Brett Wyatt electric.

1 (908) 319-0491

He's my electrician. Pm me for the" I got your number from x"

Just built this enclosure to keep the generator in and close to the transfer switch. I used to have to drag it around the house from the garage. I plan on running it in here when needed especially during rain/snow. Will be adding a vent on each side with two electric fans and an exhaust hookup that runs up and out away from the house.

 

(Having trouble posting a pic from iPad right now)

This is what I did too.   I use a Honda Inverter Generator and never had a problem.

 

 

oddly I don't have a finished pic of that.

there's a pair of automotive radiator fans installed, one on either end. they draw in fresh air. there's a dryer duct exit that I plumbed the generator's exhaust to and the fans also push air out that way as well... venturi effect plus it cools the exhaust stream so it doesn't melt something or damage the house since that cabinet is up against it.

Looking good! You need to send us the finished photos for that one.

 

oddly I don't have a finished pic of that.

there's a pair of automotive radiator fans installed, one on either end. they draw in fresh air. there's a dryer duct exit that I plumbed the generator's exhaust to and the fans also push air out that way as well... venturi effect plus it cools the exhaust stream so it doesn't melt something or damage the house since that cabinet is up against it.

How's that HF generator been treating you? While I'd love a Honda or other very reputable brand, for my purposes of infrequent power failures, it's hard to justify big bucks.

 

Those HF generators use the same engines and gen heads as most of the big name brand units. I'm planning on one for myself (that one is mom's actually) and I got 2 others for clients of mine. Really just about any generator is going to suffer the same infant mortality regardless of brand, so do the break-in as soon as you get it then keep up on the oil changes.

 

they even went nuts and now have a monster 13500/11000 generator for sale, although it has a monster price of $1700.

Looks like that 7000 running HF generator is 549 right now..

ok, I've tried to contact njken but he's not been on here in a while.  Anyone else we know that can put in a whole house generator?

I too would love a Honda or other well known brands.  But can't justify spending the big bucks from frequent power outage here as well.  So I ended up buying the HF 4000 watt generator.  In roughly 4 years i've owned it, only had to use it twice with about 3 hours running time total.  So far so good, starts right up and it's pretty quiet.

 

Here's a pic a few years back.  It powers 2 fridge, 1 sump pump, tv/cable box, and a few lights around the house.  I've never really put anymore load into it, as that's all we really needed at the time.  I have the interlocking setup setup.

 

My current generator is a PowerMate 5500W I picked up back in 2008 when all hell broke loose around here from a substation explosion. So far I've been able to run everything in my house (200A rated panel) except the air conditioning condenser. Granted I can't run everything at once, but if I manage when things are on I can run 16 hours on 5 gallons of gas with that generator.

My current generator is a PowerMate 5500W I picked up back in 2008 when all hell broke loose around here from a substation explosion. So far I've been able to run everything in my house (200A rated panel) except the air conditioning condenser. Granted I can't run everything at once, but if I manage when things are on I can run 16 hours on 5 gallons of gas with that generator.

Same here, kind of now wish I bought the 8750 watt version.  But no complaints, as its good to have a backup of some sort.

something is definitely better than nothing.

 

I'll be getting the HF7000 pretty soon; not because I need more power but because I'm doing an automated setup (so the wife doesn't have to deal with it... she's such a 'woman' sometimes. ) and I can modify it to work without too much effort.

Don't forget to budget in some means of securing the generator.  Many people lost theirs during Sandy.  You could go crazy with trying to lock it down but if there's a few running in the neighborhood and yours has a chain around it they'll probably go on to an easier target.  Mine gets chained to the support column for my deck.  Could they cut the lock / chain? Sure but why make it easy for them.

I bought the heaviest/strongest grade chain and lock Lowes was selling and I chain it to some heavy posts or part of my garage or whatever. For giggles I took my sawsall to the last link and I managed to scratch the link while busting two blades. I didn't go after the lock, but I suspect it would be more vulnerable, but not by a hell of a lot. My bolt cutters are not big enough to get a good bite on the chain, I didn't try cutting the lock. 

Yes I heard about folks taking them. That sucks.

If they can get past the cable & lock, my dog, my guns and me, they can have it.

 

I too would love a Honda or other well known brands.  But can't justify spending the big bucks from frequent power outage here as well.  So I ended up buying the HF 4000 watt generator.  In roughly 4 years i've owned it, only had to use it twice with about 3 hours running time total.  So far so good, starts right up and it's pretty quiet.

 

Here's a pic a few years back.  It powers 2 fridge, 1 sump pump, tv/cable box, and a few lights around the house.  I've never really put anymore load into it, as that's all we really needed at the time.  I have the interlocking setup setup.

 

 

You're going to generate some heat in that tightly-wrapped coil of wire...you'll want to spread it out some.

If they can get past the cable & lock, my dog, my guns and me, they can have it.

 

Exactly what I was thinking since I normally have mine setup at my backyard. Which is fenced, locked and "Tank" roaming around.

 

"Tank" roaming around.

 

Excellent name!!!

You're going to generate some heat in that tightly-wrapped coil of wire...you'll want to spread it out some.

Took this pic when doing the initial test. Generator is normally at the backyard.

the "new" setup has a 3" thick concrete slab with a 12" auger embedded in it and the ground with just the eyelet sticking up.

when I'm done anyone who wants my generator will REALLY want to get it out... and I work from home so I'd hear that kind of commotion.

For what it's worth I had heard of people fucking up your generator if they couldn't steal it. Not saying it happened for sure, but something to think about when planning generator security. Battery powered screamer on the chain maybe?

 

As for people with dogs, even territorial ones, most of your nasty dogs can be won over with a mere cheeseburger. Only the most highly of trained ones won't fall for it. Dogs are great as a visual deterrent and as an audible alarm (if your dog barks at strangers), but most will get in my car and go for a ride. Realistically you want your dog to deter someone enough to just move on to an easier target.

That would be the goal... A deterrent

Realistically you want your dog to deter someone enough to just move on to an easier target.

Like racking a slide.  ;-)

I know no critter on this planet that does not shutter to here the slide rack on a 12 gauge pump shotgun.

 

Every gun makes its own tune.

I would never go below 10KW for a house, I have access to a 30KW unit and while that is over kill if the power is out for a week or so and the generator is under load 24/7 you want some extra KW's so you do not overload the generator.

 

10-15 KW can power just about any house, if you need 12-15KW buy a generator rated at 20KW so it can run under load for some time without having to be shut off.

 

I did a DIY transfer switch and panel, I'm on the up and up with electrical but the average person should consider a licensed tech and not a DIY install or a buddy install.

that's a bit overkill, Carcano.

Hahaha... I was going to say must be nice lol

that's a bit overkill, Carcano.

 

Damn right it is, but hey if I'm going to go weeks without power I want the central air running...the upstairs AC's....the fridge and freezer (cold beer is a must in any disaster)....and lights, plus plenty of extra KW's for any electrical equipment I might need or want to run.

 

You can grab a 30KW generator for around $3K (military surplus, Onan Diesel)