George Patterson wrote:
Darrel Toepfer wrote:

I replaced my 5.5kw gasoline, with a 30kw NG/LPG one.

What did that set you back to install? Around here, it costs more for
the permits and installation than for the generator.

$300 to truck it from California, $3k for a '60's exrailroad 3 phase
with Ford inline 6 powering it. I'd been squabbling over the price with
the guy for 3 months over a 40kw. It got sold 3 days before I called to
make whatever deal I could...

The city gas department got in a tizzy for a bit saying it would stress
the meter, I told them we'd cross that bridge when it came to it. Never
got there yet, instantaneous consumption hardly registers...

I black plastic'd the ground, dug holes for the concrete pads and
backfilled with sand to level everything (leftover sand bags I didn't
really need as it turned out) and then poured a couple loads of
limestone over everything. Local crane company owed the family a favor,
they lifted it off the trailer and set it into place. Install cost was
just over nothing (in aviation dollars), and yet its priceless when the
need arises...

http://www.whodat.net/lili

I've run on it over 1/2 dozen times since it was installed in late 2002.
The price of NG/LPG sucks, but you don't have to worry about it going
bad like diesel and gasoline...

The city raised more cane about my steel roof, than the generator. When
I pointed to a 25 year old house down the street that was built with
one, they backed down and issued my permit. Nobody had ever noticed it
before... 'cept me of course...

The airport has no backup power (there is an abandoned tailered power
unit behind one hanger), the city hall is replacing theirs now that
they've discovered that its inadequate on multiple occasions...

I've got a friend that is getting self contained 15kw Chinese diesels
for just over $3k shipped. I helped him put it in place Saturday. 2 more
are sitting in New Orleans now, hopefully high and dry to the shippers
insurance company...

I bought that 5.5kw new back in '85 for under $400. Its paid for itself
tens of times over...