The Best Features:
- Prepackaged system - 7,000 standby generator is prepackaged with a 50 amp transfer switch with eight circuit load center including breakers
- Generac ohv engine is designed for reliability and long life
- At least 10 db(a) quieter than competitive units and significantly quieter than a standard portable generator
- Easy installation and maintenance - sides are quickly removed without tools for easy accessibility during initial installation and ongoing maintenance
- CARB Compliant
Great, quality generator - but please don't install it under your deck By Dale Eldersen
This generator is perfect if you don't need to power the whole house. I got it to run a pair of sump pumps, refrigerator, furnace, and a handful of branch circuits for outlets and lights around the house.
By coincidence I'd bought this the spring before hurricane Irene and this unit did not disappoint. When we lost power for a few days, the gennie ran 24x7 without skipping a beat. We were the only house lit up with heat in a sea of darkness. As far as I'm concerned it paid for itself right there. I did have a high gas bill that month, but it was better than the alternative.
Caution! As I browsed the customer photos uploaded on this site, I see someone has ignorantly and dangerously put the generator under their deck, proclaiming that this helps reduce the noise. Apparentley he/she did not read the instructions which include a full page diagram of required clearances on all sides of the generator. For the reasons of proper airflow, proper access for regular maintenance, distance from exhaust containing (deadly) carbon monoxide AND National Fire Protection Agency regulations, the manual clearly states, among other points: Clearance at the top of the generator should be a minimum of 60 inches from any structure, overhang, or projections from the wall. The generator SHOULD NOT BE PLACED UNDER A DECK OR OTHER STRUCTURE. Don't be a dimwit, read the instructions for proper operation and your safety.
If you're going to install it yourself, then you also need to buy a car battery; it does not come with one. The type you need is a Group 26R with minimum 525 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA). You should replace this every 3 or 4 years at the most, especially in climates that go through a cold winter. You'll also need to supply wiring & conduit to connect back to your panel. The install guide explains what you need on Page 8. The length depends on your particular installation:
EXTERNAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS
Electrical Connections to the generator are to be made inside
the main output circuit breaker panel. The connections will
consist of the following:
* 2 x Ungrounded conductors - Minimum wire size use 75
Deg C, 300V wire, 10AWG Copper.
* 1 x Grounded Conductor - Minimum wire size use 75 Deg
C, 300V wire, 10AWG Copper.
* 1 x Equipment Grounding Conductor - Minimum wire size
use 75 Deg C, 300V wire, 10AWG Copper.
* 6 x Control Wires - Use 75 Deg C, 300V wire, 18AWG
Copper.
* These conductors should be fed through ¾" Flexible Liquidtight
conduit for easy connection to the generator.
The 8 circuit transfer switch comes with an assortment of 15 and 20 amp single pole breakers and one 30 amp double pole. They are Siemens breakers and can be replaced by purchasing your own (GFCI and AFCI breakers are also supported, where required by the NEC). If you happen to have a breaker panel that uses Siemens breakers you can probably swap them over, otherwise you need to buy what you need if what comes in the box doesn't work for you. As well, you need to provide the 50 amp double pole breaker that feeds the transfer switch from your main utility panel.
The generator is approx. 33" tall, 30" deep and 24" wide and weighs 225 lbs. The 4 corners of the base have holes so you can bolt it to a concrete pad for security if you wish. The breaker cover also has provisions for a padlock. The top is held down by 4 latches (one per corner) and there is no built-in way to prevent unauthorized access. It has a weekly exercise mode to keep the battery fresh and parts lubricated. After installation, you open the top cover, ensure the big toggle switch is set to AUTO and then hold down the "Set Exercise" button on the control panel until the generator starts up. It will run for 12 minutes and then power down, and continue to do this at the same time and day once/week. Exercise must be reset if the fuse is pulled out of the control panel (in which case all the control panel indicator lights will blink red when you re-install the fuse, until you set Exercise again). This generator has protection systems including low oil pressure and high temperature sensors, among others. If you run it for more than 24 hours straight in an outage, it's a good idea to shut it down for a few minutes and double check the oil level. Generac recommends this. However, I did run mine for over two days in hurricane Irene and didn't do this. I changed the oil for the first time after that storm.
