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FAQ
(homeowners)
Q: How much
should I spend for a residential set?
A: For a standard,
self-enclosed, fully automatic, installed 8 kilowatt
generator and transfer switch (enough for an
"average" home), you should expect to spend
about $8,000.00. At Kinsley Power, we suggest you do your
homework when shopping for an emergency power system.
Some units on the market are not designed to perform for
extended periods. Some generator manufacturers skimp when
it comes to putting copper in the windings for the
generator end. Others will use plastic parts in place of
metal. A residential generator is a large investment and
- in the event of an emergency - you'll be glad
you chose a reliable system.
Q: What
characteristics/specifications should I be looking for in
a residential generator?
A:
- Engine
temperature - You'll want an engine
temperature spec that runs under 300 degrees.
When a generator engine starts running over 300
degrees, engine oil starts to break down. As a
result, in time, the life of your engine will be
significantly reduced.
- Electronic
voltage regulation is a sign of a
quality generator. The alternative to electronic
voltage regulators - droop governors -
can lead to voltage spikes. This has the
potential to damage electronic equipment. A
variation of only +/- 2% in voltage fluctuation
is a good range; that means your power will
oftentimes be cleaner than that coming from the
local utility.
- Direct
drive vs. belt driven generators -
Direct drive generators have fewer moving parts
and thus are a more reliable design. Direct drive
gensets are another sign of quality.
- Local
service - This is a factor that
many homeowners overlook when purchasing gensets.
Some manufacturers that sell through catalogs
can't back up their customers with service after
the sale.
- Warranty
- Warranty is always a sign of
quality. For generators, you'll want to be sure
to ask if the warranty includes parts, travel
time & labor. Some manufacturers have been
known to include only parts & labor.
- UL
Listing - the stamp of approval by
the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) is a mark of
quality. You'll want to make sure that your ATS
is UL listed.
- Reputation
- Since your generator is an insurance
policy, you'll want to pick a genset company that
has a long-standing reputation for quality, and
extensive experience in the generator field.
Q: What are
the advantages to a standby set vs. a discount chain
store portable genset?
A: A residential
generator's advantages are:
- Fuel
storage - Residential gensets run
on diesel, natural gas or liquid propane (LP) gas; portable
gensets typically run on gasoline. Over long
periods of time, gasoline spoils and can corrode
the engine. In addition, home standby gensets are
designed to have large fuel tanks connected to
them. This can be a real advantage in the event
of an extended power outage. Having a 500 gallon
fuel tank connected to your genset alleviates
concern about fuel supply or deliveries. It also
saves you the trouble of having to refuel your
genset every 4-10 hours.
- Reliability
& Durability - Residential
gensets tend to be higher quality (see desirable
specifications above) & longer lasting. It's
fairly common to hear stories of Kohler standby
gensets from the 1940s, '50s & '60s still in
operation.
- Automatic
Transfer Switches - Residential
gensets can be wired to ATSs that will, as their
name infers, automatically start your generator
in the event of a power outage. In addition, the
switch will automatically exercise your genset
once a week. Most manufacturers recommend that
your generator run at least ½ an hour per week.
It's been our experience that generators without
ATSs often don't get the exercise time the unit
needs. Your generator is like your car: it needs
routine exercise.
- Noise
- The smaller residential sets (8.5 to 12kW)
come packaged in sound attenuated housings, and
are significantly quieter than portable gensets.
- Service- Typically, residential generator
distributors are set up for 24/7 emergency field
service. Kinsley Power, for example, has 18
generator technicians who travel home at night
with their vans ready to respond in an
emergency. Kinsley also has an extensive parts
stock on hand. In the case of the discount chain
stores, there's no service after the sale.
Q: What kind
of fuel should I use for my generator?
A: That depends on
what fuel you presently have at your house. The large
majority of residential generators are natural gas or
liquid propane (LP). Both are clean burning and there are
few issues surrounding storage of the fuel. In the case
of LP, a local propane company can regularly supply you
with fuel. Natural gas has an umlimited supply as long as
the gas utility main lines are operating. Diesel engines
are more expensive in the short term, but tend to provide
the lowest cost for the greatest output in the long term.
Diesel engines are the most fuel-efficient. On the other
hand, diesel generators under 100kW tend to cost more and
have much larger fuel tanks.
Q: How do I
size a generator?
A: You should call
either one of our local dealers/installers or your local
electrician to determine what your electric
"load" will be. Remember, a licensed
electrician can wire the genset to pick up only parts of
your house, or your entire "load". Of course,
the larger the load, the bigger the generator & the
higher the cost. Click here for a thumbnail
sketch of common household appliances & the wattage
totals they may have.
Q: Should I
have an automatic transfer switch (ATS)?
A: More often than
not, it's a good idea. 70% of the generators KPS sells
are coupled with ATSs. The ATS will detect any power
outage and automatically start your generator, and will
exercise the unit on a weekly basis. It's extremely
important that your emergency power system run at least
once a week, under load if possible. Your generator is
like your automobile. It's a good idea to take your car
on the road from time to time to let the engine exercise
itself & to keep all the necessary lubricants
flowing. In addition, if you're away on vacation and your
house loses power, your generator will automatically turn
on and potentially keep pipes from freezing, pumps
working, freezers and refrigerators running, and the
like.
Q: How often
should my generator & transfer switch be serviced?
A: Most
manufacturers recommend at least two visits per year by a
trained generator technician. One visit should include an
oil change, filter changes, tune up & a complete
inspection of the entire unit - both the ATS and
generator. The second visit, approximately six months
later, should be a shorter, more limited check of the
unit. In some cases (such as hospitals or critical
industrial applications) more scheduled visits are
recommended.
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residential/faq