Electrician to install portable generator transfer switch

[billethkid]

After experiencing what folks do with a portable generator at my son's house I have decided to have a transfer switch installed at my home. Eliminates the need for running multiple extensions. Plug in generator at designated box outside the the house.

Looking for electrician; recommendations?

[vaborn@comcast.net]

following as we will probably bring the generator with us when we move down full-time next summer.

[Bogie Shooter]

Integrity Electric 352-307-6335
Robert runs his own business. I have found him to responsive, knowledgeable and reasonable.

[RalphM]

Integrity Electric 352-307-6335
Robert was excellent to work with and his pricing competitive. He installed garage and laundry lighting, under cabinet LED lighting, and can lighting in the kitchen. We highly recommend him and will have him install our transfer switch soon.

[villagetinker]

I have used Lenhart's, ECI. R&A and Galaxy, and would recommend in that order. Also, when you are installing the transfer switch, have an OUTSIDE connection installed for the generator, you do NOT want this inside the garage. If you are worried about it walking off, have a suitable anchor bolt and then you can use a chain and lock to secure the generator. In any case, you want a suitable way to connect the generator to the transfer switch without having the generator inside the garage or house.

[dbussone]

We used Trademark Electric ((352) 629-8617‬) from Ocala to install both our transfer switch and whole house generator this past May. Very happy with their work.


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[C4Boston]

May I inquire as to what you paid for whole house generator with installation? I may invest in this as well.

[kcrazorbackfan]

I have used Lenhart's, ECI. R&A and Galaxy, and would recommend in that order. Also, when you are installing the transfer switch, have an OUTSIDE connection installed for the generator, you do NOT want this inside the garage. If you are worried about it walking off, have a suitable anchor bolt and then you can use a chain and lock to secure the generator. In any case, you want a suitable way to connect the generator to the transfer switch without having the generator inside the garage or house.

Whaaaaaaat? There are thieves in The Villages?

That is a good idea you have, VT. I'm going to get a transfer switch installed and I will concrete an anchor bolt in to secure my generator. It's a 5500 watt Generac that we bought in 2002 in Lafayette, LA when we had a hurricane threat there. It has moved with us from there to St. Louis to Kansas City to here; I fire it up every 2 weeks and put a load on it just to keep it ready.

[golf2140]

Why

[Dan9871]

Why

You fire up the generator every few weeks to make sure it will be working when you needed and to make sure the oil is circulated.

When we had a Generac it automatically fired itself up weekly on its own and set a warning light if anything was wrong. A friend had one and his sent him an email with the test results weekly.

[spring_chicken]

I'm baffled as to why people want to spend so much money on something that MIGHT get used once every 5 years or so. Add to that, when you need to use it, you won't be able to get gas to keep it going 24/7 for a few days.
I've been here for 5 years and 3 hurricanes and never lost power. I'd hate to think I'd have wasted that much money and precious storage space over something that really isn't needed. Especially when friends and neighbors are always willing to step up when you lose power and they don't.

[dbussone]

May I inquire as to what you paid for whole house generator with installation? I may invest in this as well.



It was $8K for a 22KW generator installation, including the transfer switch. Mine was complicated by the fact that we don’t have natural gas south of 466A in TV. So...I bought a generator that was convertible to propane and buried a 250 gallon propane tank in my yard.

A side benefit is that I can also use the propane to fuel a gas stove - which we prefer over electric.


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[dbussone]

You fire up the generator every few weeks to make sure it will be working when you needed and to make sure the oil is circulated.



When we had a Generac it automatically fired itself up weekly on its own and set a warning light if anything was wrong. A friend had one and his sent him an email with the test results weekly.



My new Generac does this. It sends me the test results weekly, let’s me monitor its status, and also sends alerts to TradeMark Electric when maintenance is required or an error has occurred. The technology is pretty cool.


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[dbussone]

I'm baffled as to why people want to spend so much money on something that MIGHT get used once every 5 years or so. Add to that, when you need to use it, you won't be able to get gas to keep it going 24/7 for a few days.
I've been here for 5 years and 3 hurricanes and never lost power. I'd hate to think I'd have wasted that much money and precious storage space over something that really isn't needed. Especially when friends and neighbors are always willing to step up when you lose power and they don't.



