The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement

Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 94 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 5828 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

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
  • 0
    Next time you find yourself near Bayeux, go and see the Tapestry - it is a wonderful thing.


    I am surprised that Tom feels the need to get a jenny. I cannot recall any power cut since Oct 87. I couldn't quite understand why there was lightning, but no thunder or rain in the night. In fact it was the EHT lines thrashing about.


    We didn't need a jenny in the 1970s - we were perfectly capable of making do with candles and a camping stove. ?
  • 0
    Chris Pearson:

    Next time you find yourself near Bayeux, go and see the Tapestry - it is a wonderful thing.


    I am surprised that Tom feels the need to get a jenny. I cannot recall any power cut since Oct 87. I couldn't quite understand why there was lightning, but no thunder or rain in the night. In fact it was the EHT lines thrashing about.


    We didn't need a jenny in the 1970s - we were perfectly capable of making do with candles and a camping stove. ?


    Hello Chris, good idea, I'll go and take a look! I have seen it, on the telly but, worth a visit, (MAYBE... if I look hard enough - I may even spot OMS somewhere on it, probably half way along I would guess??)!


    Well, I feel things will be quite bad, next year... I guess most will think I'm going over the top BUT, for a reasonable cost ~ I think it's worth it SO; let's see where we are, this time next year I HOPE... all will be well!! 


    When I do do it, I'll do a video and post it online as to how to do it BUT, I guess there already lots of these on YT!!?


    Good luck, and thanks to all, for your posts'!! 


    Merry Christmas everyone!!!! 


    Tom


  • 0
    If going to the trouble and expense of any generator, it would in my view be sensible to go for 4.5 to 5 Kw, so as to permit of use of one heavy loading appliance and almost unlimited use of low loading appliances.

    A small generator sized only for lighting and refrigeration may struggle to maintain rated output volts when starting a desktop PC, or a freezer.

    A 5 Kw or thereabouts set will cope better.

    If the central heating breaks you might want to run a 2.4 Kw portable heater.

    In the event of a power failure due to extreme heatwave, you might want to run a portable air conditioner.

    In case of flooding you might need a portable electric pump.

  • 0
    broadgage:

    If going to the trouble and expense of any generator, it would in my view be sensible to go for 4.5 to 5 Kw, so as to permit of use of one heavy loading appliance and almost unlimited use of low loading appliances.

    A small generator sized only for lighting and refrigeration may struggle to maintain rated output volts when starting a desktop PC, or a freezer.

    A 5 Kw or thereabouts set will cope better.

    If the central heating breaks you might want to run a 2.4 Kw portable heater.

    In the event of a power failure due to extreme heatwave, you might want to run a portable air conditioner.

    In case of flooding you might need a portable electric pump.

     


    Hi, great ideas!! I put a link to the 5kW generator, in a previous post... they say it's quite quiet. 


    My real concerns, for getting a generator, is what's coming next year... I KNOW, I'll be classed as even madderer by most BUT, I'm worried about 2021 anon!


    ANYWAYS, thanks to all, for the great info, (PLUS... the "crack on" thingy too, love that ~ haha!!).


    Hope everyone manages, somehow, to have a great time over the next few weeks'!!


    Regards... 


    Tom


  • 0
    There have been a considerable number of people who have gassed themselves running generators in confined spaces as well as using outdoor gas patio heaters and the like indoors during power cuts or when grid supplies are not available for other reasons.


    Plan your setup so you don’t gas yourself or anyone else.
  • 0
    Yes, proper care should be taken WRT exhaust fumes. Diesel exhaust is a bit less dangerous than that from burning petrol, but proper care should be taken.

    I would place the generator in a small hut or shed built of brick or blocks. Exhaust preferably  at high level. If desired, this generator house may be combined with a shed, garage, garden store or the like. To minimise fire risk, the generator room should be a seperate compartment from any other facilities in the same structure.

    Good ventilation is vital, remember that about 20 Kw of heat will be produced. 


    Good security is also important, generators and the fuel for same are prized by "travellers" and others.

