customer supplied used generators

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JoeNorm

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WA
I have a customer who has two used generators and trying to decide which one to use and how to hook them up.

Onan 12K and a Generac Guardian series 10K

I am assuming the Onan is better quality all other things equal?

I'm thinking the the easiest approach is a manual transfer in the main panel with HO operating bigger loads. If I wanted to go with an auto transfer are there guide lines for which brand to buy according to what model gen(besides the obvious sizing restrictions)

Excuse my ignorance I have not worked much at all with generators.

thanks
 
With an ATS, the generator must be able to supply the entire connected load, your genies are small and will need to have load shedding. An ATS can be difficult to retrofit in an existing service
A MTS can be simple if there is a kit available for the service panel to interlock the service breaker and an adjacent 2 pole breaker. With the correct size inlet and cord you are good to go.
 
Any thoughts on which gen would be better between the two?

These are both fixed units, so I'm assuming hardwired without a cord. Are there aftermarket pushbutton starts that might get installed indoors?

thanks
 
LarryFine said:
Unless the Generac has a much greater surge capacity, I'd go with the larger unit.

Are these both meant to work with ATSs?
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I honestly don't know. They look like they would be, both fixed in place type. The customer bought them both used from clients(he's a contractor) who upgraded.
 
Both of those units are designed to be used with an ATS. It's certainly possible to run them without an ATS but they are usually set up for an ATS with battery charger, sensors for loss of utility power, etc.
 
Probably an ATS combined with a backed up loads panel? Would the ATS be manufacture specific or could I look into something more generic?

If I didn't use the ATS what about some sort of push button start from the house?
 
What is the load calculation for the guy's house? That will help you in determining which generator to use.

If you don't use the same manufacturer ATS as the generator, whatever you choose will need a two-wire start capability.
 
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