It may be a waste of money for you, but there are plenty of others who would disagree. People with medical issues are a good example. Some can’t tolerate the heat and need A/C, others need them for electrical devices that keep them alive. I’m sure there are plenty of folks in the historic section that wish they had generators during Irma.

And you are assuming they run on gasoline. Mine runs off a very large propane tank buried under ground; others run on natural gas.


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[autumnspring]

After experiencing what folks do with a portable generator at my son's house I have decided to have a transfer switch installed at my home. Eliminates the need for running multiple extensions. Plug in generator at designated box outside the the house.

Looking for electrician; recommendations?

During hurricane Sandy, we were in NY and were without power for almost a full week.

We did not have a generator but the people next door did.
First of all with power out he had trouble getting gasoline to run the generator. Sort of like that old Twilight Zone.
People first laughed, the compained about the noise and then they wanted to borrow his generator-amusing to watch. If, you already have a portable generator, and read the instructions, the time between oil changes is probably 24 hours.

Here, the biggest problem is that we have an all electric home and this place will quickly return to HOT and HUMID FLORIDA without being able to run your air conditioning.

OH can we run an extension cord to your generator.

[autumnspring]

It was $8K for a 22KW generator installation, including the transfer switch. Mine was complicated by the fact that we don’t have natural gas south of 466A in TV. So...I bought a generator that was convertible to propane and buried a 250 gallon propane tank in my yard.

A side benefit is that I can also use the propane to fuel a gas stove - which we prefer over electric.


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Like everything else there will be difference of opinion. We have an all electric home and like you would need to install a propane tank. Your listed 8K price does not include what it would cost to install a propane tank. I'm sure you would need to pull permits. I expect an above ground tank is illegal.

[Dan9871]

And you are assuming they run on gasoline. Mine runs off a very large propane tank buried under ground; others run on natural gas.


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We had a generac before we moved to The Villages. It ran on propane, with a 100 gallon tank. We had a number of storms that left the generator running full time for 4 to 6 days straight without a refill. After the storm it was still about 1/3 full.

It hard to value the comfort of going through a multi-day power outage with a generator until you've done it....

Been there, done that with both gas and diesel generators before we had the Generac. They are a real pain to keep operational and keep running. Better than no generator though...

[Dan9871]

Like everything else there will be difference of opinion. We have an all electric home and like you would need to install a propane tank. Your listed 8K price does not include what it would cost to install a propane tank. I'm sure you would need to pull permits. I expect an above ground tank is illegal.

Don't knowFL but about but above ground was legal in MA. With all the farm land in FL it seems like they would legal here too.

The tank is inexpensive if you get a propane contract from a dealer. They actually track power outages and know when to refill your tank just like an oil dealer watches degree days and knows when to refill you oil tank.

You do need permits but it's no big deal the generator installers have that all figured out.

Running an AC, probably the biggest thing in FL, is no problem even for a smaller generator. Winter here is so mild that I doubt you would need a very large generator for emergency heat which you could leave off the generator.

An electric stove is a real problem that could push you into 22KW or greater but you can always leave that off the generator. It's pretty easy to go through even a week long outage without the electric stove. A microwave and toaster oven can easily fill in.

So, at least at first glance, 8K seems like a reasonable estimate for an all electric home in Florida.

Actually when we had our generac in MA the thing that pushed the generator as big as it was (14KW) was our oil furnace, not our AC or well pump. An oil furnace has a big startup current and the 14KW was the smallest Generac that could handle it. Otherwise we could have had a smaller one.

[dbussone]

Like everything else there will be difference of opinion. We have an all electric home and like you would need to install a propane tank. Your listed 8K price does not include what it would cost to install a propane tank. I'm sure you would need to pull permits. I expect an above ground tank is illegal.



Correct. The tank must be buried. You have a choice of leasing or owning the tank. I bought mine. Propane is currently about $2.30 per gallon. There was a cost associated with running the piping to the generator, and an optional run for the gas stove we wanted.

All in, just over $10K. The installation of the generator and transfer switch required a permit. Another permit was required for the propane tank & piping, including a necessary pressure test to be certain there were no leaks.

If you were to live in a section of TV with piped natural gas (north of 466A, or in Fineey) the cost would be much closer to the $8k I noted earlier.


