My portable home generator setup runs everything in my home😁. 3k square feet and 5 ton ac.
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
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If you're in the Houston area, these are the people that installed my interlock/breaker inlet. They're awesome and half the price of anyone else. Send them a picture of your panel, and they'll text you a quote.
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It appears that a Generac setup now is at or just under $15k installed now instead of the $20k I mentioned in the video.
No, this will not run every single thing turned on in your home at the same time. We don't normally do that anyway, and our habits don't change when we run on this setup. On gen power we have lots of lights on, 4 people in the home, multiple tvs,, ps5, gaming computer, ac, and a bunch of other stuff going on the at the same time all on this setup. To us, it's the same as having power from the electric company is my point.
This video was made as an easy way to share a much less expensive and better option for us... with friends and family. I didn't expect this video to get this much exposure. If you find it useful great, if you want to nitpick every figure in here instead of just getting the big picture that this option exists as a cheaper and great alternative because you already bought a Generac which was a better option for you please make your own video and post negative comments there.
Not everyone has or wants to spend upwards of $15k and annual maintenance on something they'll barely use when an option for 1/3 or so of the costs works just as well for most.
The interlock is not to stop you from getting power from 2 sources. It protects the linemen from getting electrocuted from your generator when your power is out and you are running your generator
Mostly it protects the public & emergency responders.
I'm a lineman. We test everything we touch & wear high voltage rubber gloves while doing that.
Thanks for thinking of us though.
Both
@@burkeswanson7348 it prevents the main and generator breaker from being on at the same time. So power coming in from the generator doesn’t go out of the house on the main. But you know that already. My post is for others that may not.
@@burkeswanson7348 I run a 10,000W duramax which power comes into the house through a reliance pro / tran2 transfer switch for it to operate the main power is shut off so no harm will come to the workers that are working to restore power , great comments guys and gals thanks for sharing
@@johnclyne6350 Is there a concern that the neutral is not disconnected from the pole for the interlock usage case? Can current flow back to the pole through that neutral which is never disconnected for the interlock use cases. Is that a concern or not? Thanks for responding back
I built the same setup 4 years ago. Work great without any issues. I then installed the soft start on my home AC 3 weeks ago. After hurricane Beryl My Westinghouse 12500 watt generator ran great for a day and a half. After that it overheated because the extra load (8000 watt balanced over 240v) was generating so much heat that the fan I had could not exhaust the heat fast enough. Lesson learned I have to buy a new generator and set it up outside the storage unit when in use to have proper ventilation. Also only use generator to run the whole house AC for a short period of time. Generators are not designed to kick on and off a whole house AC with a slow start every 20 minutes when it reaches temp inside the house. Too much of a load. Going with an inverter generator and using a midsize window unit for the next storm. I regularly changed the oil with 10w-30 Royal Purple. Compression lobe locked, the surging started, bearings failed, now a dead Westinghouse generator with no power output. Be careful with the loads you put is all i am saying. Make sure you have proper ventilation. I was not using the zombie box but had 2 fans to keep the generator cool and that was not enough in 100+ degree weather in Houston.
The zombie box vents in from the bottom and out up the top. The fan is pretty powerful and very warm coming out which means it's very effective. According to them it's actually more effective in cooling than just leaving it outside in ambient air and I suspect they are right as long as you properly vent the exhaust which I did. Still you make a good point and it's definitely for something for me to consider about the frequency of use of the ac kicking on. Duromax has a 5 year residential parts and labor warranty so I'm willing to risk it.
Yep! Me too. Brand new duro max 13k ruined. I built a really nice set up, however it relied on 2 fans for cooling air. Floor fan drawing from vent pushing through generator. Then shuttered exhaust fan pulling out the heat at opposite end. Both fans quit for some reason, the circuit didn't trip, was just no power coming out. Exhaust tube fell off muffler and super heated the box, overheating the generator to the point of failure. I will no longer depend on fans for cooling air. It's a fatal flaw.
@pipeliner345 I've heard of people adding a thermostat that wirelessly sends you an alert when it gets too hot....may do that for my setup.
The easiest solution is to move NORTH.
@@Runamukker Warranty aint gonna do you any good while you're sittin in the dark lol
I did the same to my house in California. I hired an electrician to install the generator transfer switch. However, my electrical panel couldn’t accommodate one. So they installed a sub panel and moved all my circuit breakers and the transfer switch in there. I have the same ZombieBox enclosure for a Champion 11,500 watt gasoline only generator. I also put a micro air soft start on my 3 ton AC unit. Everything runs fine off the generator and my immediate neighbors can’t hear my generator from inside their homes. The only issue is the APC battery backups I had on my PCs wouldn’t charge from the generator. It’s not an inverter generator and the battery backups couldn’t tolerate the THD (Total harmonic distortion). No big deal, the computers ran fine without them. After watching your video, I may consult a plumber to run a Natural Gas line to my generator and install the kit from Champion. That seems like a smart idea.
I've ran my house with portable Generac 17500kw with 26k surge once, with selective caution, on a single 50A output. The generator is a POS, don't buy one. But it started my 5T A/C without issue or soft start as the surge is very high. A word of caution if you are generator shopping, know if what you are looking at is continuous watts or surge watts. Both numbers matter but some manufacturers put surge as the top number in their rating, others (like this particular generac model) list continuous as the main number. It matters.
You have a misunderstanding of the amp draw for your 5T a/c and what your generator is capable of. Neither fan in the A/C system are 30A draw as you mentioned. They draw a few amps each once running. It's only the compressor that is high draw. If you have an LRA of 90 you have a fairly efficient unit as many 5T still in use are higher, just a note to others. It was good to see you made some clarifications in your write up under the video for others to understand what you meant.
I was in Beryl too and out of power for 6 days. I now use a 5500w (surge) Champion propane inverter generator running on a 250g tank to power two emergency inverter window A/C's that actually cycle when set to 74 degrees. They keep 1500sf downstairs - with 19ft ceiling in half of that - quite comfy, plus it powers two inverter refrigerators and a deep freezer. This inverter generator rarely goes over 50% output. I appear to use about 8 gallons of propane a day. I also have strips of radiant barrier I cut and tape over the SW facing windows and one glass door. That makes a huge difference. This year has been crazy with power outages. Best of luck.
