Customer Reviews

Guardian 04390 15000 Watt Emergency Automatic Home Standby Generator

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I ordered this generator from Amazon about 3 weeks ago, and while the web page said that it was out of stock ("in stock soon"), I received an email from Amazon about 12 hours later that said it had shipped. Can't beat that!

The generator comes mounted on a wooden pallet, and weighs something around 600 lbs as shipped. Mine came on a full-size tractor-trailer (ABF Freight), and so couldn't be delivered to my house (rural, narrow roads). I met the driver and he was able to lower his liftgate to the level of my tailgate and just the two of us were able to get the thing into my pickup truck.

Along with being 600lbs, the box itself is around 3ft high by 2ft wide by 4ft long, so plan accordingly. Note that the transfer switch and breaker box are removeable from the package, and that probably removes 50 lbs or so of weight.

The generator comes set up to run on natural gas from the factory. I need to run it on LP gas, so I had to re-jet it. This is mostly clearly explained in the manual (all available online, btw) and only took about 15 mins once I figured out where to look. You need a foot or so of clearance behind the generator to adjust things during this step, so if you're planning on placing the generator close to your house, it will be easier to re-jet it first.

The wiring installation was very straightforward, and there is an included booklet that shows the installation steps in a clear and concise way. If you've got some experience with wiring, and understand generally how distribution panels, breakers, and branch circuits work, you should be able to do this with no problem.

The included transfer switch, breaker box, and associated wiring are all of very high quality and are clearly marked and color coded. Taking my time, it took me about a day and a half to mount the box next to my old breaker box, run the wiring from the generator through the garage wall, and pass the circuits from the old breaker box to the new one.

The manual has a detailed testing section (for after-installation testing) which takes about half an hour to run through. Once you're sure you've gotten everything wired up correctly, there is a detailed break-in procedure, which takes about 3 hours to go through. You basically run the generator at no-load, half-load, and full-load, each for an hour or so. Once that's done, you can change the oil and filter and you're good to go.
(Note, the filter it uses is the same one used on the Toyota Prius, so you can pick them up at any auto-parts store)

When on automatic, there is a delay of 15-20 seconds before the generator supplies power after utility power is lost. This means that you still need a UPS of some sort if you're trying to protect computers. I did have some trouble with my APC Smart-UPS, which didn't like the power supplied by this generator. Voltage was ok (in the 124v range), so it was either frequency or waveform that the UPS didn't like. I haven't yet narrowed that down. However, many UPS' have an adjustable sensitivity to these things. In my case, I was able to tell the UPS to be less picky and all is well now.

Some last observations:

Effeciency-wise, this generator claims to use 2.4 gallons of LP gas at full load (15KW) - which is almost twice as efficient as my old LP generator (about 15 years old).

Noise-wise, this generator is not as quiet as I had hoped. It claims to be ~72 decibels, and it may be - but I wouldn't want it mounted outside my bedroom window. In my case, it's mounted about 100ft from the house and I can just barely hear a hum when the door is closed. But I think it would be annoying if it were placed next to the house.

The weather-proof box the generator comes in is wonderful. It's all-steel with an enamel coating, locks, and comes mouse-proofed from the factory. Normal access to the generator and controls is through the top, which opens upward, but you can also remove the front panel to get the engine if you need to. Oil changes are easy with the fron panel removed, as they've conveniently connected a rubber hose to the drain plug. You unclip the house, unscrew the stopper, and the oil runs out. It's very well thought out.

This back up generator is an excellent piece of equipment when purchased for the right reasons. That would be as a stand by unit for use in power failures of relatively short durations, from one to ten days.

If you live off-grid, and are thinking of buying this unit for your primary back up unit which will eventually run hundreds and hundreds of hours, lots of them continuously, you are buying the wrong item. Generac developed this as a lightweight. When used as it was designed it is unbeatable.

If you need a constant source of power Generac offers water cooled models, same KW rating, that you can run forever and ten days. Better yet, get a diesel.

