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We lose power out where we live a LOT. Growing weary of that I purchased a 7500 watt generator as a back up. After using it once during a short outage & only being able to run a few lines through a partially open door to run the fridge and a few other items I decided I want to use the whole house when that happens. The other side of that coin is that I can't afford about $10K for an automatic back up generator large enough to run the whole house.

Doing some head scratching I found an outfit that sells a "tri fuel" kit for your generator that will allow it to run on NG, Propane or Gasoline. I bought one and installed it on my generator. I then ran a gas line from my meter to the electrical entry point of the house (about 15 feet) and put a ball valve on the line. Then I bought a manual 200 amp transfer switch and a 30 amp generator plug and had them mounted next to the meter. I connected & tested everything and thought I was ready for the next outage.

One evening I was thinking about how I'd get the generator from it's home in the garage to the far side of the house, connect it and get it started in a blowing snow storm with a lot of ice and/or snow on the ground. It's a challenge getting it in place in good weather. Another concern was that once in place and running how do I keep someone else without power in and extended outage from taking the generator when I'm not home. These concerns prompted me to build a small building for the generator to live in. I poured a small pad & built a small shed with the necessary portals for air intake & exhaust plus the routing of the extension cord from the generator to the transfer switch and the entry point for the NG line to the generator. I also incorporated a front wall that lays down flat to make the occasional egress/ingress of the generator to the shed easy. Below you see the fruits of my labors. The extension cord wasn't connected when the pics were taken. Tell me what you think.

Tiny's Power Station.

Looks like you solved the problem Tiny. Good looking job.

Looks like its gonna work!!!

When are you gonna come to my house to do that?

Dunno Ken, maybe I could come supervise.

Then we would have two supervisors........electrically, I can barely get batteries into a flashlight without making sparks

But, come on over anyway........you can dial 911

Looks real good! My portable unit was replaced several years ago with a permanent install-type unit. But, the cost was nowhere near the $10k figure these apparently cost now. The frequent power outages we had and the torturous struggle dragging the portable unit out, fueling it, refueling it every so often, then dragging the thing back up to the shop was rough on this old coots back. Besides it never seemed to be needed when it wasn't storming or daylight or when it could be convenient otherwise. Oddly, since the new unit was installed the need has been far less frequent and then only for short periods.

Tiny, any good electrician should be able to run a line from your generator to the main panel in your house, and hook it up to run only the circuits you wish to use, with the generator's capacity being the only limit. A bypass switch prevents the generator from putting power back into the municipal power lines. You have to go outside only to start the generator - everything else is done at the main power panel. It shouldn't be that expensive - I would guesstimate $1000 or less.

That's basically the way I have it set up. When I start the generator and throw the switch it's feeding my main panel. I decide which circuits to power using my breakers. My generator will handle all of the 120v in the house. It'll also handle the 220 central air while powering the main 120 circuits. My CA only pulls 10 amps while running with a momentary spike (tiny fraction of a second) when starting up. Your automatic backup generators are about $4K on line then you have to use a factory approved installer which is at least $2K more if you're lucky (basic install), usually more because they're unhappy that you didn't buy the unit from them. On top of that you have to pay extra to have the gas line run unless you're lucky to have it close as I did. Additional electric work is also extra over the basic install. It adds up quick. I fired mine up, threw the transfer switch and powered up everything I'd be running during an outage (including the AC) and my generator handled everything like a pro. If I have an extended outage I'll have to turn my 220 80 gal compressor off so it doesn't try to kick on while the AC is running. We also won't be able to use the electric dryer I believe I need to check the current draw on it to make sure.

Did you have it inspected by a licensed electrician? If not and something happens your insurance company may give you a hard time about coverage.

I hired a licensed electrician to do all the electrical work except for connecting the ground wire from the generator chassis to the ground rod I drove into the dirt behind it. I wasn't about to attempt a job like that on my own. My ego isn't so large I can't admit when something is over my head.

I had a licensed electrician hook up vital circuits (garage, furnance, fridge, freezer, kitchen, living room, bed rooms, etc.) (you see what is important!) to the transfer switch for less than $600 not including the generator or switch. This was after losing power for 4 days. In the 8 years since then I have needed the generator a maximum of 4 hours about once a year. The generator is gasoline powered so my cars would keep us going a week by not running 24/7.

