Post by Fredo on Dec 14, 2008 11:37:12 GMT -5
I mentioned elsewhere that I've been considering putting in a back up generator system for our new house and an expansion on the topic has been requested, so here goes.
First, I suppose one must consider what he really wants from an emergency power source. Second, he should consider how often it will be employed.
Option 1: Bare minimum
A portable gasoline powered generator in the 3kw range would be sufficient to run a couple of lights and a small space heater, so if you live alone and lose power infrequently, and also don't mind being uncomfortable for the duration of the power outage this is the solution.
Keep it in your shed along with 10-20 gallons of gasoline. When you need it, pull it out and plug in a couple of extension cords. It's very simple and can be accomplished for around $500.
Option 2: Mild Upgrade
This too is an option for people who lose power infrequently.
You can still employ a portable generator, but the installation of a manual relay switch allows you to power any circuit in your house. That means that you can keep the fridge, blowers for gas furnaces, normal wall outlets etc powered during an outage.
The relay switch is a safety device that allows one to put power into the main house system without back-feeding into the power lines. It's mandatory for any integrated back up power system. One could still keep his generator in a shed and bring it out when needed, but there would be a separate plug outside the house that brought power from the generator into the relay box for distribution t the appointed tasks.
This install gets a tad more expensive and would run into the $2-3k range with a decent 5-6kw portable generator.
Option 3: Auto Backup
This is the option that I'm considering for myself and the option that I recommend for my clients who are both prone to lose power for more than 24 hours at a time and not inclined to mess with a bunch of setup during a snowstorm.
I'm looking at a 10kw automatic generator. It will power up to 10 circuits in the house and runs off either propane or natural gas. If the power goes off for more than 60 seconds, it automatically throws the relay switches and starts the generator. A setup like this could power your home indefinitely as long as the fuel supply holds out. It will run the refrigerators, furnaces, some lights and a TV pretty handily.
Cost: around $5k with installation
Each system has pros and cons. For me, a gasoline powered system is not practical. I have neither a safe location nor a desire to keep 40 gallons of gasoline on hand all the time. I will probably go with a natural gas fired system, just for sheer ease of fueling and reliability of supply. Propane is also an option, but it would require a separate tank and occasional filling. The only real upside to using propane is that if there were a catastrophic power failure (like the Montreal ice storm) that caused even the natural gas pumping stations to go down, I would have a fuel supply, but that's pretty darned unlikely.
I don't really want to hunker down in one room with a space heater and a lamp if the power goes out, so I'm looking for more power. On the other hand, I don't need a system big enough to run every light in the house plus the air conditioning in the summer. I can do without A/C, but heat is a little different. Anyone using electric heat is probably going to require something in the 15kw range. With gas heat, you will only require enough power to run the blower motors and ignition system, so something in the 8-10 kw range should be adequate.
Since I'm building new, it seems like an ideal time to put this in, but I live in N Chatt, so I'm not really prone to lose power for extended periods of time. If I lived on one of the various mountains, it would be a lot simpler decision. I don't really need it, but at this point it's such a small percentage of the total cost that it seems a little short sighted not to put it in.
Dilemmas.
Example 10kw auto back up
First, I suppose one must consider what he really wants from an emergency power source. Second, he should consider how often it will be employed.
Option 1: Bare minimum
A portable gasoline powered generator in the 3kw range would be sufficient to run a couple of lights and a small space heater, so if you live alone and lose power infrequently, and also don't mind being uncomfortable for the duration of the power outage this is the solution.
Keep it in your shed along with 10-20 gallons of gasoline. When you need it, pull it out and plug in a couple of extension cords. It's very simple and can be accomplished for around $500.
Option 2: Mild Upgrade
This too is an option for people who lose power infrequently.
You can still employ a portable generator, but the installation of a manual relay switch allows you to power any circuit in your house. That means that you can keep the fridge, blowers for gas furnaces, normal wall outlets etc powered during an outage.
The relay switch is a safety device that allows one to put power into the main house system without back-feeding into the power lines. It's mandatory for any integrated back up power system. One could still keep his generator in a shed and bring it out when needed, but there would be a separate plug outside the house that brought power from the generator into the relay box for distribution t the appointed tasks.
This install gets a tad more expensive and would run into the $2-3k range with a decent 5-6kw portable generator.
Option 3: Auto Backup
This is the option that I'm considering for myself and the option that I recommend for my clients who are both prone to lose power for more than 24 hours at a time and not inclined to mess with a bunch of setup during a snowstorm.
I'm looking at a 10kw automatic generator. It will power up to 10 circuits in the house and runs off either propane or natural gas. If the power goes off for more than 60 seconds, it automatically throws the relay switches and starts the generator. A setup like this could power your home indefinitely as long as the fuel supply holds out. It will run the refrigerators, furnaces, some lights and a TV pretty handily.
Cost: around $5k with installation
Each system has pros and cons. For me, a gasoline powered system is not practical. I have neither a safe location nor a desire to keep 40 gallons of gasoline on hand all the time. I will probably go with a natural gas fired system, just for sheer ease of fueling and reliability of supply. Propane is also an option, but it would require a separate tank and occasional filling. The only real upside to using propane is that if there were a catastrophic power failure (like the Montreal ice storm) that caused even the natural gas pumping stations to go down, I would have a fuel supply, but that's pretty darned unlikely.
I don't really want to hunker down in one room with a space heater and a lamp if the power goes out, so I'm looking for more power. On the other hand, I don't need a system big enough to run every light in the house plus the air conditioning in the summer. I can do without A/C, but heat is a little different. Anyone using electric heat is probably going to require something in the 15kw range. With gas heat, you will only require enough power to run the blower motors and ignition system, so something in the 8-10 kw range should be adequate.
Since I'm building new, it seems like an ideal time to put this in, but I live in N Chatt, so I'm not really prone to lose power for extended periods of time. If I lived on one of the various mountains, it would be a lot simpler decision. I don't really need it, but at this point it's such a small percentage of the total cost that it seems a little short sighted not to put it in.
Dilemmas.
Example 10kw auto back up