How to Install a Home Generator

During Ron's first year in his Connecticut home, he has experienced more than his share of power outages. Some lasted for only a couple of hours, but some went on for several days. Ron decided he would be better off with a back-up or stand-by power system.

A good economical solution to a power outage is a portable generator. These are available with sound dampening jackets for quiet operation. Because they give off carbon monoxide, these generators can only be safely used outdoors away from open windows and can never be used in a garage or basement.

A typical portable generator will run about seven hours on a tank of fuel so if you are expecting a long outage, you should have an adequate supply on hand.

An advantage to portable generators is they are very flexible. You can run power anywhere you can run an extension cord. But what you can't do is provide emergency power to a built-in refrigerator or an exhaust fan because there is no accessible power cord. Although a portable generator can produces 3000 watts of power, which is enough to light 30 100 watt light bulbs, this still may not be enough power in a lengthy outage. If you want to operate a microwave, a toaster, and a hair dryer all at the same time, that is about all a portable generator can handle.

Ron decided to install an automatic standby generator, which provides backup power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because the system is automatic, it will cover your home in a power blackout even if you are away. Ron selected a power system that is a new, super quiet model from Guardian called Quiet Source.

Ron's installation was provided by Cannondale Generators, a local company that has installed approximately 2500 home generators in the Southern Connecticut area.

Get more information on the Quiet Source from Guardian.

1. Installation preparation
The first step is to remove about 15 square feet of sod and then compact the soil. Add a layer of stone dust on top, rake it out, and then tamp the area to provide a firm level surface.

Ron selected an 11,000 watt unit weighing over 500 pounds. The heavy unit was slipped off the pallet and onto rollers, which were removed once the unit was in place.

2. Transfer switch
The key to making a generator automatic is to install a power transfer switch. The electrical lines coming into the house connect to one side of the transfer switch.

When the transfer switch detects a power loss, it sends a signal to the generator to start. Once up to speed, the generator begins sending power back to the transfer switch, which then relays power to 12 pre-selected circuits in the home's main circuit breaker panel.

You can select the circuits that you will need the most in a power outage, such as the kitchen, boiler, master bedroom lighting, basement freezer, and basement lighting.

3. Gas connection
This generator uses natural gas, which means you don't have to worry about fuel storage. The gas line is run, pressure tested and then connected to the generator. This generator can also operate on propane.

When the generator is running at full speed, it is about as quiet as a central air conditioning compressor. An 11,000 watt generator puts out about 95 amps, which is enough power to run nearly anything you may need to operate during a power outage.

4. Test run
Ron put his new backup power system to the test by conducting a simulated power outage. He shut off the main breaker in the basement and waited. Within seconds, the new generator began automatically. When the power was restored, the generator shut off automatically and the occupants hardly noticed any disturbance.