CECAD STANDBY  SYSTEMS

Budgets

• Current Electric has had a great deal of experience with stand by generator systems in this area. It has been our policy and intent to design and recommend only units that are seamless and transparent to the customer. Our Position is that in time of catastrophe most people will be overwhelmed by the moment and should not need to worry about mechanical or technical details. Therefore our system recommendations must follow the criteria below.

1. Transfer of power must be automatic and instant.
- It is vitally important that any system designed, installed, or recommended have instant start and transfer automatically, typically 3 seconds after failure. As was true with the January 17, 1994, Northridge quake, a power failure in early morning hours creates instant confusion. This is not the time to search for and pull start a generator set.

2. The fuel must be vapor. i.e. natural gas or liquid propane
-Liquid fuels such as diesel and gasoline have properties that make the m undesirable for residential installations. They both have limited shelf storage lives of 3 to 12 months maximum and the amount of storage allowed by City, Fire, and Environmental agencies limit the amount of fuel to be stored. Liquid fuels also become listed as hazardous waste products when the must be removed to flush tanks

3. Generator motor must have automatic weekly exercise timer to assure it is ready when needed
-As with any engine it must start on a regular basis to maintain lubrication and guarantee its working order in time of actual power failure

4. System size must have power potential to operate necessary motors, i.e. gate operators, pool / fire pump
-Typical system requirements by our clients typically include power requirements to reliably start and operate specific motor loads. These loads are the main factors in calculating the start load requirement on the installation and the size of the GenSet. The two most requested motor loads are 1) Gate Operators (1 to 2 HP) 2) Pool Motors (2 to 5 HP) for fire protection. The smallest set we recommend is 20KW.

5. The system should supplement the entire property, not " a few plugs, lights, etc..."
-In case of disaster much of a property may be damaged and power should be distributed throughout. Conservation on the part of the residents will manage the power used. Air conditioning condensers are the only major loads we exclude.

Current Electric has designed and installed numerous GenSet systems in conjunction with manufacturers for our residential clients over the decade. Our experience with our designed systems has been outstanding. All systems which we specify and install are SCAQMD approved. By setting a standard in our installations we are assured that a regular maintenance program, which can be part of our standard service contract on these units, is most easily accomplished.

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PRELIMINARY GENERATOR SYSTEM OPTIONS

Below is a table representing Standby Generator Set configurations, abilities, and budgets. Actual costs may vary depending on locations of equipment, conditions, and option.

Not included in the budgets are

Fuel Plumbing Pads for mounting        Extended muffler systems         Barrier Posts (if required)

All systems are budgeted with Natural Gas Primary and a 499-gallon Propane standby fuel tank. Each set includes 100’ of feed conduit and wire from the GenSet Location to the Transfer Switch / Distribution center.

* These options may incur additional costs required to route desired loads to standby panel.  

* Cost may run from $5,000.00 – $15,000.00 pending requirements and design

The last four options allow the “any but not all” use functions of the standby system.

Actual systems must be defined before pricing can be more focused. Alternates including multiple TX SW options and power management via control integration and automation are also needed for a more comprehensive review.