Generac Guardian Automatic Standby Generator
Right now, the electrical power I'm using to submit this entry as I watch television in my warm home is being supplied by my Generac Guardian 12kw generator. It's been running continuously for more than 40 hours now since the latest ice storm left 250,000 people in Maine without power. I've had this unit for nearly ten years now, and it has reliably provided power whenever the grid fails, which can happen a few times a year in this pretty rural part of the country.
The exact model I have is a 04456-0 which is 10kw when used on Natural Gas or 12kw when used with LP (Liquified Petroleum) Gas. Ours sits on a small pad in the backyard hooked up to the same buried LP gas tank I use to heat the house, provide hot water, etc. Since the unit is air cooled, there's no radiator or water pump to worry about. No fan belts. And very little maintenance. Essentially, you have a 5-year battery to replace and an oil change every six months. It "exercises" once a week for 20 minutes and will indicate if there is a problem. The most that's ever gone wrong with it in all these years was a bad spark plug that I fixed in minutes. Mostly, you ignore it until the power goes out. I test mine in the fall or if I hear a big storm is coming; I do that by walking over to the master breaker switch from the power company and shutting it off. Like clockwork, 45 seconds later the house is lit back up as the generator is up and running.
Most importantly, this generator is automatic. As a volunteer firefighter, I wanted a unit that would start up and run automatically, since when we loose power there's a good chance I'll be too busy out on the fire trucks to go dragging a portable out of the garage and wiring it in.
Back about 10 years ago, this kind of permanently-installed generator was less common. The Generac line was really one of the first for consumers. At the time, automatic standby units were for businesses and public safety use. Big commercial units were simply out of the range for home use. My Guardian was purchased and installed professionally -- including the transfer switch and wiring -- for around $5500. I'm told they're available for much less now. There are also other products out there -- mostly higher-end ones like those from CAT -- that are great, but still too expensive for the average rural homeowner.
Honda makes great portable generators, like the previously-reviewed EU Series, which is enough to keep the fridge or freezer cold, or switch over and run the furnace to keep the house warm, but they're heavy, tricky to set up for many people, and don't hold as much fuel. At 12kw, the Guardian can run my whole house as long as I don't go crazy. The electric dryer and the air conditioner in my server room are not connected to breakers served by the generator, but everything else is. We're careful not to use all the burners on the stove and the microwave and oven all at once, but otherwise, it's just like being on the grid. The generator burns just under a gallon of LP gas per hour on a light to average load. With the tank I have, I can go several days if need be, which is plenty of time to arrange for a delivery of more fuel. During this blackout, my neighbors have even come over to cook and use the shower while their houses are still without power and they're struggling to keep enough heat in to keep the pipes from bursting. I can't think of a better testimonial than that.
My older model doesn't have Generac's new "True Power" feature that provides a cleaner power cycle for sensitive electronics, so I use battery backup units with AVR (automatic voltage regulation) on that gear. Newer Generac models provide this themselves. The one linked to below appears to be the newer version of mine in terms of size/market/capability, but it's only $3k. Given that it includes the transfer switch, that's a hell of a deal. For a cheapo 1 or 2 kw portable generator and transfer switch you'd pay around a thousand bucks.
-- Andrew Pollack
Generac Guardian Automatic Standby Generator
$3,050
(12 kW)
Available from Lowe's
Or $3,700 (10 kW) from Amazon
Manufactured by Generac Power Systems, Inc.
Favorite (15)
Matt
After the ice storms in upstate NY and NH left us without power last week this is the only thing on my Christmas list!
Andrew Pollack
Just wanted to say thank to Kevin for doing a great job editing write up I sent in.
Kevin - you may be the best editor I've ever worked with, so thanks!
P.S. For anyone who's reading this -- the final tally for that outage was 53 hours. After the first evening, I did turn off the outside Christmas lights as it seemed like teasing.
Fred
The "True Power" feature for sensitive electronics might be good, or it might be bogus, depending on what it does. PC power can accept sinusoidal input but also saw-tooth input quite well. That's because they use switching power supplies that essentially turn the power on and off thousands of times per second before smoothing it.
If the True Power feature gives you a more constant voltage, then it might indeed help your electronics. Wave shape, not so much.
On the web site of APC there used to be a good description of all of these issues. Including why your test of shutting things off with the master breaker switch is only a partial test. I can't find that document now. One of the factors is that when the power fails you're still connected to the grid, so some older systems will start powering your neighbors house. Another is the suddenness of the shut down and the turn on. Another is surge. Grids coming back on line often surge and dip, where your breaker test does not do that.
Andrew Pollack
@Fred - Shutting off the breaker is a reliable test for this case, because I'm testing the ability for the generator to notice the power loss, start, and run the house. Because I'm using a transfer switch controlled by the generator, I am never "partially connected" to the grid. The transfer switch makes that impossible -- which is very important.
You do have a point about their "True Power" feature. Since my older model doesn't have it, I can't tell you if its giving you a more constant and controlled voltage and duty cycle or if its just giving you a clean wave. I do know that with my older model I don't "In theory" need to use a UPS with AVR but that voltage does tend to vary quiet a bit as the load changes (with drops enough to briefly cycle on the UPS units to full battery briefly every once in a while).
I use AVR capable battery units on every expensive electronic device I've got -- and I find over years that it makes a huge difference in longevity.
adfssad
KK missed the loose/lose thing (third paragraph)
*grammar nazi mode off*
Man these things have gotten cheap. I was considering one of the honda quiet generators, but this seems like a much better deal.
Kevin Kelly
@ Andrew: I wish I could take credit but Steven Leckart edits all the reviews in Cool Tools these days. And, yes, he is good.
Andrew Pollack
@Kevin -- Yes, I'd emailed him saying so as well. What I sent over started as a few paragraphs (most of the first bit) written while tired and staring blankly at the TV, the followed up in response to questions with more rambled answers. What impressed me was how he cut it all together but left it intact at the same time. Very very skilled.
Gary
Very cool tool, we have the huge commercial generators from CAT where I work, but I wasn't aware of these consumer grade ones for home use. I live in a condo unit where I couldn't install one of these but when I purchase a house this will be a must have!
Rob
I am considering buying an 8 or 10 kw model for my small weekend home which is in a rural area and is subject to power outages in the winter. My only problem is that I have no natural gas or LP source - the house runs on oil heat with everything else electric. What's my best bet?
Andrew Pollack
@Rob - Chances are, the same company that delivers your oil heat will also deliver LP (Propane). They'll supply and maintain the tank as well, though you'll have to pay for the initial hookup.
I recommend spending a bit more and getting them to bury a 250 gallon one. A buried tank is safer if there's a fire in the woods near the home because fire can never impinge on the sides of the tank. Also, the ground will keep the tank somewhat warmer in winter. If its really cold where your place is, that's a good thing because at -24 degrees (F) the LP can remain a liquid instead of boiling off to keep pressure in the lines.
Ron Ringsrud
Our house has a Generac Guardian and it has added a great degree of confidence during our rainy winters and occasional power losses. No maintainance, and my wife can feel more relaxed when I'm not here.