08-20-2018, 12:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by KeaauRich
We have the same Costco generator, which, of course, starts every time we test it, but wouldn't start during the outage yesterday <sigh>. In any event, we've toyed with the idea of installing the transfer switch setup so we could just plug into the house. How involved was the installation, and roughly how much did it cost? And do you have grid-tie solar too (like we do)? Would that be another complicating wrinkle?
That is unfortunate the generator wouldn't start. Mine was a little rough starting but the gas in there was 2 years old, though treated with PRI-G to be "like new!" I always shut the fuel valve and run the gas out of the carb until it dies, that seems to be the secret in keeping these cheap engines easy start.
You would have to ask Royall about the installation, if he is reading this maybe he can chime in. The easiest way is a cheap lockout that attaches to an existing electrical panel, however we seemed to have the only electrical panel that wasn't compatible with the device, after a little research the best option in our case was to replace the entire panel. If memory serves the entire job with parts and labor (including the exterior outlet for the generator) was roughly the cost of the generator and worth every penny. We have the same generator voyager mentioned, 7,000 watt / 9,000 peak (6,300 / 8,100 propane). It is overkill in most situations but during this last outage we used some 220 for the first time and listening to the generator and seeing how much gas it guzzled it seems like the perfect size for "all purpose" use.
I don't know about grid tie, our PV is a hybrid system that was installed after the transfer switch was put in.