INSTALLATION METHODS
Big Title
Foundations
There are basically three main types of foundations that generators can be found on.
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1)Substrate, such as mulch or pea gravel have been found to be sufficient. The residential models are actually rated for direct earth contact, although this is minimal practices and not our style. These foundations are also not acceptable for commercial grade units.
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2) Pre-cast pads, commonly know as "Gen-Pads", or other brands can come in several different configurations from plastic, concrete, or even raised steel or wood platforms. We offer the Gen-Pad as our expedited/budget option. We even have a modular pad for our commercial units if budget or time to completion are an issue.
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3) Site poured concrete pads are the best foundations for function and aesthetics. Generators are very heavy, very large, vibrating machines. You want them properly supported. One thing that built our family name in this business is the fact that we put 95% of our systems on a site poured pad!
Types of Utility Feeders
Copper (Cu) VS Aluminum (Al) wire: Al is a poor conductor compared to Cu and has problems with connections points. Although Al is banned in almost all applications inside a building due to heat problems, the National Electric Code states that "feeder and service" conductors can be in Al. Service and Feeders are often outdoors and underground where heat isn't as much as of a concern. However, generator wire often runs in your attic and under your house, like the branch circuits that have to be Cu. Unfortunately, the generator wire is considered a "feeder" and it IS legal to use Al inside your home for generators.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to generator vibration and the heat related issues with Al wire connections, WE ONLY use Cu wire when connecting your generator through a building!
Gaseous Standby generators have 2 main major utility connection points, the gas system, and the electrical system. We use premium materials for all of our utility feeders because the materials DO make the difference.
We use also use premium materials and techniques when installing our high volume gas systems. We use double shielded flexible gas pipe in concealed spaces, and bond all gas systems to code. We use rigid steel pipe that is double sealed and COATED in exterior situations, for maximum lifespan and also nice aesthetics.
Types of Utility Feeder Installation
Permanently installed standby generators have major connections to your utility services. Those connections often end up being fairly large conduits and/or several cables to provide: gas, electricity, and communication from the building to the generator, and back. There are three common types of feeder installation in construction.
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1) Surface Piping is the simplest method to connect a system. Most surface piped systems can be installed in one trip, in almost any weather. As long as the pipe run is kept short or painted to match the structure, surface piping is often the preferred install method for cost and ease of installation. Surface piping is sometimes not recommended due to potentially being damaged or aesthetics. We like to keep our utility piping concealed (if possible) for protection and it makes it look like the generator was intended to be there.
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2) Accessible Spaces are the second best preferred type of installation. This involves the use of the: attic, crawlspace, grid ceiling, or even basement. In these spaces, we can run flexible piping and cables across entire buildings in just a few hours and when we are finished, it is often hard to tell what we added. This type of work involves slight hazards and difficulty for the installer, is more labor intensive than surface piping, and so it can cost slightly more.
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3) Underground Piping, while sometimes necessary, is our most costly and laborious of the types of utility feeder installation. Labor cost and special materials rated against corrosion can quickly add up in price. Once in place, these systems are often protected and built to last for generations being located in the ground. We also utilize directional boring and other landscape techniques to ensure the best completed project. When we utilize these techniques, restoring property to it's original condition within weeks after trenching can be accomplished.