Gary from Summit, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since April of 2020. The generator was commissioned that July: a Generac Guardian rated 19.5 kW on natural gas, on a 200-amp service-entrance switch with two smart management modules, one rated at 100 amps and one at 50. The load calculation asked for 14 kW across the 2,490 square foot house. One obstacle had to be dealt with first: a Verizon box sat where it blocked code-compliant access to the main service panel, and it had to be moved before the electrical work could proceed. Access clearances around a panel are not a matter of preference – an inspector will fail the work without them, so the box comes first whatever else is waiting.
Project Facts
- Location
- Summit, NJ
- Service
- Standby Generator Installation
- Client since
- April 2020
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 7043-2
- Rated output
- 22 kW LP / 19.5 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Home sized for
- 2,490 sq ft
- Electrical service
- 200 amp
- Transfer switch
- 200 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Standby generator questions from Summit homeowners
Can a standby generator be installed in Summit without natural gas?
Yes. Residential standby generators commonly run on liquid propane. A properly sized tank, regulator and piping system has to be designed to deliver adequate vapour flow and pressure for the machine.
What gas pressure does a generator need?
It is model-specific and has to be read off the specification sheet rather than assumed. A current 22 kW model, for instance, specifies a minimum natural-gas pressure of 3.5 inches water column. Different models carry different requirements.
Is a standby generator the same as a portable one?
No. A home standby generator is permanently installed and automatically connected to the home's electrical and fuel systems. A portable normally has to be placed, fuelled, started and connected by hand each time, using approved connection equipment. The standby machine is designed as an integrated backup-power system rather than as something you fetch out of the garage.