Thanks.

I'd put it under $1000 to site the generator and install the gas line, but the amount of electrical work involved varies widely.

This means that circuits must be moved to a separate panel the generator feeds.
More circuits, more cost.

I've got an 80KVA with a manual switch. Sort of overkill (I typically only run about 6KVA according to the meter on the generator).

What size generator? As mentioned, not sure. this is part of my research looking into it. I would say in the 14-17kw range. Unlikely it would go over that.

Will it serve the whole house? I'm not sure that the kw range I mentioned is enough for the whole house. preliminary research tends to day no

Will there be an automatic transfer switch?
From what you say above, with the 14-17kw generator, I may only have the manual choice. Which isn't really the end of the world.

Again, without details like what the setting is like, distance from main panel- to transfer panel- to generator, it is hard to say.
I would narrow it down to $800-$1800

The question is sort of like how long a piece of string is. However I will give it a bash. All I know about you is that you live in the US and are looking for a Nautral Gas generator set up.

I also assume that you are on mains gas, as opposed to propane gas because you mentioned "Natural Gas".

I will assume that you will need to have maybe:

1) A new sub panel wired in whith circuts transfered. This panel will house the circuits that are generater backed.
2) A transfer switch with Auto Transfer. This is fairly standard with Natural Gas Gen sets that cost in the $US 4000- $US 6000 range. Note the Transfer switch usually comes with the generater as part of a set.
3) Wire in the Genset to the transfer switch, complete with Genset Battery power booster and sensor and control wires. I will assume you genset is air cooled rather than water cooled. If water cooled there will be additional wires for a coolant heater. Also if water cooled then you will need heavy lift (see point 4).
4) Trucking in the genset and installation. I assume your genset is lightweight in that it does not need a crane to install and can be installed on a gravel base, as opposed to a concrete base. The genset can be lifted by four men.
5) You are on mains gas so no need for a propane tank and propane line installation.
6) genset turn on. Sometimes the genset warrante requires "Turn On" by the genset authorized personel.

I think all in you are looking at $US 3000 to $US 5000 for installation. Generator is extra.

A neighbour of mine was quoted $US 14,000 turn key installation for a propane genset, + propane tank + all wiring, permits etc. in New York State. Maybe 14kw sized set.

Best, Mike.

Not a good installation.

Someone IS going to screw up the changeover.

Since it involves both gas and electrical, would an HVAC guy install it? around here the ones I've dealt with are licensed electrician and can connect gas lines (at least once in the home, down know about actually piping it from outside. maybe some code thing

Or would it be a an electrician and a plumber?

If it's much over 1k for installation, then I probably would go with a portable one. We don't loose power that often at all, but with a 2 and 4 year old, it kinda sucked not having power for a week.

Dont know if I should start a separate thread, but is there a safe way to attactch a portable generator so the furnace will work, not water heater, stove and the like?
I know I wouldn't be able to run all of them at once, but to use it on the appliance on an "as needed" basis.

thanks for the info.

It is nice that you have your gas line installed and near your genset site. That can be an expensive item because of trench digging etc. It looks like you can avoid most of that.

I am guessing that if you are thinking about a natural gas genset you are looking at maybe a 12-14kw generator set. The way I have my genset hooked up is to have one panel which is the "genset backed" panel. My house has two 200 amp panels. When I installed the genset the electrician moved circuits around so that all the genset-backed circuits was on one panel. That panel is powered with a transfer switch feed. The other panel has circuits that are not getset backed.

Looks likeyou have an oil furnace. If you look there is no plug for the oil furnace. This is by code. The oil furnace is wired directly into a panel. So what you need to do is to put those circuits onto the genset panel.

So what I would do is:

1) Make sure you have two panels. You may have two panels already in which case that is a "head" start. If not you will have to install another one.

2) One panel will be genset backed one will not. On the getset backed one you will put: the essensials for MA where you live. In approx order of importance:

basement sump pump (if you have one)
Well (if you have one)
ejector pump (if you have one)
Furnace
Air Handler
Fridge
Lights
TV

At about 12kw to 15kw that is about the limit for a genset. Air conditioning and electric ovens may be too much usual for a genset of 15kw size so I would not put those on.

Hope this give you some idea of what a set up may look like.

best, Mike.

I think that you have a "gas" furnace probablly does not change things that much. The furnace, oil or gas uses electricity for timer, monitor, controls and most importantly the ignition spark. All these are low power requirements.

Well pumps, and forced air blowers, basically anything with a big motor, e.g. Air Conditioning Compressors, they are the things which will use alot of power, or more importantly need alot of surge start current.

Best, Mike.

Since Sandy occurred I am also looking into a NG standby generator. When the burner company installs my new boiler I am going to have him add a gas line for a NG BBQ. I was also thinking of having them install the gas line so it would be close to where I would place the generator.

I will be renovating the kitchen this summer and was going to have the electrician put in a new box anyway. should I have him install a sub panel and move certain circuts to the subpanel? I would imagine I would want most of the kitchen/laundry room hooked to the subpanle along with few other circuts.

any thoughts on this? I am seeing prices of close to $10,000 to install a 14kw generator I could get from home depot for $3,200. at that cost I won;t be getting one. is there anything I could do my self? BTW I would like to think the boiler company would help me out with the plumbing

thanks
steve

In New York State, $US 10,000 for a NG Auto Transfer Turn-Key install is about right. About 5 years ago I was quoted $US 14k all in for a 10Kw gen set. Mind you I needed a propane tank installed as well.

As a very rough guide, which I did post a while ago I would budget very roughly:

1) Petrol Powered + Transfer switch $US 3,000 to $US 6,000 all in, up to 7Kw
2) Propane / Nautral Gas, lawn mower engine based air cooled 3,600 rpm. 8kw to 15kw, have seen as high as 20kw but that is pushing it. $US 8K to 16k all in.
3) Truck engine based. Water cooled, 1,800 rpm gen set. Auto trans switch. Propane / BG. 20kw and up. $US 20k and up.

Best, Mike.