[chuckv]

If you want a reliable standby generator, you should 'exercise' it regularly. Good for you that you thought to test it prior to an urgent need! Running under load is the best exercise.

The permanently installed gen-sets like those made by Generac and other firms have an automated exercise cycle of every two weeks to monthly...not only does this verify readiness, but it also ensures the starting battery is in shape to accomplish the start in any weather throughout the seasons. These machines also have a detailed maintenance schedule included in their documentation.

I chose to go a more manual and perhaps less expensive/complex a route with a tri-fuel portable gen-set from Firman that I documented in a post on this forum some time ago.

Getting the generator ready...

We have pretty reliable power here in our place in Idaho, but we have almost always had a standby generator "just in case" at our prior properties. It was more of a necessity when I built the off-grid solar powered house back in the late 1970's -- that generator was an 1800 RPM Onan unit that...

www.wfmachines.com

I run this generator about once a month...mine runs on natural gas so I don't have the issues with storing/handling liquid fuels like gasoline or diesel. Vapor based fuels mean fewer issues with some maintenance chores and no 'stabilizers' are needed.

Chuck

 

[chuckv]

John,

At 10 years old, you might want to check the condenser (and points if it has them...) Sounds like you take good care of it and pay attention to keeping it in working order for when it is needed -- hopefully you are right about by being prepared, that may keep it from being actually needed.

The enclosure does allow me to keep my generator at its use location and yet our of the weather. It also makes a small reduction in sound level as well, but not nearly as much as those "zombie box" enclosures. Those are slick and can really reduce the sound level, but are quite expensive -- about $2000 for a larger unit.

Generator Box — ZombieBox

Portable Soundproof Generator Box

www.zombiebox.com

Chuck

 

[chuckv]

tmac,

Good fuel handling system to keep your stores as fresh as they need to be !! These considerations are one of the major reasons I went with a natural gas fueled generator -- that and my wife does not need to handle any large fuel cans in the middle of an emergency use of said generator. The absence of issues with water in the gas, varnish from evaporation, etc. are another bonus of gaseous fuel. My generator has a choice of NG, propane or gasoline -- so if needed a diffferent fuel type can be employed, but for now it has only seen NG.

John, the descriptive term "doghouse" may fit the smaller enclosures, but "shed" seems to fit the larger ones. At a prior property I put a real doghouse (resin type, weatherproof style) over the well pump down at the end of the property rather than build one out of wood that would need to be replaced every few years...plus it was rapidly deployed.

Chuck

 

[chuckv]

Yes, multi-fuel covers it as much as anything can... earthquakes can disrupt the utility gas service, among other things.

Tmac, the off-grid house had a solar electric system, direct gain solar heat (stored in an insulated concrete slab of 24+yards) and a back up generator powered by propane. Secondary lighting in the home was also by propane mantel lamps -- primary lamps were the 24 volt DC fixtures.

I modified plans for an octagon home, since it provided cross ventilation for most rooms and a good solar exposure to the three main rooms on the south, southeast and southwest side of the building. I incorporated longer than normal eaves of 3+ feet to shade in the summer but allow direct gain in the winter when the sun is low in the sky. Also used a wall height of nearly 10 feet when most single story houses were just over 8 feet. The taller wall kept the long eave from hiding the view or making things seem claustrophobic.

We built the house by hand -- but I did contract out the concrete work and the drywall work as those are pretty specific skills. I did borrow a neighbor's small caterpillar tractor to level the building site myself, however... Here are pictures of me on the Cat 22.

These are old snapshots...sorry for the low quality. The back edge of the site in the top picture goes down about 100 feet to a creek bed, so caution was the main criteria, not speed...

Chuck