To anyone reading this:
You cannot replace a 200A service with 50A and have "business as normal". You can selectively decide what you want to run and still leave all breakers on, unless you are all electric. Think about your common 120v small stuff. Microwave 8-10A, coffee pot 8-10A, hair dryer 10-12A, small space heaters 12A each ...... Etc. (divide amps by two for apples to apples since these are 120v and you are using 240v@50A capacity) Two hairdryers going while you make morning coffee and run a couple space heaters, now click the microwave to heat your breakfast and use a toaster at the same time. You are consuming 60-80% of that circuit. Trick is for a family to communicate and understand you can use all the lights and fans you want, but need to be selective using high draw small appliances at the same time, especially if the central A/C is running. If you are all electric at your house, only turn on ONE 240v breaker at a time. (licensed electrician)
Thank you for the information. Very clear.
Thanks for the breakdown. I run a Dura Star 12k. It runs a 3 ton , portable A/C and the necessities
@@Larry-yb7zl Thanks for the information. I have become wary of having a whole house generator installed because I have a lot of neighbors that have them and every time the power goes out I see a lot of Generac repairs vans around. I think I have decided to just buy a good sized inverter tri fuel generator and wire a multi plug somewhere so I can connect the generator to the back of the plug and plug extension cords into the outlets. That would allow me to plug in the fridge, internet router, tv, etc. I have a portable heat pump a/c that I sometimes use in the garage. I can cool our bedroom with that. In a pinch I could even run a cord up into the attic to the controls of one of my gas tankless water heaters. Or even the blower motor on one of the gas furnaces. It’s a bit of a pain in the butt, however, the reality is that the power doesn’t go out very often. When it does it is usually for a short time. I have tried and tried but I just cannot justify spending $16,000 for something that sets in my yard and is hardly ever used. And if I had one installed and it didn’t work when I needed it!?! Things would get ugly very, very quick!
@@danbgt Inverter technology is fantastic. I've had my 5500 inverter generator three years trouble free 280hrs run time. Still has original battery. Sits on my back porch under a factory soft cover. I start it monthly. It's hard piped to my tank and a quick connect at the porch. I have two shut off valves, one push-to-turn at the source and one at the porch. There are much larger inverter gens on the market now to chose from. Specs on mine is .17/G hour at 25% load and seems almost linear but not rated at higher loads. It was $1100 when I bought it. It is a PITA to not have switched lighting in every room but I can live with it. Inverter window units are cheap and very efficient, probably the most bang for the buck you can get. Honestly don't miss the central A/C but we don't have kids or need to use our upstairs during power outages.
I use four reels of extension cord each reel having four built-in 120v connection ability and I use heavy cords. One reel goes to the garage. Other three in the house, then I branch out from there to what I want to operate. I have a lot of milwaukee battery tools including a portable fan and lighting. Eight batteries I rotate to charge. We do fine and it costs about $20-$25 a day for fuel (guessing here). Neighbors with fixed units $100-$150 day. When my gen fails, I'll buy another one but probably one that has 240 capability and I'll install an interlock and outlet at the panel so I have switched lighting. No concern with central A/C inop. Have propane for heat, cooking and piezo ignition tankless water heater that requires no power or batteries to operate.
Couple of tips. In January I bought a portable inverter 60pt Hisense dehumidifer from Lowe's. If you crank it to maximum it puts out a lot of heat. Seems to max out at 600W but probably heat equivalent to 4500w of space heaters. On low it draws just over 100w and runs quietly. Been in continuous use since January and it's impressive. Currently $469. This will be a main source for winter heat during a power failure and at 600W it's very complimentary to warming your home with a small generator. Placing radiant barrier between the window and blind was a god send. I had some on hand from atticfoil as I am in the process of installing in my attic. It made a noticable differience in the heat radiating thru windows, and I already have low-e argon glass. You can use cooking foil or reflective bubble wrap. They all do the same thing for radiant heat control.
@@Larry-yb7zl Thanks for the info. During Beryl our power was only out for 13 hours. That is longest it has been out since Ike back in 2008. It was only out for 6 hours after the wind storm in May. I have a small inverter generator from Harbor Freight that I bought three years ago. It was still in the box! I serviced it, started it up and ran our fridge, tv, internet router, a couple of LED lamps and a small fan. It did just fine. We don’t have kids at home or pets. It’s inconvenient to do things that way but it not terrible. I have better things to do with 15 or 16 thousand dollars.
Well, nice setup and good explanation of everything. As we all know there are numerous ways to provide backup power. I did a similar setup but used a Reliance Transfer Switch box. Since I did all my labor my expenditures were under $2000. The Reliance system is much easier for my wife to do if I am away. I also did the same for my daughter's house.
Spot on! Did basically the same thing. Added a propane outdoor hot water shower. Keeps the high draw tankless water heater off the generator. Works great. You can also do things like turn your ac off to run your dryer for 30-40 mins. Ease the gen load. Looks like you have it handled!
Speaking as an electrical engineer, its critical to keep the generator cool (within operating temp specs) especially when heavily loaded and if outside temp is 95+F. Keep it out of direct sunlight. Shade it under an open air tent that is at least 6ft above the generator to shade it from direct sunlight and use box fans to keep air flowing through the generator engine and electric generator motor. Once you have generator temp under control, it can cycle your AC as often as you like. 20 min duty cycle is no big deal. The active cooling box (zombie) is a perfect cooling system for the generator. It does all the above in one box. Since generator engines are air cooled, the engine will always die first on a poorly air circulated, loaded generator.
I was wondering about enclosed generators. I put mine under a beach canopy. Of course not during the storm but after is passed. As a mechanic I to put a fan on my generator , Kept in the shade. Understanding how important it is to have a lot of fresh air flow around the generator. It seems the only way to enclose a unit is if its liquid cooled.
@@Badwolf6466 The active cooling is extremely essential - in heavy heat you need a LOT of airflow. Regardless of what you plan it's important to test it - we tested out using a basic 6' tall pop-up canopy on an 89-degree day with two separate generators. We took a temperature reading under the shade of the canopy and it was 9 degrees cooler at 80 so we were certain the generators would run better. Somehow though they both consistently ran hotter under the canopy than outside of it, even after the addition of two 20" box fans.
I serviced and installed standby gen sets for near 25 years and the one thing nobody talks about is the cost to operate. Yeah, we all toss numbers around about how many gallons per day it might be, but breaking it down to cost of producing Kws, will make your head spin. If you think 25 cents is high from your utility, any smaller set will be 4-6 times more. That's right.... over a buck per Kw to make your own. Oh, and that's not figuring the up-front costs of the installation. We're basically talking about fuel here.
Your selection of generator setup has so, so many variables and I appreciate the quality setups folks like yourself have put in effort to share. Everything from budget to your equipment requirements to availability of resources, locations, and size constraints, there is NO one size fits all. Educating yourself is the key to a successful and SAFE selection. Thanks for sharing!!
