Carol from Hillsborough, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since October of 2022. The generator was commissioned in April of 2023: a Generac Guardian rated 17 kW on natural gas, on a 150-amp service-entrance switch with a smart management module and surge protection. The load calculation asked for 16 kW across the 2,900 square foot house, carrying two refrigerators, a separate freezer, a washer, a gas dryer and a dishwasher. Cold storage is the quiet argument for backup power – a freezer that stays cold through a three-day outage saves more than most people expect, and one that does not is a loss nobody budgeted for. The generator is supported by annual maintenance, an extended parts-and-labor warranty, and monitoring we manage.
Project Facts
- Location
- Hillsborough, NJ
- Services
- Standby Generator Installation, Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- October 2022
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7226
- Rated output
- 18 kW LP / 17 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Home sized for
- 2,900 sq ft
- Electrical service
- 150 amp
- Transfer switch
- 150 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
My husband and I were so thankful we used Green Sun for the installation of our new generator that a year later (when we decided to move) we used them again! Every member of the crew from first inquiry to final inspection was exceptional. Everyone was very professional, informative and friendly. The communication was amazing -- every step of the way. And their prices were more than fair. Green Sun made the entire process wonderfully easy for us. Special thanks to Glen, Karen and Jennifer who became like family.
Green Sun Energy Services replied
Thank you, Carol. Buying a generator from us once is good; buying a second one for the next house is the review we would frame. The 18 kW whole-house backup in Hillsborough was sized for the new place on its own terms rather than copied from the old one. From first inquiry to final inspection is a long way to keep a crew consistent.
Standby generator questions from Hillsborough homeowners
What size standby generator does a Hillsborough home need?
The correct size is decided by the electrical loads the generator is expected to run, not by the square footage of the house. Central air, heat pumps, electric heat, well and sump pumps, refrigerators and freezers, electric ranges and dryers, pool equipment and EV chargers all count. Where a load is connected automatically, the generator either has the capacity for it or an approved load-management system controls it.
Does a generator need a concrete pad?
Not universally. Approved alternative support systems are permitted for applicable models. Concrete or an engineered platform may still be required because of the site conditions, flood requirements, anchoring, municipal requirements or structural design -- but it is not automatic.
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.