Whole House Generators
Whole house generators are within reach for Memphis-area homeowners. As a result, standby generator solutions offer homeowners uninterrupted backup power throughout any power outage.
Our goal at Benchmark Electric is to help homeowners make an informed decision about standby power for their home.
Homeowners have plenty of choices when it comes to standby power. Budget-friendly air-cooled backup generators are ideal for short-term outages. Liquid-cooled generators, especially diesel, offer more endurance during extended power outages. As a matter of fact, diesel generators can perform flawlessly for decades when professionally maintained.
The operation of whole house generators is completely automatic. When a loss of utility power is detected, the generator begins energizing connected circuits within
about 10-seconds. Likewise, when utility power is finally restored, the generator continues to run for about 5-minutes, just in case utility power drops out again. After 5-minutes of continuous utility power, the generator shuts down automatically.
True Whole House Generators + Generator Sizing
The term "Whole House Generator" is misunderstood by consumers and the generator industry shares some blame.
Consider the plight of a local customer browsing generators in a big box store. After spotting a box marked "Whole House Generator", just like the image to the right, the customer bought the unit before calling us for an installation quote.
Upon arrival, we surveyed the power demands for the 3500 SF home and determined the generator just purchased was too small. Inside the box was a 14kW generator and a 150-Amp Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS).
Additionally, the transfer switch was also too small. As a matter of fact, the customer needed a 200-Amp switch to match the home's 200-Amp Main Breaker Panel. Connected to the ATS should be an appropriately sized backup generator capable of energizing all house circuits on demand.
Unfortunately, a 14kW generator was too small to cover all house loads. The lesson learned is don't for fooled by boxes marked "whole house".
While the automatic transfer switch might connect the whole house, proper generator sizing by a professional is critical to ensure the desired result.
Managed Whole House Generators
Managed whole house generators refer to air-cooled generators and, typically, are used on homes up to 3000 square feet. Built-in load management capabilities enable homeowners to use a smaller, undersized generator to run the entire house when budget is a consideration.
High energy appliances like air conditioning systems, ovens, clothes dryers, electric water heaters, and pumps are managed by the generator to prevent overloading.
An example scenario:
Let's assume a 2500-3000 square foot home has two 5-ton air conditioners, a kitchen oven, and clothes dryer in addition to other common electrical circuits.
Built-in load management capabilities manage the operation of the two 5-ton air conditioners allowing just one A/C to run at a time. When one unit completes its cycle, the other 5-ton A/C is free to operate.
Optional load management modules may be required to manage the operation of the kitchen oven and clothes dryer.
For true whole house coverage, the same home will likely require a larger 30kW liquid-cooled generator. All electrical circuits will operate on demand and without load management.
Liquid-cooled generators are sized according to house loads. As a result, these generators do not have load management capabilities.
Online Generator Sizing Calculators
Online generator sizing calculators are useful as a guide, however. we recommend an evaluation by an industry professional.
Benchmark Electric offers free turnkey installation quotes and include proper generator sizing based upon a homeowner's unique requirements.
To get started, call us at 901-590-4968 or send us an online message.
Also, consider reading our article explaining how Benchmark Electric rates and ranks standby generators. It is a must read article for serious buyers of standby generator systems.
Cummins Air-Cooled Generator
Cummins Liquid-Cooled NG/LP
Cummins Liquid-Cooled Diesel
frequently asked questions
Standby generators fueled by natural gas (NG) have an unlimited supply of fuel from the gas meter. No fuel storage or refilling.
Generators fueled by liquid-propane (LP) or diesel require a fuel storage tank. LP gas suppliers offer fuel tanks in various sizes. Diesel generators have a fuel storage tank mounted subbase and are also available in different sizes.