I saw a review from some guy off grid complaining about how it held up for him. He was probably running it at max capacity for days on end. Yep, it will get hot, but note that it does have shutdown devices which stop it if it over heats or over revs.

For 95% of us, this is more generator backup than we will ever need.

By the way, the problem with the high volume of NG required to run it has been fixed. Just make sure the model you buy has -03 at the end, and not 01 or 02.

I own 3 of these now, and am ordering my 4th from Amazon. The first has just over 980 hours on it. It still runs beautifully. Just keep it tuned and change the oil and filter even sooner than the book requires.

Finally, there is a 200 hour break in for this model. 50 hours at 25% load, 50 at 50%, 50 at 75%, and 50 fully loaded. Do take the time to do this and you'll have a generator that will far exceed your expectations.

Sirwriter

We had the Generac 15kw generator installed in our new home construction about two years ago. 15 kw is adequate for emergency power for nearly any home, although larger models are available if you wanted to power everything in your house.

The generator has performed exactly as described without a hitch since our original startup. It automatically excercises itself once a week to keep the battery charged and everything working.

The current pricing on this item is outstanding--our construction schedule forced us to buy just before the big Y2K event. Prices are now around half what they were. Installation will go most smoothly with an electrician who is familiar with these systems which have been adapted for home use, so I would recommend locating the electrician before ordering. Routine maintenance is basically like servicing a car engine, can be done by nearly anyone. The nicest thing of all is that the unit is connected to our natural gas line, so we never have to worry about fuel.

This was an investment in our home I made mostly for my wife. I've never regretted it. We love it.

Having been an electrician since 1973, and having had experience with many generating plants and stand-by generating systems, I am extremely impressed with the Guardian 15kW generator. First, it is very easy to set up. The instructions, for an average non-electrician, are easy to understand. (I recommend, however, that you secure the services of a licensed Electrician for installation or advice) Second, the generator is totally enclosed, can be secured to a concrete pad, and the enclosure is lockable for personal security. Third, using either LP gas or your home's existing natural gas for fuel makes this generator an ideal stand-by plant for your home. It is both economical and quiet to operate. You really can't go wrong with this generator and you will love the quality of the equipment and the security that comes in knowing that you will never be without power for those critical loads in your home!

The manufacturer does not mention a minor detail. This generator consumes almost 200 cubic feet of natural gas per hour at 11-14" of water column pressure. This is TWICE the pressure of a residential intallation so this unit requires a seperate gas meter. Find out BEFORE you buy whether the gas company will switch out the meter and help with the piping. Your house will require two pressures, 6" for your regular appliences and furnace and 12-14" for the generator. The generator does work, but it is NOT easy to install.

I have now owned this generator for two years and can tell you that it is flawless in it's performance and it's automation. It starts itself every Saturday at noon and runs for 15 minutes. I have had one blackout and it turned itself on and functioned without a hitch. Great insurance is hard to find, this is one.

I was a little apprehensive in deciding to install the Generac myself after reading some of the reviews. I took the plunge and found out that there was nothing to worry about. Before I bought it, I checked with my propane supplier and found out that the gas pressure their regulator supplies was within Generac's guidelines (11"-14" water column is pretty standard).

It took about 2.5 weeks to arrive after ordering it and came by ABF freight (semi truck). I was able to unload it from the truck with my tractor and pallet forks. I first had to convert it to propane with the supplied orifice, etc. which took about 40 min. I chose to pour a concrete pad which isn't required, but I thought it would be a more stable base. This took 3 hours.

Next was hanging the transfer box and running the pre-wired 30' BX conduit to the location where it will go through your wall. This took about 2 hours. Since I am running it on propane, I took advantage of the offer of a free upgrade to 15KW (nat. gas runs at 13KW) from Generac by calling their toll-free number. It was difficult to get through to a person (I had to lie to the automated answerer saying I wanted to be a Generac dealer), but once through, it was shipped free of charge within a week. This upgrade requires the swapping out of the 60A breaker on the generator with a supplied 70A and the replacement of the pre-wired 30' BX conduit and the conduit that goes between the generator and the external box with another that has heavier gauge wire for the additional amps. This switchover took 1 hour. Installing the external electrical box and wiring it up took an hour also.

