Is the Generac on permanent hold?
Generators, Solar Panels, Alternate Power Sources
- Thread starter John Brunner
- Start date
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
Yes. We got several companies to give us estimates, but we have so many issues to overcome that we finally gave up. There are so many rules about set-back from buildings, no windows within so many feet of the generator, gas line relocation, adding another gas meter, the electrical panel is on the opposite side of the house, blah, blah.
It was going to be a huge ordeal and we could never figure out a suitable location for the generator. One company proposed running a new gas line all the way around the swimming pool; another was going to tunnel under the driveway. It all just got too overwhelming.
As long as we are physically able to roll out the gasoline generator we will continue to do that since it has always worked OK in the past. The biggest annoyance with that is dealing with cans of gasoline. When we can no longer do that, we'll just drive to our son's house and let the food spoil.
That's what has stopped me from getting a generator. Not only the storage of the gas, but keeping it fresh. I have no motivation to engage the cycle of emptying old cans of gas in my car so I can then go refill those cans...lather/rinse/repeat just on the off-chance there will be some extended outage. There is no sense messing with that stuff for a short-term outage, so by definition you need to have a lot of gas on hand if you're gonna do it at all.
If I had a larger house where I could put batteries and the equipment, I would have solar. A friend went that way when he downsized. If you have a gas/propane stove and gas/propane on-demand water heater, the only electricity they consume is when the flame is ignited. He had his new place mega-insulated and installed a couple of wall mounted propane heaters. Then the only power consumers are air conditioning and television.
He did not go roof-mount...his panels are mounted billboard style on wood backing in his yard. I was shocked at how few of them is required...and he sells excess juice back to the power company.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
We don't store any gasoline, but when a hurricane enters the Gulf we start paying attention. If it looks like we'll be impacted by the storm, we buy a few 5-gallon cans of gas. Our generator runs the freezer, refrigerator, window a/c unit, TV and a few lights. It burns about 5 gallons every 12 hours or so and is really noisy, but it beats sitting in the heat and dark for a week.
Usually gas stations are up and running soon after the storm passes so we have never had a problem buying gasoline. I'm planning to send a bunch of meat from my garage freezer home with my son's family next week. There is no reason for me to have so much food here for the 2 of us any longer, and I probably should get rid of the big freezer.
One other obstacle to the Generac is our wood privacy fence. That adds to the "can't put it there" list since the fence is on both sides of our property and there are additional setback guidelines for the generator.
Marie Miller
Well-known member
We rehomed the gas generator to a family somewhat further out. The Generac covers our needs and then some using heavy duty extension cords. During peak usage hours the power coop cuts customers off to avoid purchasing power. Mathilda as we refer to the generator was installed by the power company on a house wall with a fence about ten feet off. We replaced the fixed glass of a bathroom window with a double hung. Code inspector was ok with that.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
If we have a Generac, it will be permanently wired to run the whole house using natural gas. No "extension cords" necessary. Our gasoline generator covers our needs with heavy duty extension cords, which is one reason we want to install a whole-house generator instead. As for codes, they are different in each state and in most municipalities.
Seems to me that the fixed glass window would have been safer than double hung since there are less seams to allow carbon monoxide to enter. All windows in our house are double paned and double hung. We can't have the Generac installed next to any windows.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
Our youngest daughter has roof mounted solar panels on her home near Austin. I don't believe they provide any emergency power, though. I remember them being without power during the ice storm of 2021.
Marie Miller
Well-known member
Extension cords are for neighbors without generators. Minimal exhaust with natural gas.
I hear different things. A guy who installed propane generators told me that without line power, the battery recharging circuitry on solar systems cannot work. The web says that--per the Code--the panels shut down regardless of what type of solar system you have so that the voltage won't feed back through the lines while the utility workers are fixing them, and your batteries supply power to your house until they run down. There are products that will disconnect your system from the grid during an outage so your panels can continue to supply power to the home.
I was surprised that power outage coverage was not a standard feature. I would think it to be the main benefit. When I first moved here my electric company would do Net Metering (buy back power until your month's bill was offset) but they would not purchase anything more than that. That policy greatly reduced any benefit from installing a system. They have since changed.
Marie Miller
Well-known member
John - we have outages that can run a week and not once have we had a problem with the generator. The buy back fell prey to a merger. Oh well! Natural gas and no solar.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
Our neighbors have generators. And minimal exhaust or not, local code says how far from windows.
Marie Miller
Well-known member
We found a way to accommodate everyone including two families without a generator and one without a tornado shelter.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
I'll have to do more research (and ask my daughter) about the solar panels. I don't see them in our area and I wonder how the roof installation would hold up in hurricane force wind.
