So here are the numbers I have received from 3 local companies .

1. A verbal quote of $10,500 for a 20kw Kohler . I have to arrange propane work which is an additional $500.00 . I have been chasing this guy for a week trying to get a written quote . No response . Not a good sign .

2. A written quote for $12,861.74 for a 14kw Kohler . This quote is turnkey with me just writing a check .

3. A written quote for $11,567.00 for 18kw.
A written quote for $12,118.00 for 22kw . Both of these are Generac from the same install company . I have to arrange propane work which is an additional $500.00 .

The Kohlers have a 5/2 warranty . So 5 years parts and 2 years labor . The Generacs also have a 5/2 warranty but the sales dude said he could throw in a 7 year warranty that includes parts and labor .

I am debating that a 14kw with soft starts " may " be more fuel efficient OR is a 18-20kw more fuel efficient because it doesn't have to work as hard ? Once I answer this question in my head I will pull the trigger . Thoughts ?

If you can keep your consumption under 14kW, it will be more fuel efficient at the same load. The manuals have the fuel curves. On a 22 kW unit, at 11kW you are at 50% load, with a 14, you are near 80%.
But, you need to make sure you can start and run the ACs with 14 if you go that route.
Roughly, each ton of AC uses about 1kW. And during a Start, the soft starter will limit inrush to about 2x running.

Rfuerst - Can you share why you decided to go with a contractor versus you buying the unit and acting as a General?

I have not made any decisions yet . Generator Mart that I referenced earlier has a great price of $4000.00 with free shipping for a Cummins or Kohler 20kw with 200 Amp transfer switch . Seems too good to be true . I have contacted them via email and two phone conversations with an operator . No call backs for a week so wondering if they are legit .

If I can't purchase the Generator at a substantial discount there isn't much incentive to be the coordinator of the job . I am leaning towards the 18kw Generac. The salesman just confirmed the 7 year warranty is part of a promotion so no additional cost to me .

So with that contractor all I have to do is coordinate with the LP company . I have already had them out and they can do their thing for 400-500 . After that the generator contractor does the rest . Decisions decisions .

Thanks for the info. I misread your previous post, as I thought you had decided. I agree that if you can't purchase a nice unit at a good price, then going with a turn key solution might be the way to go.

I recently moved from San Diego to NC and wondering if we may need a whole house generator. Thus far, the power has gone off only once in last 6 months and it was only for an hour. My neighbor said it's been a lot worse in the past. We'll see...

The 22kW and the 18kW have the same engine, just a different generator end and breaker.

Give me a list of your heavy electric appliances

How many AC units and the tons?
Electric Range?
Electric Oven?
Electric Stove?
Electric Dryer?
Pool Pumps - size (hp) and single speed or Variable speed

The lights, etc, do not matter too much. My incidental usage is around 1kW.

House AC is 3 ton 2 speed with heat pump and dual fuel LP .

Garage heat/AC is 2 ton mini split . I don't plan on running that during outage.
Electric oven . Not using during outage.
Gas cooktop
Electric dryer . Not using during outage.
Well pump is 220 .
Water heater 50 gallon Electric.
4 garage door openers
1100 watt microwave
Countertop coffee maker

I think that's about it . If AC is working probably not running ceiling fans .

Ceiling fans are great during an outage and allow the AC to be run at a higher temperature. One AC that will run during an outage is very good. I would check the electric water heater wattage just the be sure. You may want to consider changing that to propane. Well pump is probably 1 hp and sufferers from the same issue as the AC. They make small soft starts for those as well (assuming it is on/off, if VSP no SS needed).
Surprisingly the Coffee Make can be 1500 Watts when running.

As long as you keep the Stove and Dryer off, 14kW will probably work. 18kW you'll be fine.

I have a 16kW unit myself with 7.5 tons of Air conditioning. My hot water and dryer are NG. I just have to make sure Mrs. Beard doesn't use the electric over during an outage in the summer.

RB I appreciate your professional advice and thank your for sharing . I am now pretty sure I will go with 18kw . I will update when I pull the trigger .

Are you a Costco member? I don't know how their price compares - but they offer Generac products installed. You also get a 10% credit on your Costco card.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1689958695.jpg

I am not but I appreciate the suggestion .

So this project seems to have stalled . The guy that gave me the 10.5k quote refuses to get back with me . I have called 3 times and sent several emails requesting a written quote . I am guessing he messed up with the verbal price he gave me and now won't back it up in writing .

The guy with the 14kw Kohler I think his price is too high . And after chatting with Red Beard I feel I need/want a larger generator for some safety margin .

The 3rd guy that I really was going to go with for the 18kw Generac is insisting that a yearly maintenance plan is necessary to maintain the 7 year warranty . Red Beard told me that simply is not true . Yes it has to be maintained but it can be performed by the homeowner . The dealer wants $275.00 for yearly visits x 7 years .

Yesterday I was at the big orange box store and talked with an associate about Generac generators . Bottom line is their install company they use is coming out Monday to provide a quote .

So far I have attempted to reach two online retailers by phone . One in Colorado the other in Texas . Other than a phone jockey I can't get through to anyone . Yeah your prices are attractive but your customer service is severely lacking .

So as of this morning I have no game plan . But I am confident I will get there .

