Snarty, Thanks for the in-depth reply.and the capacity info. John


"Smarty" wrote in message
news:i_jLi.322$R%1.124@trndny06...
I installed a Generac permanent generator with transfer switch a year ago
after facing two extended power outages here. The Generac design for the
transfer switch requires a dual breaker to be installed in your main panel
which passes power to the transfer switch. The transfer switch then
subdivides this feed into 12 circuits, each of which has its' own breaker
in the transfer switch panel. These 12 circuits are the ones were are
supported during a power outage, and are literally disconnected from their
current 12 breakers in your main panel and connected into the corresponding
12 breakers in your new transfer switch. You actually "recover" 12 breaker
positions in your main panel since the 12 breakers could be reused
(assuming you have enough total house capacity and panel capacity to do
so). The feeds from each of the 12 house circuits are attached to 12
conductors which Generac supplies using wire nuts. The entire installation
process is described in a video which can be viewed on the web, or on a DVD
which Generac also provides.

The noise level of the Generac is not terribly loud, but similar to a lawn
mower / tractor of comparable capacity when running full load. The weekly
test mode for 12 minutes of run time runs unloaded at a lower noise level.
To those of us who have subsequently lived with the generator during an
outage, the sound of the generator is sweet music. It is the silence which
occurs when it is not running but needed that I would call deafening! I
would advise to simply put the generator away from the major sleeping
areas of the house, and non fret about it. The noise level inside the
house is totally moderate. My neighbors on both sides have Generacs, and
there have been literally several thousand sold in my area in the last
year as a result of a freak October ice storm which took out power for
some people up to nearly 3 weeks.

I would also suggest you seriously evaluate your total electrical demand
since 16KW is too much power for many homes unless you want to run air
conditioning, electric stove, or other big power users. The Generac
smaller models produce considerably more efficient and less expensive
electricity when used near their peak capacity, versus running a 16y KW
generator at half load. Not only do the operating costs drop, but the cost
of the unit itself is considerably less.

Good luck and let me know if I can help you further,
Smarty





panel.
"Dick Adams" wrote in message
...
John wrote:

I'm considering having a 16 kw generator installed and I'd like to know
what
to expect when the generator and transfer switch is installed and
hooked
up. For example to what is the main power coming from the transfer
switch
hooked up into my breaker panel? What happens to the breakers of the
different circuits that selected for emergency operation. Do I give up
any
of the current open breaker spots I have. The Guardian unit I am looking
at
says it operates at 76 decibels. I don't know what equivalent noise
level
that is. At the moment I am planning to have it placed directly on the
other side of the playroom wall as that is where the main breaker panel
is
located. I also have a suitable spot about 20 feet away from the house if
the noise would be a problem. I'd like to be able to observe the process
with some sort of understanding. Thanks for any input or other comments
about the actual hooking up.

I live just west of Ballimer (Baltimore - the city that slurs).
We just experienced the first of the usual Fall-Winter power
outages. A few years ago, we had no electricity for 6 days.
the usual outages last 1 to 3 days. We were considering a
generator until we heard one up close. At 100 to 150 feet
they don't sound that loud, but if you are in the house,
you have trouble hearing what people are saying.

Dick