Excellent system breakdown!
I'm going to look into that AC soft start kit for my AC units.
Much appreciated!
I think microair would disagree with your explanation! 'EasyStart is designed to connect directly to the compressor motor and reduce the power surge that occurs on start. It does this by controlling the power supplied to the windings of the motor on each AC cycle. EasyStart gradually increases this power until the compressor is running.
This increases the time it takes the motor to get up to speed and creates a very smooth start that reduces the peak current by 50 to 70%.'
It definitely starts my compressor after my condenser fan. I verified it....I suspect it does both.
@@Runamukker yes but the fan is 120v low current and the electronics ramp up the current on the compressor with less inrush as quoted by microair. It also does nothing for the furnace blower which is also 120v.
The benefit of the soft start is as @RustyBdTz states. It reduces the in rush when the compressor starts. The load for the cooling fan on the condenser is small - a couple of amps at 120V. The fan for the evaporator is fairly low load - 3-4 amps at 120V and is powered from a different feed than the condenser. Newer AC units contain logic to sequence the start of the three components independent of the soft start.
Regardless, kudos to you on your installation. IMHO, you made excellent choices to balance cost, reliability and aesthetics!
I have the same soft start kit and my fan on my condenser starts to spin first for about 2.5 seconds and then my condenser ramps up after.
2 weeks ago, we here in northern Ohio had 5 confirmed tornados, one of which was only 2 miles away. Which caused 400,000 people here, including my house to lose power for 3 hours short of 5 days. I have 2 Honda inverter generators so we had almost everything except the central air. But my gas meter is at the front of the house and my utility meter is on the back of the house, so I'd probably have to spend some serious money plumbing in a gas line to the back yard. But this was an excellent video! Food for thought!
I have the same setup, Zombie box, MicroAir and generator! However, after doing additional research on generators, the Duromax open frame generators produce very dirty power! The Total Harmonic Distortion is 12 to 20% depending on load. That will damage sensitive electronics, such as, Computers, TV's, Furnace electronics, and any computerized modern appliances. I am selling the Duromax and going with the Westinghouse WGEN 115000 TFC. It produces more power at less than 5% Total Harmonic Distortion. This is considered clean power and safe for electronics. You might want to check it out, it would be a better choice! Great video by the way!!!
I ran several oled tv's, gaming computers and a ps5 for 3 days with no issue. Alternatively you could, if you were concerned, purchase a battery back up box for your entertainment center which takes in dirty power (ac) and converts it to a pure sine wave (dc) before sending it to the electronics. DC sine wave stays charged by the generator AC
www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500AVRLCD3-Intelligent-System-Outlets/dp/B0BCMLLSHL?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
I fried all my led lights running a generator to them, was really surprised they couldn’t take it
I do one better. I have the Honda EU 7000is.
That's an inverter generator with clean 60 cycle power. It's fuel injected so no priming & it sips fuel in economy mode. If you want to really protect your appliances? That's the one to get. Mine delivers 123-123-246 volts all day long no matter the load & I get 18 hours of run time on 5 gallons of gas at half load.
I'm a power lineman for a living. That's the one I recommend for back up power.
@@anotherdumbwelder6219 This is just a guess, but much of the dirty AC that people are complaining about can be fixed even on cheaper generators. I had a good industrial generator that only had about 50 hours on it when I started noticing flickering lights. I took some measurements and it was producing about 210v with 105v legs @ about 55hz @ ~3100 rpms. A bad throttle spring with an rpm adjust with an AVR adjustment fixed everything. If you check your RPMs and voltage you can generally get clean AC even from a cheap generator. Generally speaking the price difference with generators comes from engine quality. The generator part is basically the same from one to another. If it's rated for 30 amps or maybe 50 amps it will produce said amount if the engine is running at rated RPMs. Dirty carbs will make the engine "hunt" and change the voltage and HZ produced by the generator. No need for a new generator and more money unless you are asking it to do more than it's rated for.
Very true. That's why I didn't go with the Duromax. Good luck finding the Wgen11500TFc. I guess by now, you've found out they are nearly impossible to get right now.
I have the Champion tri fuel 9000w inverter generator. On propane it can start my 3 y/o American Standard 5 ton AC but on NG it can’t. It will start and run my 3.5 to. aC w/o a soft start. Need to install the soft start kit on my 5 ton. My neighbor had a different 4 ton AC but couldn’t start his AC with my generator. All and all, I Love it! Did the electrical myself as I’m an electrical engineer but hired a plumber to install a NG quick connect on my gas meter. Spent $2500 for everything including a 50 ft 3/4 gas line and thick 50 ft, 50 amp extension cord. Oh the plumber said it would cost $8500 to run gas underground 85 feet to where my breaker box is so I run a long gas line and extension cord which cost about $500 for those two items instead of
I have the same generator with an all electric house & after seeing it struggle to start my 5ton ac unit I decided not to run the ac, it sucked because my backup window units were on loan to my daughter. I’m looking at whole house 26kw generac units with 200amp auto transfer switch for $6300, but I need to buy a 500 gal propane tank, new tanks are $3200, so I can do it for around $10,000 but I have quotes for $20,000+ to do a turn key job. I will order everything to install myself, Beryl caused 4 days without AC, it sucked. I’m in Matagorda co so dead center of the eye, not fun.
@@mike-n-texaswoodturning9481 26Kw is roughly 108 AMPS. Most 5 ton AC units have a start up of 145 LRA. You might consider installing a MicroAir soft start kit. It will reduce the LRA by two thirds. My 3.5 ton AC unit has an LRA of 122 amps. After I installed the MicroAir it reduced the start up to an LRA to 32!!! My 13kw generator has no problems running the AC now!!
@@mike-n-texaswoodturning9481Soft Start kit brother.
@@Runamukker From what I've read, soft starts are good for the generator but will give your AC Compressor a very short life.
Have you ac guy install a soft start/ hard start kit on you ac and you won't have a problem
Love this setup. You did it right! I have had a similar setup (without the awesome quick connect NG connection) for many years and it worked great. A 5500-watt portable with an NG conversion ran my entire house, except for central air, but I have a portable AC in the bedroom to sleep at night. Saved me many times. (I live in Houston too) The only issue, although minor, is the power normally goes out when the weather is really nasty or in the middle of the night. I don't want to be out in the blowing rain or at 2 am trying to hook all of this up. In addition to the purchase price of a Generac (10k - 14k range), the natural gas cost is about $100 per day (24 hours). The fuel cost for a portable generator runs about $25 - $40 per day (24 hours). Whichever way you go, or even if you don't have a generator the Micro-Air EasyStart is a compressor saver. Thanks for the show-n-tell, nice work.
