Customer Reviews

Generac Guardian Series 5501 8,000 Watt Air Cooled Propane/Natural Gas Powered Home Automatic Standby Generator With Transfer Switch (CARB Compliant)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I do have the previous model, what is the same thing but a different "box" I did have it 2 day before Katrina and here in Hollywood we did have-it Purdy good. Well of course I did not have a perfect installation but everything got hock-up in less the 8 hours. This kit is perfect. The automatic switch box makes the generator kick-in in 30 seconds from a power outage, and switch back-in by itself. I did select this unit because I have an AC who draw 13 amps a 230 1 ph. and all the light, PCs, Tv and small thing draw no more than 2 Amps a 115v. No hot water or oven. And I can't have the cafe going with the toaster Oh well I can have-it all because I'm cheap...

I didn't want to be independent from the gas company, and then I did install a liquid propane system. When Wilma past-by I did run the unit almost 24 hrs a day and I did consume about 75 to 100# of LP a day what is expensive but cheaper then gas and you can store-it for a long theme. Also Propane can be find faster than gas, because gas station need electricity...

For the noise level, I didn't have any complaints from Nabors or if I'm in one room away I can barely hear-it. The control is very simple. Spot the breaker you want to be cover, disconnect-it and connect the wires to the new circuit. It's that easy.

The only thing you will need is a battery, oil, a base to install it, gas line (1" pipe minimum) and regulator. The unit is complete by itself, easy to install, be careful it's 800#, a bit heavy for one guy... Read the book it's short and simple, the set-up takes a minute, the governor is a bit tutchy to adjust especially when there a full load starts. For the maintenance, I change the oil, oil filter and the air filter one a year keep an eye on the gas and that-it. Notice the unit cover is painted with a good quality cook enamels, I have it expose to the sun and rain, after 3 years it look like new still.

To be on a safe side have an electrician doing the electric system and the gas Co. to do the line work. And for not a arm and a leg you will be sleeping with peace and comfort.

PS Sorry for my french, I'm a handy man more then a writer...

I bought this generator about 6 months ago. I instaled it and start ussing. I have two problems with it. The first one is that too much noise, motre than I spected. My nieghbors said that the generator make a lot of noise. The second problem was that it was raining and I had to open the up door. The control is not waterproof and in had a circuit and the control dead. I had to buy another control panel. The good part is that I found the part easly. I recomend to generac to solve this problem and make a control panel wateproof because the generator is to use outside. On the othe hand, it work very good when I do not have energy, start without problem and turn off automaticly. I recomend this product

I am in a wheelchair and live very rural. It took a long time save the money for the generator, electrician, the extra propane tank, the battery and the man from my propane company to hook it up. So now I have a depleted savings account and worthless lawn ornament! Not pleased with Amazon or Generac...

UPDATE: Generac is being very helpful, sent a technician who installed a new starter (?) I guess I was wrong about Generac... I'll just have to wait for an electrical outage . I am hoping to be able to them the full 5 stars.