Residential Backup generator

[JohnnyB]

I am considering an automatic backup generator for our house. I am trying to figure out what size generator I need.



I am looking to run either 2 or 3 air conditioners, 2 refrigerators and a handful lights. How do I figure out what I need?



The air conditioners have the amps written on the labels can I use that info to find out the watts used?



I was looking at a 6 kw natural gas generator (link below). Anyone have any recommendations or advice? Maybe there is an electrician here?

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

This might help...

 

[JohnnyB]

Thanks Gary I found that too.

 

[Todd Z]

The 6k is good I don't know what the surge power is though... I have a 6K with a 7K surge..



IT is good enough to run 3 re-fridges, Heat or AC..... basic lights.....



Mine is not automatic, I simply switch it when I want it....



Todd Z

 

[Axel Deneselya]

I know it is environmentaly correct to use natural gas, but in an emergency situation, it can be hard to come by, as well as gasoline.

Diesel in one form or another is usually availible in an emergency, if your home uses heating oil, you can tap into that as well.

also, make sure you get one that has some sort of automatic run feature so you can set it to run say 10-20 minutes a month automaticly, they need to be exercised from time to time.



good luck. I will be doing the same when I buy my house.

 

[Johnny O]

If your house is already heated with natural gas, then that's the way to go. No storage and if the power goes out everywhere, the gas company still has power because they make their own with the gas. Short of an earthquake, you'll have gas and it won't run out.

If you're going to power the whole house then you need a switch that will keep the electricity from the generator from feeding power back to the grid. They work automatically.

We run the generator at my church for an hour every Saturday and I change the oil once a year.