Generac Guardian 14kW generator and propane tank.

[hurrayupplease]

Looks like a good install

I would consider getting a bigger propane tank though

If you're heating with gas and running your genny, you may want to consider getting at least a 500 gallon tank

[therealvirginiawind]

@hurrayupplease The size tank I bought was driven by cost to some extent, but also by my usage. I heat with firewood, and only my water heater and cook stove run off of propane. My water heater is one of those on demand kind, so its pretty economical. The main thing I'm trying to do here is keep my septic tank pumped and my internet on. I work from home so I lose income when the power is out. If power is out, I can only flush a few times before my septic tank is full. This fixes that.

[James1toknow]

It's called a auto switching transfer.

[therealvirginiawind]

@James1toknow Auto switching transfer. Yeah, that's it. Thanks.

This thing works great. I haven't been out of electrical power other than for a few seconds now and then since it was installed. Thumbs up on the generator!

Kent

[James1toknow]

@therealvirginiawind I was wondering how loud it was and can you set it to do self tests at a rate of about once a month? I think weekly tests are a little over board.

[therealvirginiawind]

@James1toknow I posted another video after this one called "Generac Guardian 14kW generator weekly exercise". At the end of the video the generator cranks up and you can hear how loud it is. As for resetting the exercise frequency, I assume you could do so but for no more propane than it uses for the exercise I don't see a reason to do so.

[James1toknow]

@therealvirginiawind The tests are for only about 5 min to make sure it has no issues and you can set the time as to when you want the generator to do this like early in the am or at night so you can monitor it. thanks

[therealvirginiawind]

@James1toknow Mine tests on Thursdays at about 9:20 in the morning. That's a day that I am almost guaranteed to be home, so it works out. My dog is so accustomed to this now that she doesn't even bother to alert. The sound level really isn't intrusive in my opinion, and I've had it start up at night due to a power outtage and it didn't wake me or my wife at all. It's maybe a bit louder than an air conditioner, but not a lot more.

[James1toknow]

@therealvirginiawind Thanks



[lostindiancamp]

I have often wondered how a person would get a generator installed when the breaker box is in the garage?

[therealvirginiawind]

@lostindiancamp I don't claim to be an electrician, so couldn't tell you how an generator installation would go on a breaker box in your garage. For my installation the breaker box is in my kitchen. The electrician ran an extra set of wires to the breaker box and did a bunch of magic with them and the circuit breakers. Now it all works great.

Sorry I can't be much help.

[lostindiancamp]

Very envious. I would love to have a standby generator, but it just isn't in the financial cards.

[victor070]

lol i live in my damn israel and i dont have any idea how i got there. but it looks like a really solid purchase. really great video, i watched it all. great presentation.

[therealvirginiawind]

@victor070 Thanks for the kind words!

[shithitthefanman]

How much did your system cost including the tank?  Thanks.

[therealvirginiawind]

@shithitthefanman I don't remember exactly. The generator was $4K something and the tank under $1K. Tank installation, , electricians, generator installation, etc. came to something in the $6.5 - $7K range as I recall.

[r0bes7]

Very thorough review, thanks. Although I would have liked to have heard it running. I'm shopping for a generator now and my main concern is noise level. I like how these stationary versions are encased in a box, so I'm assuming there is some sound dampening integrated into it.

[therealvirginiawind]

@r0bes7 I posted a video of it doing its weekly exercise a few days ago. You can clearly hear it running in that video. With the door to the house closed, I can hear it, but it wouldn't keep me awake at night. With the door open, it sounds like someone starting a car near the house.

[quad4012]

wont let me post the link, you can google it and find the gal per hour of fuel consumption

[quad4012]

Here you go, you have the 14k unit say you can store 400 gal (80%) physical size divided by the full load rate you have about 7 days. Half load it 10.5 days. Here is the link.

[therealvirginiawind]

@quad4012 Thanks for the info. How long my propane will last will also depend upon how full the tank is when the power goes out. My plan is to never let it go below 50%. That should give me a couple of days of power. If it looks like that's not going to be enough, then I'll have to run it manually to extend the number of days I can get. That's not that big of a deal though because the main reason I need the generator is to power my septic system pump.

[MrYby58868357]

Excellent video. Good job

[therealvirginiawind]

@MrYby58868357 So far I've not needed it, but Hurricane Irene is due in a couple of days.

[JaxRL]

Looks like 2 good solid purchases. Nice little units cleanly installed. Cool.