Next, I had to run about 20' (with associated valves and fittings) of additional LP line from where mine left off in the house to the generator. This took me and a helper 6.5 hours.

The wiring of the designated emergency circuits was quite easy due to the color-coded, tagged wires that are supplied with the transfer switch. I removed the black wires from my existing breakers (and removed the breakers) and pigtailed them to the new wires/breakers in the transfer switch box. All of this wiring took 2 hours. I then followed all of the testing procedures checking voltages with a mulitimeter and performing the engine break-in (which takes about 4 hours). After the break-in, I changed the oil (with a required all-synthetic oil) and the filter and now it is ready to go!

If you are going to install this yourself prepare to spend about 18-20 hours, depending on how much gas line you have to run. Also, some things that you will have to buy that aren't really mentioned in the literature are: Automotive battery (550CCA min.) $58, 8' ground rod/cable $13, Circuit breaker that fits your existing breaker box to feed the transfer switch panel $20 (mine was Square-D which are expensive normally, but I got it on ebay), LP pipe/valves $50, Misc. conduit straps, etc. $5, Concrete pad (Quikcrete from Home Depot)$40. Total=$186

I have had some experience with wiring and construction and am generally handy with tools. If you have that general level of ability, this shouldn't be a problem for you. It sure beats the $900 that Home Depot wants to install it "professionally".

As far as quality goes, this thing is built like a tank. Everything looks and feels to be heavy duty. Case is weather proof and well thought out, generally. (I wish they would have a bigger battery compartment so I could have gotten a 600+CCA battery in, though) I was really worried about the noise; no need to be. I placed it near a window of the family room about 2' from the wall and only had to turn up the TV slightly when it was running. A low hum is what it sounds like through the wall. Outside, you don't have to shout to be heard while within 10' of it with all covers closed, but don't stay too close for too long with the top open and the front cover off because you could go deaf! This thing is loud without the sound attenuation afforded by the enclosure.

It had no problem powering everything that is hooked up to it during testing: Well pump, Heat Pump/AC, propane furnace, 2 sump pumps, 2 refrigerators, 1 deepfreezer, several lighting and outlet citcuits, TV/VCR, microwave, septic aerator/sump pump combination. The lights dimmed momentarily when the heat pump kicked in, but other than that, you can't tell you're "off the grid".

Now we're just waiting for the power to go out.

Good Luck!

Got it last year & installed professionally. Directions are good enough you can do it yourself on the elect.. If you don't already have gas you'll pay alot extra for install-you'll have to buy tanks (propane) or get nat. gas lines run. Unit comes on weekly to charge its battery. Had a power outage & it came on automatically after 10 sec.- whole house (3 ton AC & all)was running fine. Shut itself down when power came on. Has done this a few times during storms without delay or problems. I'm pleased so far & don't seem to have any problems.

UPDATE- Feb. '09
I had to use the warranty to have my electrician replace the transfer switch in '07. The switch malfunctioned & several breakers & wires melted.
The outer case of the generator is rusting at a very rapid rate- Several areas will need to eventually be replaced (or a new panel made).
It's obvious that substandard steel & coating techniques (made in China) were used in making the outer enclosure. Generator works fine, but the case will need repair so no mice, rats, etc... can get inside. Since the warranty is up I will have to repair myself :(

Most other people have already covered the basics of this unit. Despite the fact that it took me about a year (no kidding!) to install this generator, I have not regretted a single calorie of the effort it took for me to put it in.

[Why a year? Because I did everything myself, including plumbing the LP, which took the longest time to get right... don't ask. Suffice it to say, it passed all inspections first time, each time, and it is a quality installation which far surpasses what might have been done by tradespeople because I'm an engineer... so it has lots of extras and really does more than "the job." But I digress.]

