On 8/24/2012 3:30 PM, X ` Man wrote:
On 8/24/12 2:47 PM, iBoaterer wrote:
In article , dump-on-
says...

http://tinyurl.com/bvpfh9t


I recall saying I would post a photo of our not mu-ku-lar power plant
(aka Genny the Generator) one of these days. Here's a photo of it
shortly after it was delivered but before it was hooked up.

It runs a lot in the house, but not everything at the same time!

Does that fire up automatically when power goes out? If so does the
power have to be out for several minutes before it kicks on? Reason I
ask is that around here, sometimes a line gets knocked down or some
such, and the power goes out for maybe ten seconds while everything
resets, so I wonder how the genny handles that.


You can set the genny to fire up automatically after a power outage, or
you can set it to fire up manually. We also have momentary power
glitches from the utility company from time to time. Typically, if they
last at least 15 seconds, the transfer switch transfers the supplying of
power to the generator and after the power from the utility comes back
on, the transfer switch switches power supply back to the utility.

As you might suspect, this can get a bit silly if there are a series of
glitches from the utility, which sometimes happens. If you want to avoid
that, there is an on-off-auto switch on the genny, and a main breaker,
and a switch inside the transfer box. If you want, you can set the
backup so it only comes on manually. It's a minor pain in the ass to do
this. I wrote up a cheat sheet and had it laminated so I would have the
steps in proper order. Usually if I am around during the day, everything
is on manual.

Compared to a larger portable genny on wheels, these are more complex
and, unfortunately, a lot more expensive but...they are a lot quieter
than the portables, and they burn propane or natural gas rather than
gasoline. Those are real advantages. Also, it would take a really large
portable unit on wheels to start up our heat pumps.


Do you have a "guy" come by to handle all the switcharoo and transfer
stuff for you? Seems like it could get complicated.