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Installation of a generator for a house.

Tomgunn
Hello all,


I'm moving house, (been here for over 42 years'!!), and one of the first items on my mind is installing an electrical generator.


SO; I guess there will be contactors / switch gear etc as I would like it to be 'automatic', (OR, maybe 'manual' too), changing from incoming to the generator.


a; What would be the best type of generator to purchase? Load wise? I'm not too worried as the bigger the load the bigger the           generator would need to be as long as I could run the basics within the house.


b; What switch gear would be appropriate?


I would't fancy the idea of switching tails around on a Henley block each time I needed the generator to be in use!!


Thanks, in advance!


regards... Tom
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    mapj1:
    I would not fit an RCD to the generator output, again for risk of nuisance tripping.

    But do be aware that the available current from a genset is much lower than from the mains, and you need to check breaker ratings and PSSC to see - you may find you need an RCD (though not perhaps a 30mA instant one) to ensure that you have some sort of  certainty that ADS will work when on genset if it looks like breakers and fuses won't operate, but the volts collapse instead. The output impedance of a generator, and so the Zs and PSSC, is a function of the current throttle setting, and in turn varies with the load. It is quite possible to stall a lightly loaded generator without operating any MCBs or fuses. (on at least one model it is also possible to shear a pin in the drive train by applying a short circuit when near full load one,  when the throttle is at max to maintain the revs, but that is another embarrassing story.)

    Unless you have some nasty loads in the house, it should be possible to arrange things so there should not be false tripping of a delay type RCD if you decide you need one.


    Thanks mapj1...


    I need to re-read this a few times... as per usual you have some amazing information and thanks!


    Regards... Tom


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  • 0
    mapj1:
    I would not fit an RCD to the generator output, again for risk of nuisance tripping.

    But do be aware that the available current from a genset is much lower than from the mains, and you need to check breaker ratings and PSSC to see - you may find you need an RCD (though not perhaps a 30mA instant one) to ensure that you have some sort of  certainty that ADS will work when on genset if it looks like breakers and fuses won't operate, but the volts collapse instead. The output impedance of a generator, and so the Zs and PSSC, is a function of the current throttle setting, and in turn varies with the load. It is quite possible to stall a lightly loaded generator without operating any MCBs or fuses. (on at least one model it is also possible to shear a pin in the drive train by applying a short circuit when near full load one,  when the throttle is at max to maintain the revs, but that is another embarrassing story.)

    Unless you have some nasty loads in the house, it should be possible to arrange things so there should not be false tripping of a delay type RCD if you decide you need one.


    Thanks mapj1...


    I need to re-read this a few times... as per usual you have some amazing information and thanks!


    Regards... Tom


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