sump pump, freezer and refrigerator, kitchen (for microwave and coffer maker), and general lighting.
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The more people I meet, the better I like my dogs. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | reply to cowboyro
said by cowboyro:I'd venture to guess that for most people there would be an electrician involved. Labor is expen$ive. Installing an interlock takes 30min total. Moving circuits from the panel to the transfer panel can be a surprise if the wires are too short.
I admit that you're right.
I required a LOT of hand holding from Whizkid when I installed my transfer switch. I did also have issues with wires being too short to move certain circuits (Situation easily remedied by Whizkid's solutions as well).
I feel it would be a piece of cake to do it again, but it isn't simple to do it the first time.
said by dosdoxies:In my case, I went with a Square D generator panel as I was out of spaces in my main panel and I was able to gain 6 spaces by giving up 2 in the main panel. This was cheaper and easier than changing the main panel. The circuits in my genny panel are heater (oil furnace), sump pump, freezer and refrigerator, kitchen (for microwave and coffer maker), and general lighting.
You should have went for a bigger transfer switch if you wanted more circuit space 
What does the big red button do? I wanna touch it. |
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Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to ptrowski
said by ptrowski:Mind me asking what an interlock is?
It's a device that prevents having both the main and the generator breakers on at the same time. Look at the last picture of the OP, it's the metallic piece between the main breaker and the top-right breaker. I have exactly the same panel and interlock. |
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dosdoxiesPremium
join:2004-12-15
Wallingford, PA | reply to alkizmo
said by alkizmo:You should have went for a bigger transfer switch if you wanted more circuit space
What does the big red button do? I wanna touch it.
What part don't you understand? I only needed a few more spaces so I gave up two in my main panel and gained 6 in the genny panel.
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The more people I meet, the better I like my dogs. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | said by dosdoxies:What part don't you understand? I only needed a few more spaces so I gave up two in my main panel and gained 6 in the genny panel.
Just saying...
Depending of the cost of a bigger panel, the extra space might become useful a few years down the line.
So what's the button for? |
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dosdoxiesPremium
join:2004-12-15
Wallingford, PA | said by alkizmo:said by dosdoxies:What part don't you understand? I only needed a few more spaces so I gave up two in my main panel and gained 6 in the genny panel.
Just saying... Depending of the cost of a bigger panel, the extra space might become useful a few years down the line. So what's the button for? That's not a button. It's just a piece of red tape to denote that the breaker is utility fed. As far as the cost of the panel, I picked it up off ebay for like $30 new with the two main breakers in it. |
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ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | reply to cowboyro
Thanks, was reading up on them in the meantime. I went to The Depot and was able to get the generator I linked to, transfe switches etc were all sold out. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | reply to dosdoxies
said by dosdoxies:That's not a button. It's just a piece of red tape to denote that the breaker is utility fed. As far as the cost of the panel, I picked it up off ebay for like $30 new with the two main breakers in it.
No no, not the tape, that red lighted circle at the bottom of the imagine... well, maybe it's just a red status light.
As for the transfer switch, okay for 30$ you can't go wrong.
said by ptrowski:Thanks, was reading up on them in the meantime. I went to The Depot and was able to get the generator I linked to, transfe switches etc were all sold out.
Go to other hardware stores, you'll find one. I doubt those fly off the shelf as fast as generators. People buy generators before a storm, not knowing that a transfer switch would help. |
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| reply to dosdoxies
said by dosdoxies:said by cowboyro:said by ptrowski:I would eventually have the transfer switch wired in as well.
Get an interlock if possible. Much easier to use, much cheaper to install. You just backfeed the existing panel and can use any of the circuits you have instead of choosing 6-10 you need most. In my case, I went with a Square D generator panel as I was out of spaces in my main panel and I was able to gain 6 spaces by giving up 2 in the main panel. This was cheaper and easier than changing the main panel. The circuits in my genny panel are heater (oil furnace), sump pump, freezer and refrigerator, kitchen (for microwave and coffer maker), and general lighting. I did basically the same thing only I just bought that little metal bracket that sits between the 2 breakers and put it in my sub-panel. I had to move a few circuits around but in the event of a prolonged outage I can always back-feed the main panel by removing the bracket and turning off the main if I need to do something like use the washer\dryer or run the AC. I have most of the kitchen (Lights, Microwave, Fridge and a few receptacles), Garage (Door Opener, a few receptacles and Freezer), Gas Furnace, Sumppump, all my network gear (FiOS ONT, Router, WiFi), my office (3 PCs, 1 Server and lights), the TV w/ STB in the family room and the whole house fan. All told more then enough to stay comfortable during an outage.
All that said, the last outage that we had was for about 1 hour during the last tropical storm that came through, the power company restored the fuse that was knocked out during the storm and when all was said and done we were the only block of houses as far as you could see in any direction with lights for a week. It just pays to have a generator ready to go, you will never loose power for a long period again. Sadly I have noticed more and more houses adding generators so with that trend I suspect the next one will be bad. |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | said by zippoboy7:Sadly I have noticed more and more houses adding generators so with that trend I suspect the next one will be bad.
Actually, people's personal trend when they buy a generator, is that they never get to need it
So ..... clear skies! |
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