We're buying a home soon in Tennessee and it'll be our first with natural gas utility. Top of the to-do list is a standby generator. Previously (in Mass) started with a Honda EU2000 then upgraded to EU7000 with transfer switch. Now with NG, going automatic and instant-on sounds mighty nice. Questions:
1) Do you have a brand, model, etc. that you recommend checking out or avoiding? No need to count kW -- I'll do that with a local dealer/installer.
2) Any special considerations or lessons learned to keep in mind? For example, it's the South but I'm inclined to get it cold-weather rated as if in New England to avoid what Texas is going through now.
3) Would you hold onto the EU7000 with jerry cans and also install a manual transfer switch, just in case NG utility fails or goes stupid expensive? On one hand it seems a bit much and ties up some cash. On the other hand I'd rather be prepared to go truly off-grid even if only temporarily. And two is one, one is none.
Thanks as always.
EDIT:
Already slowly reading through these two threads but started my own since it's more narrow criteria and some may have new insights a few years later.
1) Do you have a brand, model, etc. that you recommend checking out or avoiding? No need to count kW -- I'll do that with a local dealer/installer.
2) Any special considerations or lessons learned to keep in mind? For example, it's the South but I'm inclined to get it cold-weather rated as if in New England to avoid what Texas is going through now.
3) Would you hold onto the EU7000 with jerry cans and also install a manual transfer switch, just in case NG utility fails or goes stupid expensive? On one hand it seems a bit much and ties up some cash. On the other hand I'd rather be prepared to go truly off-grid even if only temporarily. And two is one, one is none.
Thanks as always.
EDIT:
Already slowly reading through these two threads but started my own since it's more narrow criteria and some may have new insights a few years later.
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