I already have a Honda EB6500, generator inlet on the back porch and multiple 5 gallons gasoline cans. I upgraded to a Kohler 38KW whole house unit powered with natural gas. No problems running everything at the same time in 100+ degree weather. Peace of mind.
Very informative!! ❤Loved the whole presentation! Went through the storm as well but didn't have a Generator. We have one NOW! Thanks again.
the fan motor pulls around 3 amps, same with blower motor inside, which is around 3 to 4 amps max. the compressor is the only main part that pulls high amps
Well done.
I am currently waiting on the insurance adjuster so I can start making repairs after that hurricane.
Studying up on generators which brought me here.
Get yourself a Westinghouse generator. I would go to the Westinghouse website to see what models/configurations they have available and where to get them. I got one of their top generators offered at lowes. I didn't get the big daddy mack Gen offered at lowes because it was only gasoline and I wanted something that would give me some options on the fuel source. Their next one down was a dual-fuel option and was still high enough to run a whole house. So I pulled the trigger on that one because I also saw I could convert it to take natural gas. Well today I decided to go look at the westinghouse website to see what all they offer and low and behold, they have my same model in a tri-fuel option and they also have the daddy mack in a tri-fuel option! I wish I would have gone to their website first because it would have saved me from buying the dual-fuel option I have and I would have gone with their tri-fuel option and saved myself the headache of a conversion. Now I'm stuck with this generator because lowes won't take it back once the box is opened. But I guess it could be worse!?!
Where I live we go for a 4 days sometimes even 2 weeks once without elect . What becomes crucial is Fuel and 30 weight Moter oil - I suggest you get a small generator that will run your refrigerator only. Think about it when you have no fuel for an hour ride away - and everybody and I mean everybody is scrounging for gas. It happened to us a couple of times.
switch over to a big propane tank and also you can add a second one for an emergency use only if you living out in the country. they make converstion kits to switch out you generator. I would buy two or three cases of oil at sam or costco and store them just only for you generator. I have a big fuel storage filled of non ethanol gas just for my Generator and a huge big bottle of propane tank. two cases of oil for the GEN.
hope this helps, I have been doing this for about 7 years and I am still using the same generator. mine does propane and gasoline Champion Generator
Cool set up, but just a fyi they do make lp/ng combo generacs they don't only run on ng. Also you can buy a generac 22kw lp/ng guardian with a 200amp automatic transfer switch for $6k from Sam's club it I don't see why it shouldn't cost a whole lot more for an electrician and plumber to install it prob could do the whole thing installed for $10k or less not no $20k as you claim. And just so you know all generators require routine/annual maintenance not just generacs.
Automatic standby generators also require permitting, inspections, and PTO from your utility. That's a large portion of the install costs, possibly thousands of dollars depending on your area.
Many thanks amigo, good stuff! Live in Harris County as well and am in the market for a generator enclosure. Heard what I needed to hear about zombie box and got some bonus learning material regarding the soft start. I appreciate you sharing this.
Thank you sir for your very detailed video. I was thinking of a whole home Generac that i was quoted $15k but with this setup is much more economical.
I have a similar setup as well for 2,000 ft² house and 3 ton unit I was averaging around 10,000 running Watts off peak and around 12 to 13,000 on, and decided for a 15,000 max peak tri fuel generator with 10,000 running on the natural gas which will definitely power everything in our house.
The inlet cost 500 bucks, the generator was about $2,500 and the plumber is around 3 to 500, depending upon the type of work the plumber has to do.
it's a much more efficient way to power your home in an outage for a fraction of the cost
I hope that $500 inlet price includes the electrician costs as well, they're only about $50 to buy directly.
Ok brother well done, but your 5 ton unit does not use 90 amps!
Blower fan about 5 amps, condenser fan less than 5 amps.
Compressor fan may spike to 80 than drops down to less than 10 to 14 Amps if it is a scroll compressor.
The condenser and blower fans start up current is typical 10 time running current and those induction loads are not nearly as intensive as the compressor.
So that point should be clarified for those viewers not familiar with the tech spec side of AC or electrical for that matter.
The zombie box portion did not touch upon air flow.
It would help if you had detailed the box on air flow.
Was it a passive vent system, did you add a fan and so one.
Glad you survived the storm as well my friend.
I hope you ponder all the comments and maybe do a part two with the details clarified.
After Beryl many will be looking to prep for the next.
90 LRA on startup.
One thing missing from your setup is a power back restoration alarm. I got one and it’s nice to get a alert when the powers on and I can shut the generator off.
Great idea...didn't know they made those.
@@RunamukkerI didn’t either until recently. Not expensive and easy to setup.
I have a return alarm just wraps around one of your main feeders. Either side of the hots. Measures electrical radiation to know when power is in the wire. Have a 18kw generator. With the interlock and inlet. Put it all in myself.
Or just use an automatic transfer switch…
@@XxTWMLxXthe 9 volt battery doesn’t last for days I found out.
I have a Generac 24kW whole house setup and it runs on both NG and propane. In fact the electricians did some startup testing with a propane tank before the plumber ran and hooked up the gas.
But I’ll agree that having a 3rd fuel option isn’t a bad thing. But during a storm event where you might need to go get gas or propane refill, good luck! My generator ran 8.5 days after beryl without a hiccup.
But that is a nice setup, and certainly less than the $14k I spent on the Generac whole house that I had installed a few months ago. I initially thought about going with a more DIY setup but then realized my wife would never want to do that on her own and having the piece of mind that the house is taken care of even if I’m away was worth it. Especially with little kids at home.
Had a home setup with an OG Coleman Powermate Vantage 8000. Ran essential circuits only with a manual transfer panel. Ran for a few days after Ivan, but used a lot of gas. Had to keep a stockpile because gas was out for miles all around. Moved and ended up after a serious bout of Tornados running a week on a Briggs Storm Responder 5500, used less gas but really could only run a handful of stuff because I didn't have this one wired into the house. Had to drive a state over to get gas when we ran low.
Eventually after having a bunch of random stupid power outages (cool evening, everyone around us with power, went an additional 8 hours without power while the neighborhood across the street had it) increasing in frequency, bit the bullet and got a Generac 24kW myself as well. So much better and I don't have to worry about my family going out in inclement weather to crank the generator/flip breakers/keep it filled up/etc. It's got auto load shedding the whole nine. I don't have to worry when I'm out of town that they can manage while I'm gone. I also watch it on my phone and know when it kicks on and exercises or has any issues.
