STANDBY GENERATORS

I don't have an auto standby gen but quite a few neighbors do. Here they're on natural gas and they do use a lot. If running a large whole house unit, say 15k watts it will run through a lot of propane and that will cost you. Natural gas is cheaper and always available.

As for the gen in your 5th wheel, it could be used if you know what you're doing. 5500 watts will run most everything. No central air but it will keep your furnace running, the lights on and most everything else. We have a 5500 watt gen and run the furnace, well pump, 2 refrigerators, deep freeze, lights, TV, internet. We also use the microwave, toaster oven, coffee pot, vacuum cleaner, etc. Just don't try to use all those other things at the same time. A little common sense, turn off things you don't need and 5500 watts will keep you going.

If you have natural gas at the house then it is a no brainer, natural gas.
That is the biggest drawback of built in generators, you just can't take it to where you need power easily.

Those that I know that run MOST of their house have at least 8k watts, a lot depends on the house and your expectations.

Preferred would be LP or Natural gas. They make tri fuel generators too that take LP, Natural gas, or gasoline.

M GO BLUE wrote:
We are looking to buy a new stick and brick house close to the grand kids and when completed want to equip it with a standby generator...

For those with a standby generator what fuel type do you have? LP? Natural gas?

Also our fifth wheel has an Onan 5500W gas generator built in...can this be used via a transfer switch to run the house if needed? is 5500W big enough to run the whole house?

Thanks for your time...

we have a 12KW Koehler stand-by genset powered by natural gas. as for your 5.5kw genny...depends on how big your house is and what yoyu mean by "whole house". we could've gotten by with a smaller genny if we didn't care about being able to run the central air with the genny but we did.

You may want to try Northern Tool. As mentioned above your RV generator will not be enough to run very much inside your home. As you mentioned you will need to use a Transfer Switch for every circuit you expect to run. Good luck with your project!

Hi Go Blue,

Natural gas would be my first choice. Propane 2nd choice.

Friend of mine north of Jackson has a Built in Natural Gas generator. It automatically starts when power goes off and shuts off when power comes back on. He don't touch anything. It starts up and runs to exercise once a month automatically also. Powers whole house including the well and I think he had about 5k invested including installation.

I use a 16 year old 8hp HONDA 5000 watt unit with a manual transfer switch and it powers most of what I need but am selective on what breakers I turn on. I have city water so don't need to worry about water pump but I do have a 220v going to a sewer grinder tank pump and central AC. I leave the grinder off and only selectively turn on when needed.

The RV generator would work fine and I have a friend in OH that uses his motorhome generator to power the house when needed. Just need a transfer switch wired in the house and maybe a plug in the RV with proper gauge wire to connect. Randu

We have a 12KW standby generator on our home. It runs on natural gas. 200 amp auto transfer switch. It will run our whole house. Water pump, furnace, AC and anything else we have except the electric oven. Does not cost much to run on NG.
You could use your RV generator, It will require some wiring to get power to the house. It will run your furnace in cold weather. I was able to use a 5000 watt generator to keep water pump, furnace, freezer and fridge, Plus TV and lights.
If you are going to be in SE MI. I got mine from and installed by Marks Outdoor Equipment in Notrhville, MI.

I would be afraid in a big natural disaster that the natural gas supply could be cut off too. Take for example a earthquake. The gas lines are going to break and when they do the gas is automatically shut off and then no more generator. Someone mentioned a tri fuel one that would be the cats meow because you would have 3 times the chance of finding some fuel somewhere.

My brother has a automatic transfer generator that runs on diesel fuel. But, for us on the farm that makes since because we have a lot of equipment that runs on diesel.

We have a natural gas 15kw generator purchased in 03 for our residental home. It runs about 75% of the house. It cost $4,400 back then which included the Standby Gen. a 2nd electerical box with transfer switch and all the wiring. The unit runs a self test once a week on the date and time you set. Best thing we have done for our house. We live in Mich. and just lost power for 24hrs. and we didnt skip a beat, although felt bad for our neighbors. We pay $180 for the yearly maintenance, which includes the oil, filter change and a load test.