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[dbussone]

Don't knowFL but about but above ground was legal in MA. With all the farm land in FL it seems like they would legal here too.



The tank is inexpensive if you get a propane contract from a dealer. They actually track power outages and know when to refill your tank just like an oil dealer watches degree days and knows when to refill you oil tank.



You do need permits but it's no big deal the generator installers have that all figured out.



Running an AC, probably the biggest thing in FL, is no problem even for a smaller generator. Winter here is so mild that I doubt you would need a very large generator for emergency heat which you could leave off the generator.



An electric stove is a real problem that could push you into 22KW or greater but you can always leave that off the generator. It's pretty easy to go through even a week long outage without the electric stove. A microwave and toaster oven can easily fill in.



So, at least at first glance, 8K seems like a reasonable estimate for an all electric home in Florida.



Actually when we had our generac in MA the thing that pushed the generator as big as it was (14KW) was our oil furnace, not our AC or well pump. An oil furnace has a big startup current and the 14KW was the smallest Generac that could handle it. Otherwise we could have had a smaller one.



Sumter County & The Villages require an underground tank in TV. I had a 17KW generator in NC. We have a 22KW generator here. It truly is sized to be a whole house generator. The size of the generator you need will be determined by the size of your home, what is powered in your home, and what you want to use when you lose power from the grid.

That is a simplification, but you can go to Generac’s website, feed all the information about all those things you want to power into a formula, and it will tell you what size generator you need.


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[Dan9871]

g the tank. I bought mine. Propane is currently about $2.30 per gallon.



When they buried your tank did they put in a concrete casket for it or was it put directly into the ground?

[dbussone]

When they buried your tank did they put in a concrete casket for it or was it put directly into the ground?



Directly in the ground.


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[Villagevip]

House(area) out of power for awhile.. Throw out all the perishables, lock up the house... and go on a vacation cruise, or just a vacay....Prolly, cheaper in the long run...IMHO..

[dbussone]

House(area) out of power for awhile.. Throw out all the perishables, lock up the house... and go on a vacation cruise, or just a vacay....Prolly, cheaper in the long run...IMHO..



Except for the surge which occurs when the power comes back online and takes out a bunch of electronics.


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[Villagevip]

Except for the surge which occurs when the power comes back online and takes out a bunch of electronics.


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BestBuy, high quality surge protectors, bought a few, many years ago...:icon_bored:....

[dbussone]

BestBuy, high quality surge protectors, bought a few, many years ago...:icon_bored:....



I have those also. And a surge protector on the main electrical box. Believe me, I’m well prepared. You do what you want, or not, and I’ll do what I think best.


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[Villagevip]

I have those also. And a surge protector on the main electrical box. Believe me, I’m well prepared. You do what you want, or not, and I’ll do what I think best.


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You got it!

[Nucky]

We have a neighbor who just had the entire system installed last week. Very impressed with the tank installation. There is not a trace that they were ever there digging to bury the tank. The generator itself is very quiet.

[dbussone]

You got it!



P.S. my comment was not intended as a wise crack. If you took it that way, I apologize.


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[cb1972]

in regards to the switch at the panel, consider having your electrician ( if Codes allow) install a simple " Interlock" device about 35 dollars. This is a simple device that blocks the main breaker and allows power to the panel from the generator. You can select the circuits you want and switch back and forth if needed . You will have to know the draw from specific circuits but it doesn't limit you to four or eight choices etc.

[KathieI]

Integrity Electric 352-307-6335
Robert runs his own business. I have found him to responsive, knowledgeable and reasonable.

Integrity Electric 352-307-6335
Robert was excellent to work with and his pricing competitive. He installed garage and laundry lighting, under cabinet LED lighting, and can lighting in the kitchen. We highly recommend him and will have him install our transfer switch soon.

Maybe Robert was good for you, but unfortunately, he was a complete bomb for me. He patronized me on the phone, I could tell he wasn't that interested in the job, had me play with my circuit breakers a few times and then call him back 2 times. The 3rd time, he didn't respond to my call, never returned my call and in the meantime, because I played around with the breakers (and I had no clue what I was doing), I shut off the a/c and it won't come back on. NOW I NEED AN EMERGENCY ELECTRICIAN.... Thanks Rob, I will never, ever, recommend you to anyone. Don't play with us ladies as if we were stupid, it isn't appreciated.