360° Energy Solutions FAQ

360 Energy Solutions

TEMPORARY POWER RENTAL, GENERATORS FOR ANY EMERGENCY

Residential

How much should I be spending on a residential unit?

A regular self-enclosed, automatic 14 kW generator with transfer switch can cost you anywhere from $5,500-10,000 with installation included. The price is not set in stone and can vary drastically, based on a wide array of factors.

What characteristics/specifications should I be looking for in a residential generator?

Local Service & Repair - If you purchase your generator online, or through a third party you may not have on hand help to troubleshoot any problems with the unit. Warranty - A warranty isn't offered unless the manufacturer is certain that the product will last, make sure to ask if the warranty includes parts, travel time and labor.

Temperature - The engine of your generator should run under 300 degrees. Electronic voltage regulation is is always better then the alternative - droop governors.

Direct drive generators: They have fewer moving parts, providing a more reliable design.

What are the advantages to a standby set vs. a discount chain store portable generator?

A fully-automatic residential generator's advantages:

  • Fuel storage - Residential generators run on diesel, natural gas or liquid propane (LP) gas. Over long periods of time, gasoline spoils and can corrode the engine. In addition, home standby generators are meant to be connected to large fuel tanks - lasting a longer time in case of an emergency.
  • Reliability and durability - Residential generators tend to be higher quality and longer lasting.
  • Automatic Transfer Switches - Residential generators can be wired to ATSs that should automatically start your generator in the event of a power outage. In addition the switch will automatically exercise your generator once a week ensuring that it will work when needed.
  • Noise - The smaller residential sets (8.5 to 20kW) come packaged in sound attenuated housings, and are significantly quieter than portable generators.
  • Service - Normally, residential generator distributors are ready for constant emergency field service.

What type of fuel should I choose when purchasing a generator?

That depends on what fuel you presently have at your house. The large majority of residential generators are natural gas or liquid propane (LP). Both are clean burning and there are few issues surrounding storage of the fuel. Natural gas is usually always available.

How Do I Size a Generator?

You should call either one of our local dealers/installers or your local electrician to determine what your electric load will be. Remember, a licensed electrician can wire the generator to cover only parts of your house or your entire load. Of course, the larger the load, the bigger the generator and the higher the cost you will pay.?

Should I have an automatic transfer switch (ATS)?

More often than not, it's a good idea. The ATS will detect any power outage and automatically start your generator, and will exercise the unit on a weekly basis. It's extremely important that your emergency power system run at least once a week, under load if possible. Keeping your generator operational is critical in an outage. If you're away on vacation and your house loses power, your generator will automatically turn on and potentially keep pipes from freezing, pumps working, freezers and refrigerators running to avoid spoilage, and the like.

How often should my generator and transfer switch be serviced?

At 360° Energy Solutions we recommend 4 visits per year by a One visit should include an oil change, filter changes, tune up and a complete inspection of the entire unit - both the ATS and generator. The remaining visits, approximately every 3 months, should be shorter, more limited check of the unit.

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