When the generator is in AUTO mode (which is what you want, really), and utility power is lost, nothing will happen for 10 seconds and then the generator will start ONLY if utility doesn't come back first. This prevents momentary loss of street power from causing the generator to power up. Then, it will warm up for 5 seconds until the transfer switch kicks in and flips the 50 amp breaker over to the generator side, while turning off the utility side. The bottom line is that you will have no power for 15 seconds while all this is happening. It is not an instant failover. On the flip side, when the power has been out and then street power is restored, the street power has to be at least 75% of normal voltage and be back for 15 seconds before the transfer switch will toggle over. The generator will then run a bit longer to cool down and then shut itself off. When the transfer switch takes you back over to street power, the effect is that those circuits which were on generator power will go out for a moment, and then back on with the rest of the house.
To determine the total number of appliances you can use on the gennie, add up the current draw (amperage) you expect for each branch circuit per the specs of whatever is wired or plugged into the circuit. Most major appliances have a sticker or plate near the power cord. You should also account for the temporary in-rush current of any inductive loads like the A/C condensor or a sump pump motor. You have a total of 29.2 amps max current draw at 240 volts with Liquid Propane (10% to 15% less for Natural Gas) per Generac's specifications (that's 58.3 amps at 120 volts on LP). The transfer switch can hold up to 8 single pole circuits and is protected on both the gennie and utility side with a 50-amp double throw breaker.
As others have said, this is not a particularly quiet generator. It sounds like a lawn mower is running, if not a bit louder. If you want quiet you'll need a more expensive model.
Also, this gennie's output has a total harmonic distortion (THD) of approximately 5%, making it safe for use with most electronics but not quite as good as the bigger units. The next model up (Guardian 8kW) has a THD of 1%. THD is a measure of power quality and 5% could affect some very sensitive electronics but should be a non-issue for typical household computers, TVs, and appliances with electronic control boards (modern fridges, HVAC, washing machines and so on).
If you need a maintenance kit it is Generac part #6003. Most of the photos online show a round air filter but this is not what comes in that kit. The air filter is an elliptical shape. You also get a spark plug and oil filter in the kit. Change the oil after the first 8 hours (the engine break-in period) and at LEAST annually after that. The owner's manual provides the full maintenance schedule which also considers how many hours the gennie has been running over the year.
You can purchase oil filters separately if you want, the part number is 070185B or 070185D. It took me a while to track this down. The oil filter is mounted horizontally on the right side and makes a big mess when you unscrew it. I recommend lots of paper towels or a Form-a-Funnel to catch the oil.
You can do your own maintenance if you're reasonably handy, have basic tools, understand basic electrical theory and have a digital multimeter. There's a handful of things that need to be done on at least an annual basis: Oil change and filter, check or change the air filter, check the valve clearances, check the voltage output, check the frequency output and adjust the governor if needed, check the battery, check the spark plug, and check the voltage regulator. This annual check-up will ensure many years of good service. The owner's manual doesn't go into enough detail to complete these procedures but a diagnostic and repair guide is available for purchase from Generac. It is made for their technicians and contains many detailed procedures.
You can download copies of the paper manuals that come with the generator for free from Generac's website. Go to generac.com and click the Service link at the top of the screen, then Owner Manual Search link on the left. Enter the model number "58370" and all available PDFs will be listed. You must type in the model number exactly with the trailing zero or it won't work. Strange and annoying, but true.When you need it By Dave
I purchased this after Hurricane Irene shook up SW CT. I got a friend who is an electrician so my install cost was only around $2,300. The unit is VERY quiet and sure enough, we got SLAMMED with a brutal October Nor'Easter and the power went out AGAIN. No worries, within a minute the power was back on. The only items this would not power were my Central A/C range and dryer. Since I plan on converting the range and dryer to propane, then really the whole house will be covered. Keep in mind if you have sump pumps/electric hot water or heat, and a well pump, you should go with the 10k unit, this one wont be enough. Since my heat and hot water are propane, and I have city water, it is MORE than enough20 of 20 Great product, great service! By Edward Budrys
This generator can't be beat for an entry level unit - in both price and power output. It arrived at its destination exactly as AMAZON said it would,with a call before it arrived by a professional and courteous team. Once installed,working as described. I'll never have to worry about a power outage again. I hope AMAZON continues selling this model. The Best-Selling Generac CorePower Series 5837 7,000 Watt Air-Cooled Natural Gas/Liquid Propane Powered Standby Generator With Transfer Switch then to sell out very fast, if this is a must have product, be sure to order now to avoid disappointment.
