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Since generator installations was part of my business for more than 30 years I can offer some first hand advise.
If you have a well pump for your domestic water, a sump pump that runs occasionally. YOU NEED A BACKUP GENERATOR just for basic services.
A 4000 Watt Generator will run a well pump, sump pump, furnace fan, and a refrigerator plus a few lights.
Naturally bigger is better, it's your call.
You don't need an automatic start up generator unless you are totally clueless about mechanical things.
If you can start a lawnmower you can start a generator.
You need the generator, a manual transfer switch box (installed by a licensed electrician) ,and the wiring to connect the system.
I have been out of this for a while so I am not sure how much this could cost but a rough estimate would be anywhere from $2,000 to $3500 depending on the cost of the generator and how much work the electrician has to do to get the transfer sws. installed.
This is cheap insurance if you need it.
FYI I had a 3,500 watt Yahama (quiet generator) that ran the well, sump, refrigerator, kitchen, family room lgts.
TV and furnace fan.
It ran for 19 hrs. during Floyd. plus numerous short outage storms.
Thanks for posting. Does the "manual transfer switch box" allow you to plug directly into the house's wiring? I was using my car as a generator for my fridge, lights and a few other electronics (TVs, internet, laptops, etc) by just running heavy duty extension cords.... but would have liked to do the same without running extension cables.
Thanks for posting. Does the "manual transfer switch box" allow you to plug directly into the house's wiring? I was using my car as a generator for my fridge, lights and a few other electronics (TVs, internet, laptops, etc) by just running heavy duty extension cords.... but would have liked to do the same without running extension cables.
Quick answer, yes. The transfer switch isolates the circuit from the house panel just in case the normal power should suddenly come back on.
There are other ways to tie in a back up generator but the transfer switch is the most safe and also the only "approved method"
You don't need an automatic start up generator unless you are totally clueless about mechanical things.
If you can start a lawnmower you can start a generator.
I would actually disagree with this for a few reasons. If you are very dependent on sump pumps (my sumps run pretty regularly and were cycling about 15 minutes during the worst of the rainfall) automatic start can mean the difference between staying up all night waiting to see if and when the power goes out and going to bed with peace of mind. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. when the hard rains started because I knew that if I slept through an outage I'd wake up to a very wet basement. Not to mention if bad weather hits when you're away from home. That's my biggest fear right now and is why I'm planning on installing a propane powered system with an automatic transfer switch. I put too much work into my basement to have it ruined.
I saw wide price range of generators from couple hundreds to thousands. What's the difference between cheap one and expensive one? Any recommandation for the mid range generator?
I saw wide price range of generators from couple hundreds to thousands. What's the difference between cheap one and expensive one? Any recommandation for the mid range generator?
I don't have a specific rec but our electrician friend said it's all about who makes the motor for the generator.
I would actually disagree with this for a few reasons. If you are very dependent on sump pumps (my sumps run pretty regularly and were cycling about 15 minutes during the worst of the rainfall) automatic start can mean the difference between staying up all night waiting to see if and when the power goes out and going to bed with peace of mind. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. when the hard rains started because I knew that if I slept through an outage I'd wake up to a very wet basement. Not to mention if bad weather hits when you're away from home. That's my biggest fear right now and is why I'm planning on installing a propane powered system with an automatic transfer switch. I put too much work into my basement to have it ruined.
In your case you are correct. But you have a bigger problem than an occasional power outage. I would address the water problem along with the back up generator.
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