# anyone on here or parents/friends/etc. have a built in Generator at home **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [September 15, 2008, 8:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922 "2008-09-15T08:23:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/21 "2008-09-15T10:42:13Z")
[http://www.dom.com/products/generators/order.jsp](http://www.dom.com/products/generators/order.jsp) This where I bought my tri-fuel… [http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/sizing\_chart.htm](http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/sizing_chart.htm) ---
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 10:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/22 "2008-09-15T10:45:13Z")
^^^ Very cool Thanks a lot that will really be a great thing to give to my customers so that they can size up their customers accurately. I see way too many 16Kw going out of here to a little house that can’t draw more than 20A when EVERYTHING is on. Edit… It really doesn’t take everything into account. Like the size of the AC, or the appropriate wattage of lighting circuits etc… but that is a great starting point. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/23 "2008-09-15T10:50:07Z")
Another good thing about my set up is that if something does go wrong with my generator I can just plug another one in. It would literally take less than 5 seconds. Mine doesn’t turn on automatically but, if you are too lazy to flip a switch and turn a key then you don’t deserve power.lol ---
**Author:** ![skatanic28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@skatanic28](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/skatanic28)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/24 "2008-09-15T10:51:52Z")
> [@tpgsr](#): > > No horrible idea. Whole house gensets are not plug in via a 4 wire receptacle. They work off of an automatic transfer switch. It is basically a control relay and a power relay. > > the manual tfr. switches are for portable generators, and the same goes for your common breaker interlock. Generac (you guys probably know it by Guardian) has started to manufacture a panel that has the automatic tfr built in including a motorized interlock. he’s talking about a portable… there is nothing wrong with picking up the entire load center on a portable generator. and you can use manual transfer switches on built-in generators as well. ---
**Author:** ![skatanic28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@skatanic28](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/skatanic28)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 10:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/25 "2008-09-15T10:55:33Z")
> [@AWDrifter](#): > > Another good thing about my set up is that if something does go wrong with my generator I can just plug another one in. > It would literally take less than 5 seconds. > Mine doesn’t turn on automatically but, if you are too lazy to flip a switch and turn a key then you don’t deserve power.lol comes in handy if you are away from home or out of the area though ---
**Author:** ![JUICEDSS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/juicedss/32/7185_2.png) [@JUICEDSS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JUICEDSS)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/26 "2008-09-15T11:06:00Z")
> [@misteroman$$$"](#): > > Was planning on doing this before the baby is born and last night even made is seem like a better idea.The electrician I have do all my big stuff told me a few months back about $4500.Last week a buddy told me he could do it(for free) but thought the parts/materials would be around $5k.I would just get the items so its not like he was planning on making money that way. > Also he said I would need a 15K one seems a bit overkill to me. > Thanks again D…my parents have a natural gas one. It was installed after the October storm. You want to go check it out ? They have all the $$$ figures as well. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/27 "2008-09-15T11:18:05Z")
> [@skatanic28](#): > > comes in handy if you are away from home or out of the area though True. I didn’t think of that because my house doesn’t need power when I am away (by design):). ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:20am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/28 "2008-09-15T11:20:09Z")
How reliable is the natural gas supply? I know most of the real big mission critical places go diesel with an emergency fuel delivery contract which has always made me wonder about what would happen in a large scale disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/29 "2008-09-15T11:24:10Z")
Off grid FTW. I have underground stratigic propane reserves.:snky: ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/30 "2008-09-15T11:26:57Z")
> [@AWDrifter](#): > > Off grid FTW. I have underground stratigic propane reserves.:snky: Nice, so the first time you have a bonfire I should be able to see the fireball from Williamsville. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/31 "2008-09-15T11:26:58Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > How reliable is the natural gas supply? I know most of the real big mission critical places go diesel with an emergency fuel delivery contract which has always made me wonder about what would happen in a large scale disaster. NG facilities are susceptible to failure as much as any “critical” infrastructure. Of course there are means to cover a facility in such cases. Sure you can worry beyond that point, but if you’re getting to the point of worrying about _multiple_ infrastructure failure, then the contents of your fridge will probably be on the low end of the priority list in comparison to your water purification tablets & gas masks. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/32 "2008-09-15T11:41:31Z")
