Installation of a generator for a house.

Andrew Ince:

Hi Tom

We moved to the Scottish Highlands 28 years ago and one of my first purchases was a small 2.2kW Honda petrol generator. I worked for the police maintaining the radio communications network and all the mast sites had automatic changeover panels and diesel back generators.These were very reliable and literally a life saver since police fire  and eventually ambulance and mobile phone operators all relied on them. Sometimes these sites were on generator for days due to power outages.

​​​​​​I knew that power would not be as reliable as in Watford! This generator was sufficient for lights, fridge, freezer, TV etc. Within 3months of moving (summertime) we had a power outage for three days due I think to a swan shorting the 11kV power lines and damaging the distribution network. Since then was used on multiple occasions resulting from weather disruption events. To avoid having to haul out the camping grill for cooking I replaced it with a Hyundai 8kW silenced extra long runtime diesel generator. Silenced is relative but as we live in a very rural situation it's not an issue. With the exhaust extension I mitigate the noise to some degree and will eventually house it in a block work shelter. It comes with a remote start facility using a key fob control or via a hard wired switch but at present I start using the ignition key. I keep the starter battery topped up with a small solar panel. I use the TLC manual changeover contactor recommended in another post and installed separate RCD and earthing rod for shock protection.  It does feed the whole house but we are obviously careful not to overload when running on generator. The capacity is easily enough to power a kettle, fridge, freezer, lights and even one cooking ring. There is a Hyundai auto changeover control box available but it's probably not worth while unless there very good reasons as they cost almost as much as the generator.

Hope that you get sorted OK.

Hello Andrew,


That's more great advice! I think, when I get another house, (was hoping to look at one today near Brighton), I would go for a 'manual' installation as if it's just a quick flick of the changeover switch and a key start I think... that'll do me I just need to move!!


I've 'bookmarked' this thread so I can come back and re-read it all again!


Thanks... Tom

Andrew Ince:

Hi Tom

We moved to the Scottish Highlands 28 years ago and one of my first purchases was a small 2.2kW Honda petrol generator. I worked for the police maintaining the radio communications network and all the mast sites had automatic changeover panels and diesel back generators.These were very reliable and literally a life saver since police fire  and eventually ambulance and mobile phone operators all relied on them. Sometimes these sites were on generator for days due to power outages.

​​​​​​I knew that power would not be as reliable as in Watford! This generator was sufficient for lights, fridge, freezer, TV etc. Within 3months of moving (summertime) we had a power outage for three days due I think to a swan shorting the 11kV power lines and damaging the distribution network. Since then was used on multiple occasions resulting from weather disruption events. To avoid having to haul out the camping grill for cooking I replaced it with a Hyundai 8kW silenced extra long runtime diesel generator. Silenced is relative but as we live in a very rural situation it's not an issue. With the exhaust extension I mitigate the noise to some degree and will eventually house it in a block work shelter. It comes with a remote start facility using a key fob control or via a hard wired switch but at present I start using the ignition key. I keep the starter battery topped up with a small solar panel. I use the TLC manual changeover contactor recommended in another post and installed separate RCD and earthing rod for shock protection.  It does feed the whole house but we are obviously careful not to overload when running on generator. The capacity is easily enough to power a kettle, fridge, freezer, lights and even one cooking ring. There is a Hyundai auto changeover control box available but it's probably not worth while unless there very good reasons as they cost almost as much as the generator.

Hope that you get sorted OK.

Hello Andrew,


That's more great advice! I think, when I get another house, (was hoping to look at one today near Brighton), I would go for a 'manual' installation as if it's just a quick flick of the changeover switch and a key start I think... that'll do me I just need to move!!


I've 'bookmarked' this thread so I can come back and re-read it all again!


Thanks... Tom