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From: Arnie Goetchius <arnie.goetch...@invalid.domain>
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair
Subject: Re: Installation Cost of Nat Gas Generator?
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:40:02 -0500
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Smarty wrote:
> On 11/18/2012 8:39 AM, trad...@optonline.net wrote:
>> On Nov 18, 8:26 am, "HeyBub" <hey...@NOSPAMgmail.com> wrote:
>>> (PeteCresswell) wrote:
>>>> Per Arnie Goetchius:
>>>>> installation of a natural gas
>>>>> generator...
>>>> Nobody had mentioned this yet: gas pressure.
>>>> I don't know the first thing... but in other threads I've read
>>>> gas pressure has come up.
>>>>  From context, I'm guessing that a generator needs a certain
>>>> minimum gas pressure to function and that might be higher than
>>>> what is coming in on the gas utility's line.
>>>> May turn out tb FUD, but it seems worth investigating
>>> Warning: Conjecture follows:
>>>
>>> I think the pressure is constant throughout the system*, it's the
>>> volume of
>>> gas that can be delivered that's the issue. Obviously a 1" gas line can
>>> deliver more natural gas than a 1/2" line. So, then, when installing the
>>> piping, go for as large a diameter pipe as you can.
>>>
>>> ----------
>>> * Unless the generator is putting the big suck on the supply. Even
>>> then, I
>>> suspect the regulator on the meter will throttle down the flow.
>> Yes, a natural gas generator is no different than any
>> other gas appliance in that regard.  Works using the same
>> pressure, you just need to size the piping correctly.
>> The 12KW one I'm screwing around with has a 1" gas
>> fitting and runs around 240,000 BTUs at full tilt, about
>> half that at half power.
>>
>> BTW, I have a nice 26hp nat gas engine, low hours,
>> from that generator, if anyone is interested.
>> Not sure it makes sense to fix
>> the generator section, given what I've seen of all
>> the bad reviews of Generac online.  Probably going
>> to part it out.
>>
> Arnie,
> 
> I installed a Generac 7KW unit myself 5 years ago after a very prolonged
> 10 day outage. I also assisted several other people with selection and
> installation of Generac units ranging in size from 7 to 16KW, all
> powered by natural gas. In some cases, commercial installations were
> done. In others it was, like mine DIY.
> 
> The total labor involved in about 10 hours give or take. The electrical
> is maybe 2 or 3 hours to install the transfer switch, move the circuits,
> and run the connection between the indoor transfer switch and the
> outdoor generator. The gas line is another 2 to 3 hours, possibly a lot
> longer, to tap off the gas main, run the line to where it is needed,
> pressure test, etc. Physically installing the generator with ground
> rod(s), slab, is another hour or two. Some of the work requires two people.
> 
> Generac has a DIY DVD video which shows all the steps. It is very
> straight forward.
> 
> The big surprises may come if you have too little gas delivery in your
> current setup, requiring your gas meter to be increased in capacity.
> Even the 7KW size needs a lot of BTU/hr. I forget the specifics but I am
> guessing at least 120,000 BTU/hr. Obviously the larger generators need
> proportionately more.
> 
> I share your concern about the Generac models reliability, although mine
> starts faithfully every week for its weekly exercise. I have never
> needed to really use it for an extended period of time so I can't
> comment on its performance under long term load.
> 
> Installation labor costs here in the immediate period after the freak
> ice storm in 2007 were insane and Generacs were also in short supply
> locally. I ordered mine from Amazon, avoided the sales tax, installed it
> myself, and had a total cost of $1600 for the generator, $250 or so for
> parts, and a couple days of work putting it in. My friends and neighbors
> spent as much as $5K for the same unit installed owing to the local
> scarcity.
> 
> Hope this is useful info.
> 
> Smarty

Thanks for the response. Around here people are quoting about $1K per 1K
of power or $7000 for a 7K unit. 20-30 years ago I would have done it
myself. Having recently become an octogenarian, it is not something I
can physically deal with. Best I can do is learn everything I can before
I start negotiating a deal.