[Norm K]

I went with a 13K watt dual-fuel portable that will power pretty much all the necessities to keep us in lights, internet, cooking, water (we're on a well) television, etc. I decided on a manual transfer switch which, although admittedly less convenient than an automatic one, allows me to select which breakers are powered at any given time, versus the auto versions that require circuits to be pre-selected*.

My all-in cost (self installed/wired) for the generator, cable, exterior 220V outlet, no. 6 gauge wire from the outlet (I guess it's acutallin in inlet in this case) to the panel, 50 amp breaker, generator breaker lockout mechanism (disallows having the generator and utility feeding the panel at the same time, as well as preventing feed back to the utility so the utility workers can work safely), usage meters/monitors and an alarm that alerts me when power has been restored so I can shut everything down was less than two grand.

Of course we've needed it only once since I installed it about seven months ago, but man oh man, was it ever nice to have.

* Not an issue if you spring for one with enough capacity to handle every possible need your home might throw at it.


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