    Store fuel in good qaulity steel jerry cans. Yellow is the accepted colour for diesel fuel containers. (and red for petrol, blue for paraffin, and white for water)

    Having gone to the trouble and expense of the generator, keep enough fuel for prolonged operation. I would suggest a minimum of 100 hours operation, more is better. Most power cuts are only for a few hours, but in any serious emergency it might go off for days.

  • 0
    link to a report "living without electricity"

    link.


    To be studied as firstly a good example of a major UK failure, and secondly just ill prepared were most people.

    Consider also the great Dartford power cut !

    And in Auckland, New Zealand, it was off for weeks. A popular joke at the time was

    Q  what did Aucklanders use for lighting before candles ?

    A  Electricity.


    Another one was a cartoon depicting a family with two young children who are staying at a remote rural farm. The children are playing with the light switches, for the fun of seeing the lights go on and off. The kindly looking wife of the farmer says "poor little things, they are from Auckland and have not seen electric lights before"
  • 0
    Sparkingchip:

    There have been a considerable number of people who have gassed themselves running generators in confined spaces as well as using outdoor gas patio heaters and the like indoors during power cuts or when grid supplies are not available for other reasons.


    Plan your setup so you don’t gas yourself or anyone else.


    Hi, thanks for that!! I intend to build an outside brick area for it... keep the noise down and keep it safe!


    It's a shame that the DNO have to be involved!!


    Good luck!!


  • 0
    broadgage:

    Yes, proper care should be taken WRT exhaust fumes. Diesel exhaust is a bit less dangerous than that from burning petrol, but proper care should be taken.

    I would place the generator in a small hut or shed built of brick or blocks. Exhaust preferably  at high level. If desired, this generator house may be combined with a shed, garage, garden store or the like. To minimise fire risk, the generator room should be a seperate compartment from any other facilities in the same structure.

    Good ventilation is vital, remember that about 20 Kw of heat will be produced. 


    Good security is also important, generators and the fuel for same are prized by "travellers" and others.

    Store fuel in good qaulity steel jerry cans. Yellow is the accepted colour for diesel fuel containers. (and red for petrol, blue for paraffin, and white for water)

    Having gone to the trouble and expense of the generator, keep enough fuel for prolonged operation. I would suggest a minimum of 100 hours operation, more is better. Most power cuts are only for a few hours, but in any serious emergency it might go off for days.

     


    Crikey, the info keeps coming!! I didn't know about the different colours, (only orange for our wiring etc). 


    Thanks, I'll certainly keep it secure and as I have just posted... it'll be in a separate brick outbuilding and probably with as alarm sensor too!! 


    Jerry cans??? I have loads of plastic ones BUT, I guess that Jerry cans would be better, will find some!! 


    I was supposed to go Hastings, today BUT... we all know what's happened.


    SO; here's a question for you all... if I drive, from Worcester Park to Hastings, to look at a house to purchase... would that be classed as a 'business trip???' 


    Peace 'n'​​ Love, as they say Paris!!


    Tom


    ​​​​​


     


  • 0
    broadgage:

    link to a report "living without electricity"

    link.


    To be studied as firstly a good example of a major UK failure, and secondly just ill prepared were most people.

    Consider also the great Dartford power cut !

    And in Auckland, New Zealand, it was off for weeks. A popular joke at the time was

    Q  what did Aucklanders use for lighting before candles ?

    A  Electricity.


    Another one was a cartoon depicting a family with two young children who are staying at a remote rural farm. The children are playing with the light switches, for the fun of seeing the lights go on and off. The kindly looking wife of the farmer says "poor little things, they are from Auckland and have not seen electric lights before"


    WOW, I was working, under my ripped up flooring, using just four candles, (NO jokes please, haha), as the lights had gone out for a few hours' last year... for the 3rd or 4th time in a month!! I was doing honeycomb  brickwork, under the floor so, it looked ok, with candle light, haha!!


    I remember t'time when we didn't have any central heating, in't Yorkshire and a tin bath in Wales, haha... them were t'good ole days', (oh no they wasn't...  haha!!).


    Regards...


    Tom


Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines