About 18 months ago, I bought and installed a Generac Guardian 8 kw propane-operated generator. 8 kw is more than enough to run our house. One thing that helps keep out total power load down is our geothermal heating/cooling system that also provides hot water as a byproduct. We have two full size refrigerators, a large freezer, and the usual assortment of household devices. We already had a 500 gallon propane tank for our previous heating system.
Mine came with the automatic transfer switch and all the associated wiring. The hardest part of the installation was knocking holes in the basement wall for the cabling and for the gas line.
Our well pump is the only significant thing we don't power with it. The well is about 600 feet from the house, and on a separate power meter at my barn. I have an old 4 kw 'portable' generator for it.
Last edited by catmandoo; 05/24/13 08:00 AM. Reason: uncorrecting the spelling corrector