Maintenance is simple on an aircooled genset-oil change (only like a quart and a half) air filter and plugs. Occasional battery swap. I had a company do my former 25k watercooled unit, but the current house has a aircooled.
FWIW, I'd go as big as budget allows for a couple reasons. First, having lived with a slightly undersized unit, it is annoying to not have almost everything available. The big unit I had in previous house, you never knew the power was off-everything worked, including the oven. This one, I lose a/c in the main house (we have 2 systems, one for master suite, one for house-could probably fix this with a soft start) and several circuits, including the one the freezer is currently on, because we moved it to a different room than builders. The other reason is as above-you're running the bigger genset at partial load, whereas mine is running all out. Still, its 17 yrs old and still running (knock wood).

Try these guys

Kendall Archer

MALL Energy, Inc.

2719 E. Marshall Ave

Longview, TX 75601

(903)844-7010 office

(903)806-2650 cell

karcher@mallenergy.com

Surprise surprise yesterday the MIA contractor called me . Said he has been swamped but said that's not an excuse for not getting back to me . Apologized and said he would get the quote to me tomorrow .

Tomorrow the cable locators are supposed to come out and mark where my various lines are . And a 4th contractor is due at 4:00 . I will make a decision this week so we can move forward . I am tired of the research I just want to be done .

Oh yeah we lost power last night at 9 it came back on around midnight . Really getting tired of that crap too .

Almost ready to whip this across the finish line 😁 . Yesterday cable locators came out and did their thing . Everything was roughly where I thought . Check . Next the HD/Canter Power Systems rep showed up at 2:00 . First words out of his mouth was " you ready to buy today " ? 😩 . I quickly said no to set the tone .

I received his quote 30 minutes ago . He's at $14,340 for a 22kw Generac . His price did include a 10 year parts/labor/travel warranty . He talked a good game but it just didn't sit well for some reason .

I also received a written quote from the first guy . Price is $10,500 for a 20kw Kohler . He installs everything except the propane . I have to pay 400-500 for the propane company to trench and install a larger diameter line . So all in 11k . I think that is reasonable for what is supposed to be an excellent quality generator .

So tomorrow I will make the call to get the wheels in motion . I appreciate all the advice you guys provided , it helped me navigate the path to a decision .

Remember that a salesperson who comes to your location is making 10% of the gross sale, or 1400 bucks. They also have permission to negotiate so that they can make the sale w/o pleading to the sales manger.

I have always advocated dealing with owner/operators. Being one myself I never got paid a commision. I did pay commissions for a sales guy once until I realized he was taking a 3rd of the gross profit.

"Are you ready to buy today?" Used car salesman.

Milt you are spot on . The company I am moving forward with the owner came out to discuss my project . I like that . He has 3 local generator store fronts so a decent size business . He was the only guy that shook my hand . Old school . I like that .

I have already sent him a text and an email stating let's move forward . I will follow up tomorrow with a phone call .

In April 2019 my buddy and I bought the Hillsborough and Pinellas County territories (Florida) for a national generator install/monitoring/service franchise. We obtained electrical and gas contractor licenses and got to work.

The typical invoice for a Generac 22kw is $14k on the Tampa side and $15k on the St. Pete Clearwater side of the bay.

80% of our sales are the 22kw. Also, we are the installer for one of the big box stores (we have thirteen of those stores) and it is an absolute nightmare for everyone involved. We stock hundreds of generators on any given day. The big box stocks zero and drop ships them from the manufacturer to the store. LOL. During Covid the customer sometimes waited a 10-11 months to get a 22kw. Buyer beware.

In June, total sales and service was $1.2m. In 2019 we did $0.00 in sales/service. We will probably do $8m this year.

Gotchas:
1. city / county permitting. We have two full time clerks to shepherd permits. Pasco Polk is 2 hours. Hillsborough is two to four weeks. Pinellas County can be months. If there is a FEMA flood Area involved, the complexity multiplies.

2. demand the serial number of the generator that you purchase. Even better, go see it for yourself to make sure that they physically have it in their possession. Salesmen lie.

3. You mentioned LP. 500 gallon tanks are expensive. (we stock them). Nail down terms for fills , frequency and cost. Propane companies don't like to fill tanks that they don't own (lease to customers). Probably 80% of our installs in Pinellas County are underground tank installations. Customers constantly complain about price/availability and refills during severe weather events. Keep in mind that if you are using the LP for a gas stove, water heater, pool heater, etc, when the bad weather comes, you and everyone else will be calling to get "topped off". They will always refill the leased tank customers first. If you own the tank, they may not get to you.

4. The Generac and Honeywell generators are both Generac units. The Kohler I'm sure is a fine machine but I have no experience with them.

5. Ask about monitoring. We install a cellular device on the generators that we service so that we can monitor them at all times. The WIFI is a joke and obviously won't operate if the grid fails.

6. Get the 10 year warranty (Generac). Once or twice a year, Generac offers it for free. After Covid, Generac did not offer it the next year because demand was insane.

7. Last time I checked, a PWRcell that would run a central air unit all night (while the solar is not charging), was upwards of $35k just for the batteries. If you had a minisplit and only were cooling a small part of your house, my number might not be accurate. We have sold exactly zero of those units. I don't know how Tesla is doing with Powerwall sales, but I imagine the buyers of those units are "cost is no issue" type people.

I hope this helps.

DL

Red Beard...his name is James......just sayin'......