ago. Anyway, yesterday, the gas company came out to make the final connections from the gas line to the generator.
After he completed what he had to do, the hubs and my son ( an electrician) and via the phone my other son ( an electrician - he installed the generator to the house) did the actual start-up on the generator. It did not go well.
When the power was shut off in the house, the generator should recognize this and after a minute (to make sure it is not just a quick power flash) will kick in and run to power the whole house. This is the perfect example of what should occur.
What actually happened, is that after multiple attempts by the generator to kick on and sustain power to the house ( which it could not) is that half of the light bulbs in the house blew. A power strip that was connected to the main TV, Internet, and Home security, started to smoke. Which means it did its job and protected the items plugged into it. But, the smokey smell was definitely concerning.
The electrician son that was here ran several scenarios in his brain as to what the frick was going on. The electrician son on the phone ( who installed it) was in a panic as to what was going wrong. The rest of us were sitting in a hot house sweating ( 94 degrees yesterday) while they were trying all the tricks of the trade to get the generator online and functioning properly.
After about an hour the generator was taken offline, the house was back on regular power and that is when we figured out the more light bulbs took the hit and died. We did get a new power strip for the main TV, Internet and Security system.
Fast forward to this morning, I am getting bone broth out of our freezer side of the fridge in the kitchen and the floor is wet, and all the frozen stuff in the freezer is starting to defrost. Luckily, we have another fridge in the garage. I shoved all I could out of this freezer into that freezer and what did not fit, went over to my daughter's fridge/freezer.
It could be worse, ALL the appliances could have been fried. What is going to happen is that the one son electrician who may or may not have crossed a couple of wires is sending out a generator expert to see what is actually going on with this generator. We should have answers and be back online Thursday. Hopefully.
How was your Tuesday? Do you have any experience with a whole house generator?
No experience. But, why did you wait two years to test this? No judgment, just curious. You had a refrigerator and a freezer dead or just the refrigerator and its freezer part? The whole experience with the smoking power strip would be very disconcerting to me!
ReplyDeleteThe unit was purchased 3 yrs ago and stayed in the garage for a year before it was put in place by the side of the house. It sat there not hooked up for another 18 months. The one son did the connection to the house. We had to schedule with the gas company and coordinate with the county, the gas company and hubs and son to bring it online. This is typical of how things go around here. IF we ever move and do acquire another whole house generator, I will have it installed by whoever we bought it from. And just the freezer side of the refrigerator died. I am hoping the hubs can give it a look and maybe fix it.
DeleteI see. I knew there had to be a reason that made sense. Waiting for people is something I understand!
DeleteYikes! I hope it all works out and y'all get the problem diagnosed.
ReplyDeleteSo do I!
DeleteHow aggravating. We have a generator, but it is not hooked up yet and it will not run the whole house. Just the freezer and the furnace.
ReplyDeleteWe have one of those as well. Works great. Can't wait to get this one online and ready for hurricane season.
DeleteWe got a generac last year and not a problem. Hope they figure it out soon.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. I hope they figure out the problem soon and get it fixed.
ReplyDeleteWe have generators, but DH built those himself, solar energy is our main energy source. The generators are mainly for winter when the panels don't produce enough energy. Have you considered getting some solar panels too?
You would think living in Florida we would have solar panels. We do not. How handy that your husband can build a generator. That is fantastic. WE are hoping that today all will be figured out with the generator. Fingers crossed.
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