However, I am working a contingency with an additional plug and switch to allow plugging in a gas/diesel gen if the natural gas goes out for any reason. I still got my old gas gens and exercise and maintain them as an insurance policy.
Went through the storm as well. First time with a generator. Looking to run on natural gas like your setup with the soft start. Had not seen the zombie box. That is cool. Nice setup. 😊
That zombie box runs about $2k-5k.
I solved my electric back up with a 12K diesel generator / 70 gal fuel tank for about $12k. It a fully enclosed unit that I run from inside my garage. I also have 4KW solar and a 6KW inverter with 15KW battery storage. I use the solar / battery for quiet operation and use the diesel for whole house 240v when needed.
What diesel generator did you go with? During power outages in my area (I live between 2 major interstates) it's easier to get diesel than gas. Thanks for any info.
thanks for this video....nice setup and shoutout to the electrical company. appreciate it as i begin my houston area generator journey
Great tutorial! Especially for those not otherwise in the know about electricity & generators. Nice set up with the natural gas.
I did the same thing with a roll out generator like yours. Instead of the Gen Max I went with the Uber premium Honda EU 7000is. Not the newest one but the earlier model with out the CO minder & the blue tooth. I wanted an inverter to power up my home instead of a regular genny. The inverter delivers clean 60 cycle power just like the power company. Yours may not? I can run sensitive electronics on mine without any issue. Also it sips fuel in economy mode. Mine will run half load on 5 gallons of gas for 18 hours. I have an interlock for my CB panel just like you. However I had a custom fabricated enclosure made for mine that is vented on 2 full sides. It’s made of 306 stainless steel. My genny is set up inside my enclosure like yours. I have the inlet inside the enclosure. My enclosure is on a poured in place concrete pad that is attached by screws to the concrete. I have a ground Rod for my cabinet as well to safe guard anyone touching it. I have the trickle charger hard wired to the battery. I bought the same soft start kit. My genny is ready to go with 3 switches & 1 push button. It is set up for my wife to use. She is not electrically savvy but knows a lot more than me. She has written instructions as well as refresher classes on restoring power to the house in an emergency when I’m not home.
I store over a hundred gallons of pre-treated gas at my house. That’s enough fuel to last three weeks. Enough time for services to be restored. I have it stored on a metal rack that is grounded to another ground rod. Like you we did our homework. Hopefully with your audience well educate the CZcams crowd? I look forward to more videos!
I’m a utility lineman for a living. When the power is out at my house I never get any calls on my phone as I’m busy getting everyone else’s lights on. I consider a generator at home a safety item. It’s an insurance policy incase the worse case happens.
Our genny is super quiet & my neighbors all think I must have a “special line” at my house because they all know I work for the local power company. Generators are going to become a necessity with global warming & more violent storms. I see it on my end at work.
Man...that's super impressive and thank you for what you do. You may as well be Captain America when people need you.
@@Runamukker Not really. Most have smiles when we show up. Others might not be soo happy. Especially the ones who have been out a while. I warn customers now that a generator should be part of their house emergency plan. If only to run their well pump & provide heat & hot water. That’s huge right there. My wife & I are both heat intolerant. We need our 2-1/2 ton Trane central air.
If you would like to see my enclosure & genny running? Go to my home page. I have both on there.
Checked out your set up and that enclosure is NICE! Well ventilated. Keep up the good work and stay safe running lines in disaster zones!
When you said you were out of power for 3 days, I was wondering if you were impact by Beryl. And then you confirmed my suspicion. Nice setup! I had a generator, but I ended up having to use extension cords. Not to mention the generator was woefully underpowered. I have a new generator on-order. Had been thinking about getting a Zombiebox. Seeing that setup... now I'm really leaning more towards getting one. Thanks for the video!
I love it....can't hear it running from the street and It's always just in there ready to go.
I have a 6500W genny. Got the disconnect and shoreline to the breaker box. I live by myself. So I had a port-a-cool AC for one room. So I live during a power outage in my ham room. Can run cooler, Ice Box, 100w and 50 watt ham radios, charge laptop, some lights and fans. Enough at least to be able to sleep at night.
I got my genny on the $80 garden cart from HFT. As one living in H-Town, flooding is an issue. The cart gets the frame 16-18 inches off the ground. Also improves air flow.
Having a neighbor build for me a shed which will protect unit from rain, sun, and heat.
Thank you for your time and video. Very informative content. 👍🏽🇺🇸
good vid. I am about 45 ish mins north east of H and have a 9k predator harbor freight deal but im off grid on solar. we dont really have CNG gas out here and SJC sux for power outages so if you wanted to do something like that itd be gasoline or LP only. yall city slickers got all the good stuff, LOL thx for the vid, hope it helps some people out.
Nice video! Just a thing on the soft start, I talked with some electricians and AC guys who actually suggest not using the soft start, but the hard start instead as the soft start over time will cause unit issues. I just wanted to let you know as I was just about to buy the soft start and my AC guy said no, let's do the hard start. Hope that helps. Love the box!
Hard Start: Suitable for units struggling with starting, especially in older systems or those with frequent start-stop cycles.
Soft Start: Ideal for reducing inrush current, particularly with generator use, and for systems with electrical limitations or seeking reduced wear and tear.
@@TechnoDad72 yeah and this is exactly what I thought as well that's why I wasn't sure why he recommended the hard start but maybe he meant soft start.
Hurricane Beryl had us without power for 9 days. 5 of those days with no generator. It was hell to say the least.
This video is perfect for someone new to generators like myself. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in this type of purchase.
This video made it simple and easy for us to jot down what we need, and you gave accurate estimates so we don’t get messed around. Thank you good sir and God Bless
See the description for the breaker box inlet/interlock people I used if your in the Houston area.
Before i looked at the description, just based on the look of your house, the street and the weather, I was thinking: *I wonder if this guy is in Houston* and you are. I'm in NW Houston near Cypress and my set-up is virtually identical to yours but I have a pergola in my backyard so I don't have a generator shed. I'm using a Westinghouse 14,500 peak wat tri-fuel generator and I also got a plumber to install a natural gas quick disconnect T-line and an electrician to install the same soft start kit. I ran my generator for almost 2 days straight (had to get gasoline once) and then we got power back. It performed flawlessly. Additional thought: I wholly agree on your sentiment and your strategy against the Generac and Kohler stationary whole-home generators- they are RIDICULOUSLY over-priced and yes, if the natural gas network stops working then you have a $20,000 pile of junk. I saw a comment on CZcams where a guy bought a Generac and had it installed around 2017 and it only cost him $8,000 and now the same unit is, as mentioned, close to $20,000.
what's your sf and ton size condenser? i was looking at the 14,500 peak tri fuel but I'm seeing if that's a over kill if i have a 4 ton 2500 sf home was built on 2021...
hi Runa, could I please request that you record a video of the generator turned on, while inside the zombiebox? I wanted to see how loud this particular generator was inside of the zombiebox, and I cannot find anyone else on youtube that has the duramax 13000 inside of a zombiebox. thank you!
