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Now I Really Need a Power Conditioner? ?

I have just returned from a survey of a new house in the coutntry, where my wife and I have been hoping to close on the deal in the next week or so.

Just when I thought there couldnt possibly be any more expenses involved in this new venture for us, our new neighbors have informed us that branches and trees fall frequently in the Winter, and knock out the power lines sometimes for a couple of days or so.

I can survive without heat, food etc., but I would really be traumatized to be without music and audio during these times.

Therefore, could any of you please explain if you have any experience with electrical generators, which ones I might review, and if there are any that could possibly power up a few lights, TV etc and still keep my Levinson amp happy?

Could there possibly be an "audiophile" generator?

Any ideas greatly appreciated.
cwlondon
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
Thanks for info so far.

It seems there is a very wide price range on these devices, as well as huges differences in size and complexity.

Could anyone recommend a particular manufacturer, kw output, amperage output etc. for a reasonably sized generator that I can hide away in a boiler room and still keep my ARC tubes and Levinson amp happy?
liguy
228 posts
 
Whatever you decide on, by law, you must install a transfer switch that takes your home off the grid when using the generator. Back in the mid 1980's when Hurricane Gloria hit Long Island there was a case when a homeowner was using a generator without the transfer switch and a linemen was hurt badly when trying to restore power to the area. If I recall correctly it wound up in a serious lawsuit in which the homeowner lost.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Whatever you decide on, by law, you must install a transfer switch that takes your home off the grid when using the generator

Let's not confuse these two issues. Yes you MUST isolate your load from the distribution-grid, but that is accomplished via a DISCONNECT which is not necessarily a line-transfer switching device. You MUST be isolated; a transfer switch is only one of the ways in which to accomplish that.
tireguy
1,964 posts
 
Bob- Nice to see your moniker, I thought you had jumped ship!
spudco
88 posts
 
I have lived in an area with very frequent power outages for 13 years. Often we have a 3 or 4 day outage. Sometimes we are out for a couple of weeks. Life without power can be really miserable. Given a long outage, you will need heat, water, food, etc. At least in my area, when major outages occur, many times the roads are closed and businesses close. With profit pressures on local utilities, you can expect more frequent problems and longer duration events in the future.

Here is a place to look at possible solutions.

Although not cheap, I believe a whole house solution is the best. In addition to a generator (I think 20KW is about the right size for most modern houses), you will need a 200 amp transfer switch. The total cost will be around $10,000 plus installation. Peace of mind is expensive.

You will also need a voltage regulator for use on you system as all generators have problems maintaining constant voltage.
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