Anyway, the power has gone out a few times and this puppy has kicked on just like it was supposed to. And, as AW mentions, my UPSs are finicky and don't like the generator-supplied juice. (AW, just how did you adjust that sensitivity? Put that in your review, please!) So eventually the UPS gives out. But I do intend to go back and nail that down, too.

Would you believe the hardest part of installing this generator might be, for you, moving the thing into place? At 440lbs, it is far beyond most people's ability to pick up and haul around. So what I did (drumroll please!) is lay a pair of 1" PVC pipes side by side and slide the unit on its composite (fiber-reinforced resin) pad to the end of those pipes where another pair of pipes was waiting. I moved this thing about 150' nearly effortlessly. Wet grass helps, and the thing nearly got away from me it slid so easily.

Though I used the multiple-roller technique (you know, put down several pieces of pipe and roll it forward, take out the one that pops out at the rear and put it in front) for the driveway and sidewalk, that was difficult to do as it kept crushing the rather thin ABS pipe I was using. It might work better for you, but if you stick to the train track method I describe above, you can move this thing with even less effort.

Hope you never have to "enjoy" your generator. What I enjoy is the piece of mind, though.

Don't forget to move a few light circuits over so that you can have your disco party with the neighbors.

Bill

Just to add a few things to the above reviews....This generator is NOT built to be used 24/7 - 365 days a year. But if your power goes out once or twice a year it should save your [...], or in my case about $50K in home theater equipment and maybe another $15K in tools. Like a lot of people, quite often there's no one home at my house when everyone is at work and at school. What do you do if the power goes out? You could have a basement full of water in a matter of minutes during a heavy downpour if your sump and ejector lose power. Sure you have insurance, but do you really want to go throught the hassel of replacing everything in a flooded basement? If you have a decent level of experience you should be able to install this unit yourself. If you're going to use NG (I did) you'll have to run a supply pipe with shut-off out to within a foot of the unit. This, of couse, could involve drilling through the brick on the outside of your house along with some 2" by. Everything is provided to hook the transfer switch to your breaker box but, once again, you will have to mount the box and possibly move the whip etc. All easy enought to do, but you do have to know what you're doing - and it will take the better part of a Saturday. A few more things - you'll have to buy a car battery to start the unit ($60 - $80 depending on the size of your generator), all of the pipe and shut-offs etc. to supply the NG, some sort of gravel/river rock to set the pad on and a breaker for your electrical box. I have the 15K unit so I needed a 70 amp Homeline breaker from Square D to fit my breaker box. Not a very easy size/model to find, but I was able to get one online for about $15. A good Fluke meter will tell you if the voltage and Hertz are within specs.I haven't had to use it, but it does work fine - it 'exercises' every week at 11:30 am - and it is supplying the correct voltage to all of the appliances hooked to it. I consider it cheap insurance for a basement full of 'stuff'.

I was not happy about how long it took to get the generator. I ordered it in July and got it in September. As far as the generator goes I am very happy with it. I did everything my self so it took longer than the average installation. I had propane but it was only in the 100 lb bottles for my stove and dryer. So I had to get a large tank installed (325 gal). I got it in just before the price on gas went up so I hope I won't need any more soon. I had to install a new breaker box because the one I had was limited to a 50 amp breaker. I selected the same brand that came with the generator so if I needed to swap some breakers I could. And I did. I converted one of the 2 pole breakers to single pole breakers because I only needed one 2 pole breaker for the water pump. A second large additional cost was a cement patio and sidewalk in front of the house but I needed that for a long time. I am an electrician so the installation was not hard for me. But I did have an authorized dealer do the startup and brake in and check over to make sure everything was correct so the warranty would cover everything. I already had a chance to use the generator because the power went out for 2 hours.
I can think of only one complaint and that was that there was no hour meter. I ask the service rep about it and he said they used to put them on but quit because they didn't use the hours of running for anything related to the warranty. I just wanted it for my own information.