I'm a HVAC contractor, it does not take 90 amps to start your AC in cool mode. Maybe 30 amp
in rush amperage to get it started can be very high, well over 100 amps, use a soft start to bring that down.
@@williamfowler616 no it is not, I have tested well over 1000 5 ton units starting amps
We even use soft start kits for Tesla batteries for Solar. Now they have a built in cranking power output for AC to start. I think everyone in FL and TX should be watching this. Never saw so many wealthy people without power and looking like a hot mess when hurricane Irma came. They had nice car that was over 50k but never even had a 1,200 decent generator. Everyone should get an inner lock kit generator that doesn’t cost a lot. People willing to pay anything when power is out but not pay to prevent something. Prevent is key
Yep.
It also extends the life of the compressor. Less wear and tear on your whole system.
I have been in the HVAC business for nearly forty years and I have never seen natural gas run with galvanized pipe, but maybe it's a local code thing. Other than that pretty good video
I was in Beryl without power for 8 or 9 days, I don't rememeber
But 4 of those days we ran my van with a 1500w power inverter for the fridge and Wi-Fi so we could actually see what was going on
Middle of the 4th day I decided I want a damn generator because this is ridiculous!
I got a 9k Predator from Harborfreight (I wanted the 13k tri-fuel but none were available)
And I tapped into the breaker panel using the drier breaker as the power in. It worked to power the entire 2 story 2600sqft home without issue, even with someone accidentily powering both 2.5ton AC systems at the same time
Needless to say I won't ever be left without power again, that sucked. I'll at some point do something similar
Thank you for the video!
Nice set up. I’d have a blower fan set up that turns on when your generator turns on to get good airflow
It has that built into the Zombie Box.
@@Runamukker awesome
Your outdoor condenser fan and furnace blower don't use very much power at all, like a couple amps or so each. You must just be looking at the circuit breaker size that serves them.
Great video. I have a very similar set up after the power outage in May. No power for 6 days.
Heres some great advice. And I tell you this because I have dealt with so many homes being affected by surge\lightning and utility surging the home.
If you look up installation for square d hepd50/80 it will tell you to esnure your surge breaker is closest to your
Main breaker and that the wires are twisted as they go to the breaker for best perfomance.
Also helps from surge going through all your arc fault breakers before getting to the surge breaker.
Im a houston electrician and my specialty is dealing with homes that get affected by surge
How can I contact you! I have been affected big time by surge
@@lonniecoleman7859 where you located
How can I contact you? I am thinking to have a generator inlet installed. I lived close to Pasadena.
@@TechnoDad72 pro max electrical
@@TechnoDad72see the description for the interlock install.
Thanks for sharing. Id suggest to have all openings (like gas inlet, hose) covered/plugged with something. If a mud wasp finds its way in it will make a mess thats a pain to clean.
They are when not inuse.
Thanks for your review on your home generator setup. Very nicely done and a good thorough explanation of how the system was put together and the aspects n components of the system that need to be done and which part of it should be done by a certified electrician, etc. BTW, just wondering if the DuroStar Genie you have is a "Inverter" Generator model ?
Thank you again Runamukker. Very informative and helpful..
This Duromax is not an inverter generator.
You need to replace the foam on the freon line
I was just thinking about doing something similar to this and thought I’m sure someone else has done this and came to CZcams and you was the first video I seen thank you
I’m running everything off of a diesel generator. When all the stations run out they still have diesel. Plus it burns very little fuel. I find it hard to believe that little pup will run a 5 ton AC even with a soft start. It puts out less than 8000 on natural gas.
I definitely does....10k peak ie starting wattage and 8500 running....starting takes more than running. It ran flawlessly for 3 days and we love it.
I have been advising people for a decade to buy at minimum a 4k generator, dual fuel, to keep the fridge freezer fans and charge phones, run a heather. So many people scoff at me. yet they drop 1500 on a phone, 5k on vacations, and yet, just cannot find the money to buy a $500 generator. Buy one now. What are you waiting on? I have a 4k and then moved up to the 13k. Dual fuel version, and snagged it with warranty on Amazon for under 1k. Price goes up, and down. But really, what are you waiting on? I live in FL by the way.
Facts. Even a 2000w generator will do wonders. During Baryl, my little 2000w Honda gen was powering my fridge, a 6000btu window unit for the master bedroom, internet, tv, and even my computer with 3 monitors hooked up. Ran it like a champ. Entire house was hot as hell but my master bedroom was cold as ice. And my drinks too!
Very interesting setup! I'm in Houston as well, and you have my mind gears turning, haha. Would be interesting to look into creating a setup that essentially turned the enclosure into a refrigerated unit (maybe solar-powered?) to help with dissipating heat. Like retrofitting the coil setup from a window-A/C unit into an enclosure somehow. Hmm...
I set my ranch home up with a dual fuel Westinghouse 12KW generator with remote start/ stop, much like you did, then I installed a Honeywell 200 amp automatic throwover between the meter and the breaker box. (And yes, the remote is wired into the Honeywell ATO.) My system runs on propane, so there is definitely a limit to how long I can run my generator. But, since I live in rural country I can source non ethanol fuel in larger quantities. Mostly used for the ranch equipment, but during storm season, I make sure my ranches gas storage tank is as close to full as I can get it. I love my Zombie box, and so do the chickens and goats. I prefer to run the generator on propane, but having a duel fuel will pay off. Plus, I have some solar on the house. Not enough to run the entire home, lighting mostly, but my Motorcoach has enough solar on it that it can add to solar generation should there be an extended national outage. Plus, I can plug my RV with big battery bank into the home as a backup to the generator.
For an intown set up you've got it right.
And for those of you thinking about doing this to your home, check with your local utility and see what your maximum peak usages have been in the summer and winter so you'll get a handle of how big a generator you really need. Calculate what you have to have running in the house based on those past usages. Some of you may have the ability to see what you've used online. (I'm a retired Power Lineman / Technician!
BTY, my home has propane heat, but we also have a fireplace and a cast iron stove for heat, so the 12KW generator is sized to run my ac units easily. Oh, and we have 2 water heaters. One propane and one electric, so hot water from the well isn't an issue. And I should mention our 12K gallons rainwater harvesting storage also makes us a little less dependent on the Utility Companies.
