Green Sun Energy Services installed a Generac standby generator at a home in Far Hills for a client since June of 2024, commissioned at the end of July. This house is a useful illustration of why the load survey matters more than the floor area. At 2,012 square feet it is one of the smaller homes we have fitted a generator to, yet it needed a larger machine than houses half again its size, because the dryer and the range and oven are all electric rather than gas. Electric cooking and electric laundry are among the heaviest draws in any home, and the National Electrical Code calculation reflected that with a minimum of 18 kW. The installed unit delivers 21 kW on natural gas through a 150 amp transfer switch covering the whole house. Placement took some working out. The generator sits about ninety feet from the panel, with two possible positions on the property quoted at the same price so the decision could be made on how it looked rather than what it cost, and a further twenty feet of cable so the transfer switch could go beside the picture window instead of somewhere more awkward. The service plan covers annual maintenance, an extended parts and labor warranty, and monitoring managed by Green Sun.
Project Facts
- Location
- Far Hills, NJ
- Services
- Standby Generator Installation, Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- June 2024
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7209
- Rated output
- 24 kW LP / 21 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Home sized for
- 2,012 sq ft
- Electrical service
- 150 amp
- Transfer switch
- 150 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Standby generator questions from Far Hills homeowners
Does a standby generator need a permit in Far Hills?
A permanently installed generator normally requires New Jersey Uniform Construction Code permits, because it involves permanent electrical and fuel work. Depending on the property and the municipality, building, zoning, floodplain, utility or fire-code review can also apply.
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.
Does a 200-amp service need a 200-amp transfer switch?
A transfer switch installed in the service path has to be rated appropriately for the service and the configuration. A 200-amp service commonly uses a 200-amp service-rated switch, but the actual design is confirmed by the electrician rather than assumed from the service size.