SuncrestReef Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Several months ago I ordered a whole-house standby generator, and we're finally getting close to the installation. Today my gas meter was upgraded to handle the needed capacity and connected to the new pipe that will fuel the generator. The generator should be delivered next week and final installation sometime in the next couple weeks! My Reefer has a small UPS battery that can run all the equipment for about 2 minutes during a power outage. This will keep my Apex, pumps, and lights running during the brief time needed for the generator to fire up and transfer over to backup power. This will all happen automatically and will not require any intervention on my part. This will be a great sense of relief knowing we usually have a couple of power outages every winter. Old gas meter: New gas meter: This is the 22kW generator I ordered: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Sounds pretty sweet - I am envious! It's the kind of thing that you may never need but if you do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 5, 2018 Author Share Posted October 5, 2018 1 minute ago, albertareef said: Sounds pretty sweet - I am envious! It's the kind of thing that you may never need but if you do... My house is at 750 feet elevation, so in the winters we tend to get hit with more snow/ice/wind and power outages than the lower elevation areas around Portland. Last winter we had one outage that lasted 36 hours, and several shorter ones. With this generator, not only will my aquarium be OK, but lights, TV, furnace, garage doors, Internet, and all appliances will still have full power! I've been wanting to do this for many years, but the aquarium finally pushed me to go for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 I would love to have this. the unit itself is not that expensive but man of man the install can be REALLY expensive if your not doing it yourself!! Even then... ughhh. I dont think I have the gas line needed to do it. I have a gas powered generator and a teenager who is always home. We do get power outages often though, very forested around here 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 5, 2018 Author Share Posted October 5, 2018 Yes, the installation, gas line upgrade, and permits add up to about the cost of the generator itself. But I figure this is an investment that will last 15 years or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Last night our lights went off and on a couple times then a transformer blew up somewhere. we still had power though...Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 Call me jelly....!! I need to invest in a portable generator this year as well. Not like ur set up. Your is supa nice bud!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I got the portable yamaha generator from costco (goes on sale from time to time). Will power my tank and my modem/router which are the only two things I really care about in life 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaywood Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I'm with you Manny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 yeah... but only if you are home to plug it in and turn it on. my "forever" house will have this for sure Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 8, 2018 Author Share Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, pdxmonkeyboy said: yeah... but only if you are home to plug it in and turn it on. my "forever" house will have this for sure Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Not only will the generator automatically start up during an outage, it's also network connected so I can check the status remotely on my phone or computer. Edited October 8, 2018 by SuncrestReef 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailermann Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Gee, if you can pull this off for less the 10K, I will be envious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Nice! My neighbor had this same setup in Texas. Helped him install the gas line (had rural 200 gallon propane tank) and the ABT switch. Where we lived we had probably 8-10 3+ hour power outages a year (which power company denied). When it’s 90 degrees at 2230 and the power goes out for a few hours your house gets hot quick. His was the only house of 30 with the lights on and AC. It got to be so bad one of the techie neighbors setup a power monitor that logged every power bump, outage, dip, etc and use the data to fight the power company. After that we only had 2 or 3 a year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 9, 2018 Author Share Posted October 9, 2018 48 minutes ago, Trailermann said: Gee, if you can pull this off for less the 10K, I will be envious. Close, but it comes to $10,700. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailermann Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 I did some major electrical and other contracting to make my man cave "safe" for the reef. Changed out the wood flooring for ceramic tiles, and re-routed many electrical circuits and upgraded and moved the panels in the garage. Then I added a cut off to switch critical circuits over to a generator when the power goes off. This was one big step short of a whole house set up. This hobby is way more expensive than I expected. Yes, you all warned me, but I did not listen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 The generator was delivered today! I have to wait until next Tuesday for the electrician to install the transfer switch and make the final connections, but at least we're getting close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 nice!! THE hardest part is actually finding a contractor!! Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 12, 2018 Author Share Posted October 12, 2018 14 minutes ago, pdxmonkeyboy said: nice!! THE hardest part is actually finding a contractor!! I've been working with Bryant Power Services. They have been excellent to work with! They average about 6 generator installations per month. I found them on Angie's List where they get great reviews. I'd highly recommend them. https://bryantpowerservices.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntero1975 Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Having the auto on switch is amazing. I have a large 7000watt roll around gen that I have for power outages, although I have never had to use it in the 4 plus years of owning it. I still go out and start it and plug in a few space heaters to keep in it good order and only use non ethanol fuel and try and keep about 10 gallons on hand that I rotate threw every few months. Its kinda a pain in the butt, wish I had a nice plumbed in to my gas on the house like this one. That's a nice clean install man.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 (edited) The electricians installed the automatic transfer switch and connected the generator today. (Before anyone comments about the window near the generator, that's my garage, not a living space, so it's perfectly acceptable to install the generator in this location. I posted these photos on a Facebook forum and several people argued with me that the generator needs to be moved. I explained the garage, and that the building inspector approved it, but they continued to argue until I just deleted the whole thread to end the attacks. Haters gonna hate...) They had to shut off power to my house for over 2 hours during this installation, but they provided a portable generator to keep my aquarium running the whole time. These guys from Bryant Power Services were great! Now I just need to wait for the final inspection and then I'm ready for winter storms. Edited October 16, 2018 by SuncrestReef 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 Looking good! Nothing like trolls to make one's day. BTW, about that window above the generator... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huntero1975 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 You should be more worried about the shiny silver pipe between the 2 boxes now!!! Gosh man!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted October 24, 2018 Author Share Posted October 24, 2018 The generator installation is now complete after passing all inspections! Here's a quick video showing the generator automatic transfer switch cutting over from generator power to utility power for my house. This was filmed while manually testing the generator, and you'll see at 0:15 the transfer switch solenoid snaps closed automatically to connect the house back to utility power. The generator remains running for about 2 minutes after the cutover just in case the utility power fails again, so the transfer switch could automatically return to generator power without the delay of starting up the generator again. Once the utility power has been solid for 2 minutes, the generator shuts itself down. I'm pretty happy with this setup! Bring on those winter storms... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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