Oh, and the reason I wanted to comment. I prefer the portable generators over the permanent installed ones in case we ever have to Bugout. We'll just take this big generator with us to wherever we bugout to!
Again, that's a great intown system, and the lockput panel is greatly appreciated by your local power lineman!
Thank you for the feedback....I agree with everything you added.
You’re using a Honeywell automatic transfer switch with a portable generator?
Just putting this out there.....any "plumber, gas fitter" worth his/her salt would NOT use galvanized pipe to run a feed for your generator.
codes.iccsafe.org/s/IRC2015/part-vi-fuel-gas/IRC2015-Pt06-Ch24-SecG2414.4.2#:~:text=%E2%9D%96%20Steel%20pipe%20must%20be,zinc%20coating%20on%20galvanized%20pipe.
Galvanized pipe "flakes" over time and leads to blockages. Good luck with that. Black pipe is the correct pipe.
@@kerplunk38880codes.iccsafe.org/s/IRC2015/part-vi-fuel-gas/IRC2015-Pt06-Ch24-SecG2414.4.2#:~:text=%E2%9D%96%20Steel%20pipe%20must%20be,zinc%20coating%20on%20galvanized%20pipe
@@Runamukker You can post all of the links you'd like. It is an absolute known problem that galvanized pipe flakes over time and will cause issues. That's why black pipe is the correct choice.
@kerplunk38880 I'll make you a deal...I don't care how long it takes, it could be 10 years, but if galvanized flakes ruin my generator I'll come back here and admit I was wrong....scouts honor. I'm not trying to be funny....I'll really do it. I put this thread in my memory bank.
This is a cheaper gen set up. But in regards NG, everything is relative. Interruption of NG is extremely unlikely, but to purchase gas or propane when no one has power generates it's own problems.
I'm in Houston and NG was down during our crazy ice storm 2 years ago when the lines burst.
About the 3 items... the compressor alone is the huge draw. A condenser fan draws an amp running as does a typical blower motor (ECM is 1-3 amps). They are not the main concern. Yes, they have a start-up surge too but we are talking very small amounts. The compressor is the big draw. 75-125 amps of surge while steady state may 17-30 amps depending on the size. So strictly speaking sequentially starting those 3 items you mentioned does not solve the current draw using a generator. You have to do much more on the startup of the compressor which is what the microair does getting that inrush from the compressor at 120 amps range down to a reasonable 25-40 amp inrush. Not sure why you ran that pipe all the way to that area and then used a hose. Your hose could have just gone to the ball valve area just as easily and not have all that pipe installed. Looks to be the same distance essentially. Also that gen has a lot of power but I would not characterize it as running like you were on the grid. You should mark your circuits so you know which ones it can power because i am pretty sure it would have issues running a 240 V oven (3,000-5000 watts alone), electric cook top (2000-3000 per burner) and 5 ton AC (6,000 running watts) amongst all the other circuits available. Guessing you have mostly gas applicances which helps a lot. Just realize there is a limit. Nice set up you have. Great job on the package
Great video I got a generator about the same size as that and the generator hook up and the breaker and all that for hurricanes here in Florida, it works good I’m itching to get a good hurricane so I can actually use it😆
Right?....everyone without a generator gets nervous, but we get excited to use our stuff....lol.
Great information & great setup, exactly what I’m looking for… thanks!
Very well spoken and informative. You must be close I have same trash company
I think if you try running that 5 ton a/c and your "normal" living appliances on your set-up in the Houston area for an extended period of time your going to run into problems.
Why?
the $$$ he saved on not buying a $20k generac better have went to Winchester and CCI
It looks promising, but I'm not sure how well it would hold up against significant challenges over time. I don't have enough expertise to determine its long-term reliability.
I do like the idea of just one plug into the home rather than the separate cords.
Having one hook up is a game changer. For Ida I made a suicide cord (DON'T DO IT. And yes I made sure the main breaker was off) and had the whole house lit up and fans going without the spaghetti of extension cords around the house.
Dont forget a gas regulator.
Thanks for the detailed walk through. This was a great video.
Great Video! I just had my breaker box outfitted with the interlock to use the Generator but now I am ready to do the natural gas hook up was unsure if I wanted to go thru with it but after watching your video it just makes sense. Plus I don't have to worry about running to the gas station for gas etc. Not sure if I am gonna do the Zombie box enclosure a little pricey but its a good option gonna have to continue my research for the enclosure. Thanks again for the info very useful.
Definitely get the NG....it's everything when you need it. Just get a gentent...just as good and nobody cares about noise when everyone that has a generator is running their generators.
@@Runamukker so true about the noise when the power is out lol
Nice setup.
Excellent video! Thanks for taking the time and sharing
Add a Starlink and you really wouldn't know anything happened. I have the gen setup and during the "Big Freeze" in Texas a few years ago, like you , I hardly knew anything was happening, including full high speed internet. FYI, during a power outage most internet goes down because the distribution boxes lose power also. So get Starlink and/or a good antenna for local stations. BTW, nice setup.
Crazy that Ive been looking into this and really close to pulling the trigger.
@@Runamukker starlink is my only option out here, but its expensive and you will have way faster options in town. also it DOES go down in storms. when its raining i loose signal.
So many parasite draws when powering the whole house.
I need to power chest deep freezer, and the fan portion of the furnace. I went with a small inverter gasoline generator & spent less than $800.
Portable generators are rated at 50% duty, & you will need to change the oil in the generator often.
Unlike your home with the breaker box inside the gargage or home, I have the main breaker located outside the home, where switching to a backup using a mechanical interlock on a panel would leave me exposed to the elements. I'm still trying to find a way to accomplish something similar without the use of a transfer panel. Still thinking about it.
my place was setup like this when i bought it. i ran a 100a main breaker in that box thru a 4ga set of wires to a second box inside then ran all my circuits off that box. my situation was the outside box was real close to the house tho. if you have a higher service 200a or 300a or a longer lun to the house you may need larger breakers or cable.
My gas meter/line is 150 ft from my electrical box so I either have to extend the gas line, or extend the electrical cable, which I'm guessing is pretty expensive. You are fortunate to have all located fairly close to each other
You can do a little of both....they make really long 50amp cables.
If you have a gas appliance closer to the electrical panel, maybe a stove or dryer, a plumber can likely tap into that line instead of running all the way from the meter. A little drywall repair work would be better than having 150 ft. of exterior gas line.
Good thing about that generator is easy and cheap to replace if it fails where Generac at the mercy of them. I hear Generacs are junk the air cooled ones over heat after long extended runs in high heat when you need the thing.
