7kW Automatic Standby Generator serves critical loads in a single-family home

This customer in semi-rural Lower Merion Township, PA, faced multiple blackouts each year, ranging from a few hours to as much as several days or a week. Many automatic standby generator installations aim to provide blanket coverage for all circuits, requiring large generators and massive liquid propane (LP) fuel tanks. By planning carefully to meet only critical loads like refrigeration, basic lighting, and a few convenience receptacles, I and my customer came up with a light-duty installation that has a small footprint in the yard (and pocket-book).

What is an automatic standby backup generator?

An electric generator converts mechanical energy (from an LP-fired engine, in this case) into useful electrical energy. Standby means it operates only when a primary electric power source is turned off or fails (‘standby’ distinguishes the application from one where the generator is the normal or primary power source). Automatic means the generator senses loss of primary power, starts itself and turns itself off when primary power has been restored and persists without major fluctuations that could indicate the potential for a subsequent failure (‘automatic’ distinguishes the configuration from portable generators, which require manual hookup, startup, interconnection, and shut-down/disconnect).

 

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See also:

• Options for backup power
• Costs Guide: Automatic Standby Generators

 

4 Comments

• 20kW generator brings relief from power outages in Philadelphia suburbs | garetpaquette 2013/01/24 at 3:03 PM

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• 20kW generator brings relief from power outages in Philadelphia suburbs 2013/01/02 at 8:55 PM

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• Weather Lower Merion power outages with 7kW - 20kW backup generators 2012/12/25 at 4:44 PM

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• Standby backup generator options for the home 2012/11/21 at 5:14 PM

  [...] 7kW Automatic Standby Generator describes a modest backup generator installation that supports critical loads, most lighting, and most convenience receptacles in a suburban single-family home. Tags: ATS, automatic transfer switch, backup generator, energy independence, Generac, off-grid, off-grid power, standby generator [+] Share & Bookmark • Twitter • StumbleUpon • Digg • Delicious • Facebook [...]

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