Thomas from Middletown, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since August of 2020. The generator was commissioned in March of 2021: 16 kW on natural gas, on a 150-amp service-entrance switch, sized against a 14 kW calculation for the 2,375 square foot house. A sump pump, two refrigerators, a separate freezer, a washer, a gas dryer and a dishwasher make up the load. Seven months passed between the contract and the commissioning, which was normal for a generator booked in the second half of 2020 – demand ran well ahead of what manufacturers could ship, and the equipment lead time rather than the installation was what set the date. Annual maintenance, a ten-year extended parts-and-labor warranty and monitoring we manage all sit behind the machine.
Project Facts
- Location
- Middletown, NJ
- Services
- Standby Generator Installation, Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- August 2020
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7176
- Rated output
- 16 kW LP / 16 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Electrical service
- 150 amp
- Transfer switch
- 150 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Mike serviced and installed a new battery for my generator.He did a great job and was very helpful with all my questions.Thank You.
Green Sun Energy Services replied
Thank you, Thomas, and Mike will be pleased. A battery is the single most common reason a standby generator fails to start, so replacing one during a service visit is routine work that heads off a bad surprise later. The 16 kW machine at your home in Middletown is in good order, and questions are always welcome.
Standby generator questions from Middletown homeowners
Does the transfer switch need flood protection as well as the generator?
Yes. A flood review should cover much more than the generator enclosure. FEMA recommends that a residential standby system consider elevation or protection of the generator, the transfer switch, the normal and emergency panels, the feeders and the control wiring together.
How can a whole house be carried on a smaller electrical service?
Through load management. One or more large loads are controlled so they do not start at the same moment, or shut down briefly if generator demand climbs too high. That is what allows whole-house coverage where the raw sum of every connected load would otherwise exceed the machine.
Does the generator need its own gas shutoff?
The fuel installation has to include the shutoff arrangements required by the adopted fuel-gas code and by the installation instructions. The valve must be positioned where it is accessible, both for servicing and for isolating the machine in an emergency.