Joe and Beverly from Parlin, NJ have been Green Sun Energy Services clients since October of 2020. A Generac Guardian rated 16 kW went in the following July, running on natural gas behind a 200-amp automatic transfer switch, with 2,400 square feet of living space behind it on the load survey. Sixteen kilowatts on a service-sized switch is the common middle of the range – enough for a house this size to carry on normally, without a machine larger than the survey found a use for.
Project Facts
- Location
- Parlin, NJ
- Services
- Standby Generator Installation, Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- October 2020
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7178
- Rated output
- 16 kW LP / 16 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Home sized for
- 2,400 sq ft
- Electrical service
- 200 amp
- Transfer switch
- 200 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Standby generator questions from Parlin homeowners
What happens if the manufacturer and Parlin disagree?
The installation has to satisfy all applicable requirements. A manufacturer's listing cannot be ignored, and a manufacturer's minimum clearance does not cancel a municipal zoning requirement. Where requirements conflict or the interpretation is uncertain, the Authority Having Jurisdiction is consulted before the work goes in rather than after.
Can a standby generator be used instead of utility power?
Residential standby generators are intended for backup during outages rather than as a permanent substitute for normal utility service. Running through an extended outage is expected, but maintenance requirements become considerably more important during prolonged continuous use.
What is a service-entrance-rated transfer switch?
One that is listed for use as service equipment when installed in the appropriate configuration. These are commonly used for whole-house systems, where the transfer switch becomes part of the home's service arrangement rather than sitting downstream of it.