Ike Texas Members Update

[Steven B.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

John, I have been looking at Generacs. What size to power the whole house; AC, heat, refrigerator, water heaters, TV's, phones, garage, etc.?

Thanks!

Steve

[John H.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

John, I have been looking at Generacs. What size to power the whole house; AC, heat, refrigerator, water heaters, TV's, phones, garage, etc.?

Thanks!

Steve

Steve -

The 20KW model should be adequate for the whole-house needs of the average home - it's the largest air-cooled generator they make. When you go over 20KW, they're liquid-cooled and get VERY expensive. Info and detailed specs at:

http://www.generac.com/Products/Residential/AirCooled/20KW.aspx

[Steven B.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Thanks John! I am going price hunting, Northern, etc.

[Gary C.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Steven, you can do a whole house or only partial. You can figure out the load from the essentials in your breaker box(s), by adding up the sum of the breakers you most want to have service. If you get something that runs on gasoline and is not a whole house unit - one with a Honda engine and electric start is a good choice. There are also other good motored units such as Onan and some of the RV power plant manufacturers; Kawasaki, Suzuki, etc. Here's link to a transfer box manufacturer:
http://www.reliancecontrols.com/Selector.aspx page is black in the top section just move down the page to see information.
Home Depot and Lowes both sell units such as Generac.
Gary
....

[Stuart F.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

John;

We'd love to have a Gen Set like that here, but we'd have to go with Propane as there is no Natural Gas available here. That leaves one with the same/similar problem of a reliable/infinite fuel source as you'd have with a low output gas powered set from Home Depot. I considered Propane, but HOA rules and Insurance considerations dampened that idea.

I wonder if they would mind if I tapped into the OIA Jet Fuel pipe line that runs through our area from Port Canaveral to the Airport? Could I run one of those babies on Jet Fuel? That would be cool if they made one with a turbine engine.

Stu Fox

[Terry M.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Be sure the installation meets all the electrical and building codes. I read where some people recently perished due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly used generators.

Utility crews don't like generators due to the chance that improper electrical installation will back feed the utility system. Please be careful for your safety as well as that of the utility workers. I strongly urge you to have the installation done by a licensed electrician and inspected by your local authorities.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Terry;

What is the best way to tie them in? Do you use a switching/breaker system to isolate them? I've heard of both problems (carbon mono and back feed) whenever the subject comes up due to a pending storm or its aftermath. We loose a number of people due to carbon mono each time as these folks want to run their units inside their homes, I suppose to prevent theft or having to share their good fortune. The back feed is one your crews probably don't like as I suppose they expect to be dealing with an isolated portion of the grid and woops, it's hot.

Stu Fox

[Steven B.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Electrical codes are critical, but honest to God they do not exist where I live! I was surprised when we moved here six plus years ago and found there are no inspections, except septic. I have a friend that found his boat lift was not properly grounded when it caused an "interruption" in his pace maker!

[Terry M.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

There are transfer switches available that will insure the utility's system is isolated from your generator -- and conversely your generator from the system. If we energize into your generator, it will be toast. So this is a two-way street. Additionally you don't want to try to power up your neighbors, regardless of how nice a guy you are. Doing that can easily overload your generator and damage it.

Those switches are available in manual and automatic versions. Obviously the automatic version is more expensive than the manual, but it has the advantage of being able to function in your absence. Both types are available from home centers (at least around here) and come with instructions.

The utility crews should be following their safety work practices, which include grounding on each side of where they are working. That should keep them safe. Of course we all make mistakes from time to time, especially when fatigue sets in. The sound of a running generator is guaranteed to make them nervous, and should encourage them to consider all safety precautions.

[Terry M.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

I guess that doesn't surprise me a whole lot. There is the point of view that building codes are for the most part protecting people from themselves. Perhaps we should have the freedom to hurt ourselves and our families if we are stupid enough to do so. Less government and all that. This becomes a whole debate about where the responsibility of the community administrators should begin. It is not worth going into here. We are better off sticking to Corvettes.

If you don't understand what you are doing, hire an electrician. It is cheap money for the safety of your family, property and piece of mind.

[Loren S.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Thanks, Steve and Stu - it actually was kind of peaceful. The wife and 2 year old twins "fled" to the inlaws on Saturday after the rain let up, and I stayed behind to "man the fort". ha ha tough job, put some buckets out to catch a few leaks, and enjoyed some peace and quiet. Got caught up on some reading by flashlight, and also got caught up on sleep. They came back today, the vacation is over.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Loren;

If you have had leaks, make sure you get things dried out quickly and thoroughly to prevent any mold. We had some from "Charley" through an "Off Peak" roof vent. I vacuumed up the water from the carpeting right away and used a blow drier. As our attic is well vented, the drywall contractor went up there to inspect and assured me it (insulation) had dried out well. He then inspected the drywall and said to give it a couple more days drying with fans, then cover with "Kilz" and then re-paint. I did that and it came out perfectly. I did a mold test a few months after that and it passed.

You have a lot to look forward to raising those twins. That was all the children we had (twin sons) and they are in their early 40's now, both Captains w/JetBlue. They were easy to raise as they didn't need friends and therefore stayed out of trouble. They always have had each other, sometimes to the exclusion even of their parents. Now days, if we want to tell them something, we need only tell one of them. The other will know almost right away. Their wives too have had to learn to live with that.

Good Luck with your recovery, and best to your family.

Stu Fox

p.s. Our friends from Houston are heading back there today, having checked out of Disney World one day early.

[Gary C.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Stu, don't know about Florida, but in Texas that's why we build homes with fiberglass insulation and skin vents (vents in the brick veneer) to keep the moisture levels down which helps prevent mold. Don't know how you would do skin vents in Florida since most homes are stucco over concrete blocks. Also, we used continuous soffit (sp?) vents and continuous roof ridge vents. Gary....

[Stuart F.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Gary;

Many of our construction considerations under the "Huricane Codes" are just that; for structural integrety with winds of up to 125 mph. As such, as you say, we use concrete blocks w/ stucco. The blocks have rebar and poured concrete every 4 feet through the blocks, and no window openings wider than 4'. We do have the vents under the eves and off peak vents which seem to do a great job venting the attics. The early style off peak vents were not baffled well (like ours) and can have water blow through them. I have what they call "Hurri-plugs" for them which we install at a critical time before it is no longer possible to get up on the roof, then remove them as soon as possible after to allow the venting to work.

Hope all is well with you folks there. We're sending our friends back today.

Stu fox

[John H.]

Re: Ike Texas Members Update

Utility crews don't like generators due to the chance that improper electrical installation will back feed the utility system. Please be careful for your safety as well as that of the utility workers. I strongly urge you to have the installation done by a licensed electrician and inspected by your local authorities.

Exactly! The Generac whole-house generators come with automatic transfer switches; when the unit senses loss of utility power, it disconnects entirely from your service panel, then powers up and engages the transfer switch for the duration of standby power. When it senses utility power again, it disengages the transfer switch, re-connects the main service panel, and shuts down. No possibility of backfeed from generator power to the utility lines.

I had mine professionally installed by licensed electricians and inspected; I don't mess with home wiring.