For installations other than the above parameters your installation costs depend on:
(1) Location of generator.
(2) Location of gas supply.
(3) Location of circuits to be protected (whole house, selected, sub-panel).
(4) Any wiring changes required to your electrical system to accommodate the generator and transfer switch.
To have an accurate estimate of the costs involved and the correct generator required we suggest a site survey.
2. How does a home stand-by generator system work?
Click here for video
3. What is the difference between Bi-Fuel and Dual-Fuel?
Bi-Fuel is the simultaneous use of two different fuels to power the engine on a standby generator set. For Bi-Fuel operation, a mixture of diesel fuel and natural gas (NG) are used in a diesel engine. As load is applied, the amount of natural gas is increased and the amount of diesel fuel is decreased. Bi-Fuel has been around since the early 1900's. However, early designs lacked adequate controls to make it very effective. The main advantage is the conservation of diesel fuel.
Dual-fuel is a system in which liquid propane vapor serves as a backup fuel source where natural gas is the primary fuel for the system. The main advantage is the ability to utilize an alternate fuel source in the event of a loss of the primary fuel source.
4. How long does it take to install a generator?
The air-cooled 12kW and 15 kW, which now come equipped with a comprehensive installation kit, can take as little as 4 hours to install. The liquid-cooled 15kW to 40kW generators will normally take up to 14 hours over 2 days. The increased installation time is that the air-cooled units are shipped on a composite mounting pad while the liquid-cooled units, because of their weight, must be placed on a stronger mounting surface. Concrete slabs are poured in place and need one day to set properly, which accounts for the additional installation time. If the installer can source a prefabricated mounting pad that will meet the increased weight requirements of a liquid-cooled unit, the installation time will be reduced accordingly.
The length of time is based on a "typical" application. It does not apply to extended runs of conduit or gas piping or the placement of a unit far away from the incoming gas or electrical service.
5. How do you size the generator?
(1) Whole house - The generator supplies power to all of the circuits in the house, this will require a larger generator than the selected circuit option.
(2) Selected circuit - The generator supplies power to the circuits you select as being essential (refrigeration, lighting, septic pump, well, A/C, etc.) to you during a utility power outage, this will usually require a smaller generator than the whole house option. The total power requirements of the selected circuits will determine the size of the generator required.
The only completely accurate way is to have
an electrician apply an amp meter to the circuits or appliances that
are being chosen to operate under emergency backup power. It is
recommended that the amp draw be measured as the appliance "starts
up" when that appliance uses an inductive or resistive motor. For
assistance with estimating the size of system your application
requires, visit What Size System Do I
Need?
6. What circuits are available with prepackaged generators?
| KW |
7000 |
12000 |
15000 |
| Model |
04389 |
04456 |
04390 |
| Pre wired Circuits |
8 |
10 |
12 |
| 15 Amp 120 Volt |
5 |
3 |
5 |
| 20 Amp 120 Volt |
1 |
3 |
3 |
| 20 Amp 240 Volt |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| 30 Amp 240 Volt |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7. What is the expected life of the engine?
A properly maintained engine should provide over 20 years of operation under emergency standby conditions. Keep in mind that the units are not intended to provide prime power (24 hours a day 365 days a year).
8. Where can I get parts?
Parts can be ordered by clicking here. The part numbers are located in the owner's manual.
9. What is the cost of a service/maintenance contract?
The cost can be found here.
10. How much oil does the engine crankcase hold?
Air-cooled 12kW and 15kW - 1.7 qts. Liquid-cooled 15, 20 and 25 kW - 4.0 qts. 35 and 40 kW - 4.5 qts.
11. What type of oil is recommended?
For the 12 kW and 15 kW air-cooled units: above 20° F use 10W-30, below 20° F use 5W-20 or 5W-30. After the first oil change, all-season 5W-30 synthetic oil should be used. API Service Class SG, SH or SJ should be used in all cases.
The recommended oil for the liquid-cooled units is 15W-40. All oils should be SAE rated high detergent oil that meets or exceeds API Service Class SF requirements for gasoline engine.
12. Propane tanks are usually rated by pounds. Is there a conversion that can be applied to the fuel consumption numbers?
Yes. For general conversion, propane weighs 4.24 pounds per gallon.
13. How loud is the generator?
The air cooled generators are all about 70db’s (comparable to a commercial lawn mower) at 20 feet. What does this mean? It
means you can have a regular conversation between two people standing next to a running air cooled generator.
14. Where can I get a manual for my generator?
Generator and transfer switch manuals are available for download by visiting our Manuals Page.
15. What maintenance must be performed on my generator?
To view the air cooled generator service schedule Click Here.
To view the liquid cooled generator service schedule Click Here.
16. How much fuel does the generator use?
| Output |
12 kW |
15
kW |
15
kW |
20 kW |
25
kW SAE |
40 kW |
Natural Gas
cu ft/hr |
168 |
240 |
277 |
369 |
441 |
735 |
Propane
cu ft/hr
(gal/hr) |
71.8
(1.97) |
102.3
(2.8) |
110
(3.1) |
143
(4.0) |
175
(4.8) |
310
(8.8) |
These are fuel
consumption values at 100% (full) load
. It is unlikely that the unit would run at full load for an extended period of time. Therefore, your consumption could decrease accordingly.
17. When the unit powers on for the weekly exerciser program, is there any interruption in power?
The generator has an exerciser program which starts the generator weekly, to assure you that your generator is operational and ready when needed. The exerciser program does not interrupt the utility power to your home.
18. The generator I've chosen has a 100-amp transfer switch. What if I have 200-amp service in my home?
It is always recommended that emergency circuits be isolated by the emergency load center. An isolated sub-panel will prevent the possibility of the generator becoming overloaded. Thus, the system will respond automatically.
19. Will 200-amp automatic transfer switches be available for 12, 15 and 20kW generators?
Yes but, it is not electrically necessary. The outputs of these generators are safely carried with the 100-amp automatic transfer switch.
20. How do customers feel about making an investment in a generator system?
21. Why use natural gas instead of diesel?
We usually use diesel only in locations where natural gas is not available.
The biggest advantage of a natural gas generator is they ability to directly tie the generator with the fuel source for homes already receiving natural gas as an energy source. Thus a virtually unlimited supply.
Diesel fuel generators require checking for fuel contamination as diesel fuel can grow fungus and harmful slime-producing fungi that clog filters and pipelines, attack rubber fuel system components and whose waste products aid in the corrosion of metal surfaces. Diesel fuel may not be available during an emergency situation.
Diesel is a heavy pollutant and very ($ 5.00 + per gallon delivered) costly.
Natural gas generators have an advantage over diesel generators in cost and that natural gas is cleaner burning.
22. What is Peak K.V.A.?
Peak Demand is the load a customer puts upon the system at his highest usage or demand for electricity.
Peak demand is often used in conjunction with "Coincident" demand, but may also be referred to as his "peak" during any given period.
In essence Peak K.V.A. is the highest amount of power used at any single point in time.
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