Definitely part of my thought process but the main consideration was the cost. I also know that I can upgrade it as the tech improves and take it all with me to the next house.
Generacs also run on propane also and it cost 12k -13k everything is also automated
Great video, thanks. What breakers did you turn on first after throwing open the 50amp generator breaker? e.g. furnace blowers, AC, followed by smaller amps, or does it matter based on the size of your generator? Thanks!
I turn them all on since I do t really feel overloaded on my gen. I don't run the dryer, air fryer, or microwave on gen power, though. Those seem to strain my system when ac is on.
The problem is most generators are not designed to be run on an extended basis. Something like a Kubota Lowboy II diesel is a more reliable option. It is liquid cooled.
That Zombie box is nice.
Yea me too. Can we get sny info on the gen housing box so we can buy it?
Google zombie box.
I like your setup and I've been running a portable generator in a similar manner for over 20 years. Here are the details you didn't mention:
* Venting - if you're running your generator in a box, you've got two issues: heat build up and carbon monoxide. I guess you can open up the lid when you're running it, but then it's less protected from the elements. Some people create all types of venting solutions. Fans, mufflers. None are perfect, but it's doable. Just something to point out.
* THD or total harmonic distortion. Basically, a measurement of how clean the power coming in is. From your utilities, it's usually 5-6%. For a generator like you're running, it can be 20% or more. It's fine for some devices like laptops, that have internal batteries and can clean up the dirty power. But I've had two instances in which a pump burned out while running a portable generator. Again, this is 2 pumps in over 20 years, so that's not terrible. But if you have sensitive equipment, you have to be careful running it on dirty power.
* Having to manually do the transfer - This is a big annoyance and there's a lot to talk about here
We have well water where I live, so when we lose power, we lose water too. Once, I was taking a shower when we lost power. Needless to say, having to dry off when you're full of soap and go start a generator isn't ideal. But what's worse, once you wait the typical 30 minutes to confirm the power isn't coming back, you have to then take the 10 minutes to start the generator up, plug in the gen cord and flip all of the breakers. And you don't know when power has come back, so every 30 minutes or so, you call the power company/go on their website and try to figure out, do we have power back yet? A very annoying, time-consuming process.
We recently lost power while I was out of town and my family didn't know the procedure to start the generator up, so were forced to stay in the dark for a day until it came back.
To me, your setup is fine for occasional outages. As I get older and as the frequency of these outages increases (we had 4 just last month), a whole house generator is a luxury I'm willing to spend for.
ZombieBox vents via fan from bottom and out the top. Thd of my gen is 5%. For everything else see my description in the video description section.
Thank you because I don’t have 20k. I appreciate this video.
you can do solar real cheap except the batteries. $3k for 10kw panels and inverter. but it only works when the sun is up, for night you need batteries and thats where they get ya. normal house $10k to $15k just in battery
@@Texas_Radical wow!!
Can you post a list of all that was used in the set up.
All that work just to still be grid dependent. I don't get gas generators... unless you are in more rural area and have a tank off site that can hold months+ supply. If not rather just go solar and not have to smell fumes in my backyard and hear it running.
Im rural and solar is just the way to go period IF big IF, you have the ability to DIY and the availability of cash to drop $15k in one chunk. if so you can certainly build one heck of a system. land and or a south facing roof is also very handy.
Generacs run on both natural gas and propane. By the way, you have to connect the gas and electrical when the lights go out. In my case I don’t have to go through that. Power goes out, transfer switch kicks in and the generator fires up and powers everything in my house within 15 seconds. If I’m not home my family is covered or if we’re on holiday we don’t have to worry about our food in the refrigerators being ruined. All automatic and covered by a ten year warranty for everything for under $15k.
See my description. Not everyone wants to or can spend $15k. My setup is almost a 1/4 of that and my family is comfortable with a little bit of effort.
You can also take the generator with you if you had a SHTF scenario.
Brother, I appreciate the information. Just so happen to have your video in the main screen. I was affected by Beryl too, 8 whole days with a janky generator set up haha.
Your cond fan motor won't pull more than 5 amps, the blower motor won't pull more than 8 amps. Your compressor will pull close to LRA for a couple of seconds but come back down to run load amps around 17-25 amps. Get a soft start and it will run with the generator.
I've seen Generac whole house generators for $5500 (19500 watts), although I'm sure you could spend $20k on a huge one. I've also seen the tri-fuel generator like yours for around $1500. I just looked up the Zombie Box you have to keep it outside and it's $2000, so you've got at least $3500 into it without gas plumbing and electrical labor. Generacs are made to be outside and for a couple grand more it's not a bad option.
Any way you slice it, it's around or just under $15k installed for a home standby generator. This is 1/3 of that at least. You can get a gentent instead of a ZombieBox for $150
For a whole home standby generator they are 15-20k in my area as well on new construction it’s closer to the 15k on existing it’s closer to 20k
I had a much longer run at low psi, so I ended up running a 1.25" line to the back yard. I can run anything I need in the future.
Awesome set up! Did you have to have a larger natural gas meter installed? What is your CFH capacity on your meter?
Not sure but it's the meter that came with the house.
They run on propane too!
Can you share the video you made about running delicate electronics on Gen power? Thanks in advance!
Generac’s don’t “just only run on natural gas”. Propane works for them as well.
Appreciate it my guy!
Same scenario with Beryl. I need to do a setup similar to yours. My fear is heat around the generator though.
Just keep it out in the open with a gentent. My zombiebox was specifically engineered to move air in from the bottom and out the top.
@@RunamukkerCan you give us the total cost of this setup including electrician and plumber fees?
@@sully75974k....minus the zombie box.
Maybe add a exhaust pipe extension to channel the hot exhaust gas outside the zombie box instead of relying on the fan to push them out?
I did....you can see the exhaust at the beginning of the video from the outside. I was just replacing the exhaust hose during this video....you can see it on top of the generator.
Awesome video thanks!! I'm doing this now. Looking at the 13000 duramax and the Harbor freight predator 13000 both are tri fuel. Predator is around 1100.00. I have all gas in my home including stove, water heater and dryer. I will add the soft start on my A/C. I love that Zombie box. I am researching them now. Any one have comments on the predator v duramax????
Personally, as a side note, depending on location/flood history, I'd raise that generator a couple of feet...but, that's just me. Weally 😎
no flooding issues at all where im at but definitely something to consider.
Thanks, did you fix that fence board yet?
Slick setup.
Wow… not sure what prices you are dealing with where you live, but I install generacs for around 10 to 12K…