Some things are best left to the experts and electrical wiring in my opinion is one of them. My neighborhood is notorious for outages and almost all have a generator. We lost power for four days around the Thanksgiving holiday and three of us played "generator roulette" as we all had breakdowns at various times.

A friend is setting up a similar setup but will switch over and automatically start the backup when the mains drop out. He is talking about a 15kva at 415volt 3phase unit, not completed yet so cant comment on operation as yet.
Tony

Might be where you live but the install wouldn't be acceptable in NJ.
(Unless not inspected) also insurance issues,etc

Looks like problem solved...

You did have it wired up so that when you power the generator and FEED the power panel that the main POWER coming in is Cut OFF. This way you are NOT back feeding power through the Main Power line ?!? This is so that ONLY ONE POwer source is feeding the house panel at any one time for safety !! I did a similar thing a few years back, put in a transfer switch and dedicated breaker in the panel, a 30A Plug on the side of my Garage, and wired it all up. I like the NG Conversion, mine is straight gasoline still. so have to go out and Fill it up every 9-10 hours. Luckily we have only had to use it twice and those were during the fall during a hurricane.

a day with out power sucks...

Yepper, that's the way it's connected. The transfer switch is made that way and won't work otherwise.

FWIW an episode of Ask This Old House is what gave me the idea in the first place. Their electrician wired a portable generator to a manual switch very much like mine. They left theirs on gasoline and didn't build a storage shed like I did. I can't say for sure it was in Jersey but it was back east where they do most of their shooting. As long as it's up to code (as mine is) there should be no insurance issues.

Nice work...Guess NG/propane would be an issue w/me, as the meter/line is on the opposite side of the house...Dang it...

For those who are interested this is the video that started the whole project. The main difference being I decided to go with a whole house transfer switch.

Yeah I REALLY like having the Whole House Transfer !!
I have a Smaller Gen and it will run Everything in the House EXCEPT for the HVAC Unit. But can not really complain considering.

Down here we don't need no stinkin Home Power Station (HPS).

If the light goes out, we simply wait a few hours and it will come back on. It doesn't stay cold enough to warrant no stinkin HPS.

What we can't figure out is why people live where when some outage is anticipated and guaranteed each year for months on end, it never dawns on them to load up like the Joads (Grapes of Wrath) or the Clampetts and move away from there. You'all can't be that dense. No way. Just loving a Chevrolet instead of some other marque is evidence of that. Is too!

So, please enlighten me. What is the draw that keeps you'll a-hanging on up there? Are the summers that pleasing? Is the economy that great? Are the neighbors that special? (Do they bring back borrowed books and tools?)

Come on down here to Dixie and enjoy warm winters, friendly people, some fried chicken, and real Eastern North Carolina Barbecue. (Not that Lexington style crap.) We'll help you unload the moving van whilst you flirt with Daisy Mae. Will too.

Surely you can do better than having to go out and pour gasoline into some gadget to get a little heat into the house.

Canadians? Well, that's a different story altogether. Talk to Brewster.

I am kidding about the dense part. We have dibs on that down here.

Best,
Charlie

I've lived in northeast PA for the last 50 years or so and worked for the power and light folks for 30 plus years. In all that time I don't remember that many power outages or outages lasting more than a few hours. But now we're living in a de-regulated electrical world and with the more frequent outages there's a whole new industry springing up - Home Power Stations ! Just seems odd that with all the technological advances today we have to get our own generators to be assured of reliable electrical service.

I feel all the northerners pain. It has been freezing here for the past three days. If there was some moisture about, we'd be buried under a few feet of snot and ice and I'd certainly interested in building a HPS or moving to Homestead. FL.

I hope it warms up soon. Also, I feel for all the folks up north who have to travel in the terrible road conditions we are now experiencing. Big pile-up in MI just yesterday. Not fun.

You folks up North keep warm and God bless you and forgive me my light mindedness when it comes to kidding you about the weather up there.

Charlie

I have a generator and have only used it one time. It was good to have it when I needed it. The time I did need it I used it on our house for an hour then next door for an hour and back again. This kept you refrigerators and freezers working as well as our sump pump. It saved our food and kept us warm.