> [@Nikuk](#): > > NG facilities are susceptible to failure as much as any “critical” infrastructure. Of course there are means to cover a facility in such cases. Sure you can worry beyond that point, but if you’re getting to the point of worrying about _multiple_ infrastructure failure, then the contents of your fridge will probably be on the low end of the priority list in comparison to your water purification tablets & gas masks. Yes and no. Maybe natural disasters just follow me, but I was on the NY/Quebec border for [the massive ice storm in 98](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Ice_Storm) (in the 80mm region of the map linked). It was far more widespread and the damage much worse than the Oct storm, but still far from the doomsday scenario you suggest. After living through that I really wonder if the natural gas supply would have been uninterrupted. To look at it another way I believe water delivery is considered more critical than natural gas and during the Oct storm Erie County was inches away from losing that. The Oct storm was bad, yes, but it was a relatively small area geographically compared to most major natural disasters. EDIT: PS… I have water purification tablets in my disaster kit, but no gas mask. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/33 "2008-09-15T11:46:23Z")
> [@Nikuk](#): > > …then the contents of your fridge will probably be on the low end of the priority list in comparison to your water purification tablets & gas masks. I laughed. I hate it when my wine is not the proper temp. If looks like an apocolypse NYSPEED can come to my house I am prepared. Just let me know before you enter my property so no one gets hurt.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/34 "2008-09-15T11:47:41Z")
Jay - I know you do, which is why I mentioned it. Also, I agree that water \> heat. My point is that if you’ve lived by suckling from the public teet for this long, odds are good that if the NG system on a whole were to go down, you will prolly have more urgent needs. _Such as_ water supply. I can’t really speak to how redundant the public utilities are, sorry. Have I wondered the same things? Absolutely. That being said, I still prefer a portable oil distillate fired generator rather then a permanent propane or NG one. In another ice storm, october storm, fire sale, or armegeddon - gas & diesel will be easier to acquire over a greater timespan then NG & propane would be. IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/35 "2008-09-15T11:49:55Z")
Tri fuel FTW:) ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/36 "2008-09-15T11:52:00Z")
> [@AWDrifter](#): > > Tri fuel FTW:) true. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/37 "2008-09-15T12:03:38Z")
> [@Nikuk](#): > > I can’t really speak to how redundant the public utilities are, sorry. Have I wondered the same things? Absolutely. That being said, I still prefer a portable oil distillate fired generator rather then a permanent propane or NG one. > > In another ice storm, october storm, fire sale, or armegeddon - gas & diesel will be easier to acquire over a greater timespan then NG & propane would be. IMO. Yeah, that’s what I’m getting at. I see people buying these things saying, “Well in a real bad disaster I don’t want to worry about having to get gas for my generator” and it got me wondering just how much you could rely on that NG delivery. Not an easy thing to find out surprisingly. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 12:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/38 "2008-09-15T12:09:10Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Yeah, that’s what I’m getting at. I see people buying these things saying, “Well in a real bad disaster I don’t want to worry about having to get gas for my generator” and it got me wondering just how much you could rely on that NG delivery. Not an easy thing to find out surprisingly. why “surprisingly”? In today’s America you thought it’d be easy to google “US NG infrastructure weakpoints”? :lol: But yea, in a pinch, when “the system” is down, you want to rely on as few public sources as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 12:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/39 "2008-09-15T12:56:02Z")
> [@AWDrifter](#): > > [http://www.dom.com/products/generators/order.jsp](http://www.dom.com/products/generators/order.jsp) > > This where I bought my tri-fuel… > [http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/sizing\_chart.htm](http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/sizing_chart.htm) nice that you went with my hint a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922/40 "2008-09-15T13:09:26Z")
^Oh yeah. Thanks. (2 years ago already?!?) That thing built my house. Brushless FTW, it costs more but lasts about 100 times longer than the Home Cheapo special. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/anyone-on-here-or-parents-friends-etc-have-a-built-in-generator-at-home/54922.md?page=3)