There were hail storms that went through the midwest and people were shocked that there was massive roof damage but not a single broken solar panel. I think the issue arises when new shingles are required and you gotta remove/reinstall the panels.
Marie Miller
Well-known member
There are a lot of shenanigans going on with shady companies selling solar promises. Go through some European news as solar was pushed for the last 25 + years there. The supposed life span of panels is exaggerated. Damage due to weather is played down. Check insurance coverage. Then run the numbers. How will it take until you run even? How long will your roof hold up until it needs to be replaced which entails removal and installation of panels?
News are running right now. 95,000 households were out of power this morning, winds up to 90 mph, torrential rains. I will stick with a natural gas generator and a monthly power bill.
The industry is chock-full of scammers. Lots of people have lots thousands of dollars (or even tens of thousands of dollars) only to have a yard full of uninstalled panels or systems that don't work. Several years ago I was at the COSTCO membership booth signing up, and the guy who was processing my application had a solar business on the side he was trying to sell me.
That being said, the hail stories I heard were first-hand stories on forums. There's probably a broad range of panel quality out there. Check out what happens to wind-generators when there's too much wind:
This was last week in South Dakota.
Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
I've never had any interest in solar panels anyway. I hate the way they look and I don't believe they would stand up to hurricane winds. Besides the fact that I never see them discussed when it comes to emergency power generation so I don't believe they'd suit our purpose at all.
Solar is a good idea as a supplement, in much the way that people have generators. In the event of a power outage, they can keep their devices charged and provide some power to carry them through; that and for use in places, such as remote camps, which are off the grid. Replacing power plants with solar or wind at a time when AI and other data centers are eating electricity like potato chips is insane.
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Beth Gallagher
Well-known member
Are you talking about a homeowner's options for emergency power or do you mean power generation by the power companies?
As @John Brunner mentioned, if a homeowner has a standard grid-tied solar system without a battery, solar power will shut down automatically when the grid goes out. This mandatory safety feature (called "anti-islanding") prevents panels from sending electricity into downed power lines, keeping utility workers safe.
To provide emergency power with solar panels, the homeowner must pair their system with a solar battery (like a Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ Battery) or a specialized hybrid inverter with "off-grid" capabilities. I know nothing about these systems, but that sounds a lot more complicated and expensive than a generator.
From Google... Upfront Installation Costs
Whole-House Generator: Typically costs $10,000 to $15,000 fully installed (including the automatic transfer switch and concrete pad).
Solar Panels + Battery: Costs $25,000 to $40,000+ upfront depending on your home's energy usage.
Jacob Petersheim
Well-known member
June-September we're now billed a higher "peak rate" from 2PM to 7PM.
I use my "solar generators" to load-shift a lot of things like fridge, PC, and other stuff even if it means running a few heavy extension cords. These can charge off-peak from this grid and I can supplement that with captured solar on good days. I use two powerstations as the "timed UPS" load-shifters and carry other units out for solar charging, carting them back in to keed the load-shifters and even to take those loads completely when I have enough stored charge.
Smaller solar-charged units run a few LED florr lamps and such, as well as charging the phone, LED-battery motion-sensing lighting, etc.
I have a new 40-foot cable I may use to bring power in through a cracked window using tape to cover the seam and keep out bugs and hot/cold air. Something to test before going ahead and running something through a wall permanently. I have a short flat/flex cable so the window crack can be minimal.
All that's before the question of storm power outages.
I also have a Honda EU2200i gasoline generator. But I need to clean it out, change the oil, and get it prepped and running since it has sat for quite a while.
I use my "solar generators" to load-shift a lot of things like fridge, PC, and other stuff even if it means running a few heavy extension cords. These can charge off-peak from this grid and I can supplement that with captured solar on good days. I use two powerstations as the "timed UPS" load-shifters and carry other units out for solar charging, carting them back in to keed the load-shifters and even to take those loads completely when I have enough stored charge.
Smaller solar-charged units run a few LED florr lamps and such, as well as charging the phone, LED-battery motion-sensing lighting, etc.
I have a new 40-foot cable I may use to bring power in through a cracked window using tape to cover the seam and keep out bugs and hot/cold air. Something to test before going ahead and running something through a wall permanently. I have a short flat/flex cable so the window crack can be minimal.
All that's before the question of storm power outages.
I also have a Honda EU2200i gasoline generator. But I need to clean it out, change the oil, and get it prepped and running since it has sat for quite a while.