Charles from Colts Neck, NJ has been a Green Sun Energy Services client since January of 2020. The generator was installed by another company and commissioned in November of 2011, and the servicing came to us eight years later. We ran the five-year service in January of 2020, the six-year service in January of 2021 and the seven-year service that December. The interval names lag the calendar on a machine like this because they track running hours rather than birthdays – a generator that has spent a decade waiting quietly for an outage has far fewer hours on it than its age suggests, and the service schedule follows the hours.
Project Facts
- Location
- Colts Neck, NJ
- Service
- Standby Generator Service
- Client since
- January 2020
- Manufacturer
- Generac Model # 5887
- Rated output
- 20 kW LP / 18 kW NG
- Fuel
- Natural Gas
- Transfer switch
- 90 amp
- Load management
- Managed Whole House
Standby generator questions from Colts Neck homeowners
How quickly does it take over?
The automatic start sequence normally begins within seconds of the controller deciding that utility power has failed or fallen outside acceptable limits. There is a deliberate short delay so that a momentary flicker does not trigger a full start and transfer. Exact timing depends on the controller, the transfer switch and the configuration.
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.
Does new gas piping have to be pressure tested in Colts Neck?
Yes. Gas piping subject to the adopted fuel-gas code must be inspected and tested before it is accepted. New Jersey adopts the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code, which governs the inspection, the test pressure and how long the test has to hold.