Free Energy from a Magnetic Power Generator:

I’d like to install a standby generator to power all of my home’s circuits. I have a 200A service. I am going to need to have the meter pulled, so I can pull the service conductors out of the main panel and into an automatic transfer switch. Is it okay to have the service conductors run through this transfer switch non-fused before entering the main panel, or do I have need to have a Service Disconnect breaker installed upstream of the transfer switch. I.e., replacing the entire meter enclosure with one that is equipped with a 200A service breaker, or alternatively, finding a standalone Service Disconnect breaker in an enclosure mounted alongside the transfer switch, with the service conductors routed through that prior to entering the transfer switch? I was just worried because, if the service conductors traveled through the transfer switch upstream of the Main Breaker, if there was a fault in the transfer switch, the only current limiting device would be from the utility pole, which is likely thousands of Amperes. Seems crazy to me, but I don’t know what’s considered the norm for this kind of installation. Thanks

NEC article 230 covers this. The transfer switch has to be in between a service rated disconnect and the main distribution panel (whatever that may be). Man, you must have one helluva generator. Is it multiphasic as well? Heh, 200A 240V loads running off an automatic remote start generator…when Armageddon hits, I’m coming to live with you. 48,000 watts of potential load…dude, this is a Tim Allen "arr arr arr arrrrrgh" moment for me.

I really gotta say, I’ve never seen a set up like this. I just don’t see many ultra-high end installs. Do you have any money left? Need a decent HVAC guy on staff?

Power costs are making news across the country and over three years bills have increased an average of 12 per cent in most states.

St Vincent de Paul’s energy analyst Gavin Dufty releases his forecast for power prices next week.

Carbon pollution policy will increase the average bill by $200, the introduction of smart meters will add another $80 and what are know as dynamic tariffs could boost that by another $200.

"Expect to see the biggest prices increase, or the start of the price increases in Victoria and then we’d probably suggest Queensland and then followed by New South Wales," Gavin said.

There is not much we can do about what the power companies charge so we are being encouraged to control what we use.

Anne Armansin is employed by Origin Energy to show customers how to reduce electricity consumption.

"We can all do something about it," she said.

"I have noticed over the decade that people are willing to if they do get a high bill they’ll call and say help us."

Some easy options involve changing behaviour, so for every degree an air-conditioner will use 10 percent more electricity and even after it has been turned off by the remote it is sucking power.

Every appliance on standby 24/7 can chew up to 15 watts of electricity. It soon adds up.

"There are about 27 appliances in the average house that use standby power and it amounts to about 800kw of wasted power a year," Anne said.

That amounts to $160 a year. If we all turned off our appliances at the switch across the country we would save enough power to run every home in Western Australia.

There are gadgets to help, power boards that cut standby power by turning off one appliance.

Anne said our most power hungry consumers are Generation Y.

"They’re filling their rooms with big screen TVs, games and high powered computers and they have a lot of fun," she said.

Ed Parker is one person who is being careful and has gone from power consumer to power generator.

Photvoltaic solar panels produce more power than his family can use so instead of getting $300 bills every quarter, he is getting $300 cheques.

"We’re actually returning better that 7-8 per cent on that extra investment," he said.

The pool filter is another power-hungry device. It runs eight hours a day and in winter it does not have to.

"You can drop it down to either four or two hours depending on what your pool supplier tells you," Anne said.

Then there is the hot water.

Choose an off peak tariff for your hot water system. Switch to solar if you can or an energy efficient heat pump.

Energy saving tips
1. Switch appliances off at the wall or get standby power saving power boards.
2. Use fans instead of air-conditioning, they use one-tenth of the power.
3. Replace old light bulbs with efficient globes.

Salam Alaikum,
thanks for sharing this info ..
and also, we must save electricity to help save our planet.. we humans are seriously wasting away our resources.

another way of saving electricity is:
once you turn off the computer ( at home or office ) to turn off the main power also.

