It’s a good thing I’m honest, I’d just open the gas meter union, and steal the chain as well.
Exhaust for whole house genset
- Thread starter corn18
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corn18
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That's just mean. I have a Nest cam pointed right at it so at least I can watch someone steal it.
Bluedog225
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Crackheads want easy and quick. I’d take the wheels off.
corn18
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Google says three feet
I had the same issue with a heavy generator and a big hill. My "solution" was to install a battery backup in the basement and only use the generator for recharging.
The last two outages we had lasted 8 hours and 6 hours, and the battery backup didn't even go down to 60%. We recharged it after power came back, so no need for the generator. This setup also allows my wife to switch to backup power if I'm not around...just flip a few switches and power is back.
I wanted some redundancy and for a long grid-down scenario, I didn't want to have to rely on just a generator running continuously for days or weeks. In such a scenario, we will only need to run the generator a few hours a day, running on battery the rest of the time. The 30% federal tax credit also reduced the battery backup system cost quite a bit.
The last two outages we had lasted 8 hours and 6 hours, and the battery backup didn't even go down to 60%. We recharged it after power came back, so no need for the generator. This setup also allows my wife to switch to backup power if I'm not around...just flip a few switches and power is back.
I wanted some redundancy and for a long grid-down scenario, I didn't want to have to rely on just a generator running continuously for days or weeks. In such a scenario, we will only need to run the generator a few hours a day, running on battery the rest of the time. The 30% federal tax credit also reduced the battery backup system cost quite a bit.
corn18
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Hmmmm.... I see planning project in my future.
Q-Dog
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We had the same solution.
We had a generator for backup. Worked fine, except for the noise, and the extension cords, and the gas, and the noise. So, I built a battery backup and eventually added solar. Our last power outage was 36 hours and the battery backup with solar did great. We loaned our gas generator to our neighbor because we didn't need it.
Basics about the evolution of our battery backup in my sig.
Texas-Mark
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I would be more concerned about that dryer vent than it somehow heating up the gas meter 8 feet away.
If the gas meter was such a big concern, I would just do something like this, and angle 45 degees away. I have this drop on mine, just so that I can remote start (test) it for a few minutes every so often without having to pull up the cover.
Attachments
Yeah...there are many benefits to having battery as your primary backup source. It's quiet, and it also converts all of the generator output to stored energy to be used later. With just a generator, you're wasting fuel during periods of low loads, though some can run at lower RPMs to make them more efficient. You're also spending less on maintenance due to much lower hours on the gen. The other plus is that of security...if you're not running a gen or if you only need to run it a few hours per day, there is reduced chance of theft.
This.
Plus, you can get away with a smaller generator.
And, if done right, it can be automatic so you don't have to worry about being gone, power going out, and then the sump pit overflowing and ruining your furnace and freezer in your basement!
corn18
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I have battery backup for the sump pump
Smart man.
I don't. Partially because I look at how much they cost, to get one with a crummy lead acid battery on a junk charger that will die when you need it most (that just happened to my father in law, most recent power outage it failed and he was manually bailing water by the bucketful). So instead of spending a few hundred on a battery backup sump I spent a few grand on batteries, inverter, sub panel for critical loads, etc etc etc a couple years ago... and haven't gotten it installed yet
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
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Not good to vent exhaust under the eave.
If any distance below the eve, sometimes rain will angle in and hit it.
More important, hot exhaust rises and can collected under the eve and enter the home. Carbon monoxide is deadly and people have been killed by it from a generator outside.
This link suggests permanently installed generators be 18" away from house, but portable generators be 20' away.
Perhaps the difference is due to members of the public locating it near openings vs. a professional installer mounting in a suitable location.
Whole House Generator: How Far From the House to Install? | Pick Generators
While a whole house generator provides many advantages during emergencies, it can also pose harm if not placed at a safe distance. Generator exhaust contains…
pickgenerators.com
Gas appliances use double-wall exhaust pipe and end a distance above the roof.
In the case of water heater, it has an opening just above water heater, Venturi effect to draw gasses that are around the water heater.
OffGridInTheCity
Solar Wizard
Never mind
corn18
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I removed all the Rube Goldberg exhaust stuff. Back to stock now.Not good to vent exhaust under the eave.
If any distance below the eve, sometimes rain will angle in and hit it.
More important, hot exhaust rises and can collected under the eve and enter the home. Carbon monoxide is deadly and people have been killed by it from a generator outside.
This link suggests permanently installed generators be 18" away from house, but portable generators be 20' away.
Perhaps the difference is due to members of the public locating it near openings vs. a professional installer mounting in a suitable location.
Whole House Generator: How Far From the House to Install? | Pick Generators
While a whole house generator provides many advantages during emergencies, it can also pose harm if not placed at a safe distance. Generator exhaust contains…
Gas appliances use double-wall exhaust pipe and end a distance above the roof.
In the case of water heater, it has an opening just above water heater, Venturi effect to draw gasses that are around the water heater.
corn18
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Yikes!Never mind
corn18
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It came with the house when I built it so I'm sure it was affordable.Smart man.
I don't. Partially because I look at how much they cost, to get one with a crummy lead acid battery on a junk charger that will die when you need it most (that just happened to my father in law, most recent power outage it failed and he was manually bailing water by the bucketful). So instead of spending a few hundred on a battery backup sump I spent a few grand on batteries, inverter, sub panel for critical loads, etc etc etc a couple years ago... and haven't gotten it installed yet
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
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Still under the eaves, though? Any windows or other openings this side of the house?
Some houses are pretty well closed off, others are totally vented so gasses under the eaves would go right into the attic. There, would cool and settle into the house.
Unlike cars with closed-loop fuel injection running 0 to 1 ppm CO, generators are carbureted and run rich, can produce very high CO. Recent ones have CO detector shutdown, but that only helps if operated in an enclosure.
Maybe if this generator is located where a permanently installed one would be, away from openings, it is OK. But at least examine the eaves for vents.
