Google New England Solar. They have a good pamphlet on Gen/inverter/battery setups, and they sell packages as well.
Power down!
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Google New England Solar. They have a good pamphlet on Gen/inverter/battery setups, and they sell packages as well.
Ok, safety noted. That said, I did my panel installation myself (with some help for the tough bending wire stuff) and have wired everything so far. And have passed my first inspection. I have not completed the full install of all the breakers and could easily move things down on the right side of the panel and it would be installed using the top 2 slots and wired just like all my baseboard 240v heaters.
I have a self-wire permit and passed my inspection with a nod from Hydro that I know what I am doing apparently.
jharkin
Minister of Fire
All this talk reminds me that Ive been wanting to do one also. There are two kinds - one like you have here that is built into a double breaker, and you can even still use those for live circuits. And another kind that mount in an external box that wires to two ordinary breakers and uses up the spots.
An electrical book I have recommends the breaker type as they react faster. My electrician likes the external ones because they have greater ultimate surge capacity.
Ive got a Siemens panel so I'd use this breaker mount model:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Siemens-...u=202562776&ci_kw=&ci_gpa=pla&ci_src=17588969
Or one of these external units like the Intermatic PanelGuard series:
http://www.intermatic.com/Products/SurgeProtectiveDevices/IG_Series.aspx
Ok, I am confused. Maybe. The breaker mount model only protects those branches off that breaker? That would be a problem for me as I have to have an arc fault breaker for the "so called" bedroom circuits where my computers are. The external units control the entire house? Or do I have it mixed up?
jharkin
Minister of Fire
They both protect the entire panel. the difference is that the breaker mount unit doesn't use up the slots since you can still wire circuits to it like a normal breaker.
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Ok, now I get it. That would work better for me. Thanks, I will look into this more for Canadian applications/laws before I do anything else in the panel. My brain is learning plumbing drains systems right now and for some reason it isn't sticking and knocking everything else out of my ears.
Joful, do you have power back on now? Another storm is at your back. Hoping you have at least been able to get in a hot shower before part 2 hits.
Thanks for asking, begreen. Yep... power came back on Friday around noon, so we're in good shape... for the moment. We were out for 3.5 days.
Unfortunately, the generator I purchased in a pinch during the last storm turned out to have very poor voltage regulation. I anticipated that going into the purchase, but it was the only one available. I returned it last Friday, in exchange for a much nicer unit, which won't be here until after this storm passes. Hopefully we don't lose power this time!
No heat = no big deal, with my stoves. No lights or TV for 2 or 3 days is actually kind of fun. No running water with a wife and 2 kids in the house really sucks, though.
Unfortunately, the generator I purchased in a pinch during the last storm turned out to have very poor voltage regulation. I anticipated that going into the purchase, but it was the only one available. I returned it last Friday, in exchange for a much nicer unit, which won't be here until after this storm passes. Hopefully we don't lose power this time!
No heat = no big deal, with my stoves. No lights or TV for 2 or 3 days is actually kind of fun. No running water with a wife and 2 kids in the house really sucks, though.
New genny came in today. Ran out to pick it up after work, and assembled it in the driveway over the last hour, with snow starting to fall. She purrs like a little kitten, compared to the last unit (79 vs. 82 dB), and is more solidly built all around, with electric start to boot! Almost looking forward to a chance to use her, now.
Sounds good. Don't recall your saying which one you got.
We just got power back on after being out for a couple hours this morning. Was sort of hoping I'd be able to use the gen, but had to clear out an area with snow first (and then power was restored). And am supposed to change the oil in the gen (after first 4 hours use), got some quaker state full synthetic (there were blends that were cheaper). No room to put a drain pan under it without getting oil on the frame. But I guess I should change it before I use it again.
We just got power back on after being out for a couple hours this morning. Was sort of hoping I'd be able to use the gen, but had to clear out an area with snow first (and then power was restored). And am supposed to change the oil in the gen (after first 4 hours use), got some quaker state full synthetic (there were blends that were cheaper). No room to put a drain pan under it without getting oil on the frame. But I guess I should change it before I use it again.
I bought a PowerStroke 6800:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/PowerStr...ectric-Start-PS907000A/204401587?N=5yc1vZbx9n
Based on assembly, but zero use so far, t's a nice unit... with a few quirks. First, instead of a solid axle, they have the wheels attached to the frame with one long bolt each. The mount for one is not welded quite plumb/square, so that wheel leans toward the sheetmetal on the side of the generator. It's just a weak, silly design, versus a simple steel rod with a pair of C-clips for an axle. Second, the oil fill hole is IMPOSSIBLE to get at, with any sort of bottle or funnel. They mounted the engine such that the filler necks on both sides are covered by other parts of the generator. I had to make up a little trough, which carries oil from where I can pour the bottle to the filler neck. Neither of these items fail to make the generator work, but they do make me love it less.