=)

We manage howgillsbunkbarn.co.uk and to provide for a back up electrical supply when we start getting power downs and fuel shortages in the future, I want to know how to calculate what size diesel generator I will need to provide for most of heating, lighting and cooking facilities. Years ago, I arranged for a standby generator one Xmas for a Residential Care home with a lift and that worked except they could not use the lift due to it’s larger requirement for power. This Bunk Barn sleeps 35 people in 8 en-suite rooms but is very ‘Green’ with all lights being low energy and underfloor heating providing economical comforts. Do I just add all potential electical wattages together?

total the wattage required and add ten percent for possible overage. if available a propane type is best with a large tank. no worry about oil or gasoline availibility and safety.

We have a home in Maine and we want to check into getting a standby generator. Presently, we have a neighbor in his 70’s who kicks in the manual generator (it is Maine) and we want to rid him of this responsibility. Where we know nothing about this we thought we’d post these questions. We will need it to run on bottled LP, we will need both the LP and generator installed. We already have a 220 line. We want something fairly basic that will kick in and keep the furnace, lights, well pump and sump pump running.

What should we budget for the entire job, again we need it installed? What are some of the better brands? What KW size should be looking at? Is there anything else we should consider?

There really isn’t sufficient information here to fully answer the question.

You would do well to contact a couple of electrical contractors in the area and get detailed bids with lump sum prices. They might even give you a ball park number so you can decide if you really want to get serious.

I want to get backup generator power if we have a blackout. The home standby systems are way too expensive. I see Briggs and Stratton has an Elite Series 09801 portable generator which CR says is good. However, I’m not sure how much it will cost to get a transfer switch installed by an electrician so i can just "plug" the generator’s electric power into the home electricity system. I don’t want to get ripped off and i’m not a millionaire. I went through the December 2001 ice storm and didn’t have power for 7 days… it was terrible…

to control the bare min items in ur house u need a good B/S 8000 watt gen. about $ 1,400.00 at lowes. lowes carries the transfer switch also, about $ 400.00

whole house which will run everything, about $ $8,000.00 – $10,000.00 comes with it all

lic. gen. contractor

Looking for phone number for Generac guardian home standby generator. It is NOT the same as dealer locator 1-800-333-1322

They don’t make it easy to get tech support – I presume they want all support to be provided by the dealer / installer.

I did find the following information – I’m guessing you already know most of this but since I have it I’ll include it.

The company’s mailing address is at the first link. Directory assistance can probably get you the company phone number but they may not be set up to handle support-type questions.

If you need warranty assistance their manuals say to call that same number you have to get the phone number to the nearest Generac Authorized Warranty Service Facility.

You can get the manual (in pdf format) for your model of generator at the second link.

Try to help small village home with their drought, electricity, farming, small industry, pump and water problems. They got plenty of wind and sunshine but rather dispense with fuel operational cost. Perhaps wind generator and solar panel generator could be the solutions. Besides being a good standby reliable no cost operation it also help prevent greehouse emission. Looking for a reliable products and supplier both for sosial and commercial purpose. Appreciate any website you could introduce me to. Thank you.

http://www.mytscstore.com/

i know that tractor supply company carries solar panels but they are not high producing. each set cost around 300 bucks not including the batteries. I’m going to use complete solar energy for my house. i figured that it would take 3 sets of solar panels from tsc. each set using 4 marine batteries would cost 2500 to 3000 bucks and it would produce enough power run my most basic energy needs. as far as wind mills i haven’t checked that idea out yet but i will soon enough. i hope that you find what you need. good luck.

just wondering if this would be a good investment as we have many power outages in my area

I have a Generac 5500XL portable generator for backup power supply. During an outage it has to be wheeled outside and connected to the transfer panel. I’ve been very pleased with its operation and reliability.
If your plan is to have an automatic start and transfer system you should shop around a bit more, compare prices, features, and reliability. Fuel source is a major consideration.

Read through my home generator page for other ideas.
http://members.rennlist.org/warren/generator.html