"Kenneth" wrote in message
...

Howdy,

Yes, this is OT, but you folks seem to know everything...g

I need to get an automatic backup generator, but my needs
are unusual:

The fully automatic units I can locate are all in the range
of 7000KW.

I need something on the order of 5-10KW. So, compared to the
"standard" residential backup unit, the one I am looking for
is really tiny. But, anything over that (approximate)
capacity would just be money wasted.

Might any of you suggest sources for such a small (but fully
automatic) generator?

Very sincere thanks,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

The 7KW Generac is as small as I know. I am reasonably sure no manufacturer
bothers with any thing smaller. It gets to a point where the actual
manufacturing costs are pretty much the same the smaller units. Say you
could find a 4KW unit. Everything for the 4KW would pretty much be the same
as the 7KW that is available. The cost for the smaller generator head and
engine would only affect the manufacturing cost by a small margin. You still
need a cabinet to put it all in, plus a transfer switch. My bet is the
manufacturing cost would be $100 less than the available 7KW unit, so the
manufacturer does not bother to build them. So you want to buy a 4KW for
$1800, versus a 7KW for $2000? Buck up and buy the 7KW and put a few more
circuits on the transfer, and enjoy!

In another perspective, I work as a service tech for a company that sells
standby Generac, standby generators. In 10 years we have never sold a unit
less than 10KW. 10 years ago Generac built a 6KW unit. We had two in stock,
and they sat in stock until my boss built a new home. He put both 6KW units
on his home to get rid of them! There is virtually no market for the small
units, in fact our main sellers are 13-16KW units.
Greg