Finally, the dip stick has no hi/lo markings or indicator. It's just a blank dip stick. Sure, there's oil on the stick, but where should it be? It does not match what's shown in the manuals. I assume this Honda is like any other Honda I've ever owned, in that you should fill until it's up onto the threads on the filler neck, but I'd like to know for sure.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/PowerStr...ectric-Start-PS907000A/204401587?N=5yc1vZbx9n
Based on assembly, but zero use so far, t's a nice unit... with a few quirks. First, instead of a solid axle, they have the wheels attached to the frame with one long bolt each. The mount for one is not welded quite plumb/square, so that wheel leans toward the sheetmetal on the side of the generator. It's just a weak, silly design, versus a simple steel rod with a pair of C-clips for an axle. Second, the oil fill hole is IMPOSSIBLE to get at, with any sort of bottle or funnel. They mounted the engine such that the filler necks on both sides are covered by other parts of the generator. I had to make up a little trough, which carries oil from where I can pour the bottle to the filler neck. Neither of these items fail to make the generator work, but they do make me love it less.
Finally, the dip stick has no hi/lo markings or indicator. It's just a blank dip stick. Sure, there's oil on the stick, but where should it be? It does not match what's shown in the manuals. I assume this Honda is like any other Honda I've ever owned, in that you should fill until it's up onto the threads on the filler neck, but I'd like to know for sure.
Did it come with the battery? My neighbor got something similar last week (had to drive to DE during the ice storm to get it). He couldn't get it started w/o the battery (that he could not find in the storm) by pulling on the cord. I suggested he just jump it off his truck, he did and was happy.
Seems like a nice one -- I like the large tank and the reviews say it's quiet.
Mine has that kind of fill and dipstick. Came with a special funnel, but that was four years ago, and am still trying to figure out where I put it. Meanwhile I had this special weird funnel I picked up with an articulating spout (for filling things with the new style gas cans with the spouts that are too short) you can put into different angles which worked out okay for filling the gen with oil. Only when you refill it apparently you don't need as much oil as they say -- it overfilled slightly, pretty much filled to the top -- it's angled and the diff between underfilled and filled is not much (hope that's okay -- maybe I should try to get a little more out?).
Was at Ace Hardware the other day getting lamp oil (price went up almost double and now it looks like someone else has it cheaper) and looking for that special funnel for the gen, the guy was telling me they are Generac dealer. He said they run on propane. That sort of intrigued me cause I have LP in the house and he said I could hook it up to that -- (wouldn't have to be refilling). He said they run a little quieter but use more fuel in running with LP. Also said that type of fill I have is a sign of cheap import, suggesting the Generacs didn't have that. I don't know what to make of all that though -- don't really have to buy at this point, but since mine is on the small side, only 125v, keeping an eye open, in case I have to replace it for some reason I'd def look for a 240v minimum.
Mine has that kind of fill and dipstick. Came with a special funnel, but that was four years ago, and am still trying to figure out where I put it. Meanwhile I had this special weird funnel I picked up with an articulating spout (for filling things with the new style gas cans with the spouts that are too short) you can put into different angles which worked out okay for filling the gen with oil. Only when you refill it apparently you don't need as much oil as they say -- it overfilled slightly, pretty much filled to the top -- it's angled and the diff between underfilled and filled is not much (hope that's okay -- maybe I should try to get a little more out?).
Was at Ace Hardware the other day getting lamp oil (price went up almost double and now it looks like someone else has it cheaper) and looking for that special funnel for the gen, the guy was telling me they are Generac dealer. He said they run on propane. That sort of intrigued me cause I have LP in the house and he said I could hook it up to that -- (wouldn't have to be refilling). He said they run a little quieter but use more fuel in running with LP. Also said that type of fill I have is a sign of cheap import, suggesting the Generacs didn't have that. I don't know what to make of all that though -- don't really have to buy at this point, but since mine is on the small side, only 125v, keeping an eye open, in case I have to replace it for some reason I'd def look for a 240v minimum.
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I thought of going the propane route, too, since I have LP on-site as well. Would've def. gone that way if I were doing an installed unit, but in portable the LP options are fewer.
woodgeek, this one came with a battery. It was actually charged, too. I connected the wires to the posts, and she fired right up. However, she also starts on the first pull of the recoiler cord, as well.
I have an electric start on my snowblower, and honestly almost never use it. It's more work to unwind a cord and plug it in, than it is to just pull the starter cord. I wouldn't have chosen a generator based on this feature, but it will be nice for times when I leave my wife alone to start the generator. It came with a battery tender, which I assume is to be left plugged in during storage, but I need to read the literature on that this weekend.
woodgeek, this one came with a battery. It was actually charged, too. I connected the wires to the posts, and she fired right up. However, she also starts on the first pull of the recoiler cord, as well.
I have an electric start on my snowblower, and honestly almost never use it. It's more work to unwind a cord and plug it in, than it is to just pull the starter cord. I wouldn't have chosen a generator based on this feature, but it will be nice for times when I leave my wife alone to start the generator. It came with a battery tender, which I assume is to be left plugged in during storage, but I need to read the literature on that this weekend.
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