Generac Guardian Series™ 5875 - 20kW Smart Circuit Standby Generator System (Aluminum Enclosure)

Jim Baugher,
Product Expert
Electric Generators Direct

EGD Responds: "Since the seals are new on the roof, the generator top can be sometimes difficult to latch but with pressure applied to the roof top the latch should be able to be locked. The locked can also be adjusted by loosening the locknut inside the unit.

The cold weather kit assists with keeping the oil warm for ease of starting and keeps the battery warm for the frigid temperatures. The cost is reflective of the technology for automatic temperature sensing in the material where a mechanical/digital activation thermostat is not required.


The generator top does not lock properly. When you use the key to lock the top, it does not catch. Secondly the cold weather kit does not appear to provide the essentials for the cost. If you have a strong battery (2year guarantee), what is the purpose?

EGD Responds: "Since the seals are new on the roof, the generator top can be sometimes difficult to latch but with pressure applied to the roof top the latch should be able to be locked. The locked can also be adjusted by loosening the locknut inside the unit.

The cold weather kit assists with keeping the oil warm for ease of starting and keeps the battery warm for the frigid temperatures. The cost is reflective of the technology for automatic temperature sensing in the material where a mechanical/digital activation thermostat is not required.


The gen... more

Purchasing was easy with a timely delivery via lift gate off the back of a semi. Good communications all the way along. Driver was unable to come down the 1/4 mi. drive so he placed the unit on his pallet jack and I towed it behind my lawn tractor to the house. Getting it off the pallet and un-crated was not as easy. Moving it into a position behind a 3' wall and over several shrubs was even more of a problem since I didn't have access to a fat tired tractor with extremely long lifting forks. After delicately arranging some sturdy aluminum loading ramps around the wall and over the shrubs, I was able to safely move the unit, which I had place onto a set of car dollies, into position. Overall construction of the unit is very good and better than I expected.

The electrical hookup was all by the book and really brought no surprises. So as to keep the exterior of the house clean, I mounted the transfer switch next to the main power panel in the basement. The service entry wires were then spliced in the main panel enclosure with the same size copper wire, run through the box connector to the disconnect and then run back to the main panel after the switch. I used 2-0 Al wire for power from the generator to the switch along with (5 conductor) 16g copper wire in a cable for the control circuits. Pulling that heavy service cooper wire (200 AMP service) between the two panels was the toughest part of the electrical. Good that both boxes were large. A separate 24 volt thermostat cable was used to connect the a/c disconnect relays to the furnaces.

My biggest concern was with the natural gas supply. The generator is located at the house which is 100' from the city service meter and pressure was regulated to 7" of water at the meter. The location for the generator happens to be just where the 1" gas service comes from underground and enters the house. I already had two furnaces to feed and, with both units operating on high heat, the pressure at the furnaces would drop to 5". Obviously, the supply would be inadequate for the generator when both furnaces were operating. My solution was to have the pressure regulator ahead of the meter changed to provide a system pressure of 2 psi. along with an orifice size to pass the required volume. The existing meter was large enough to handle both the increased pressure and the capacity that I needed so that didn't have to be changed. However, the increased pressure also meant that I now had to place a regulator ahead of the generator to reduce the 2 psi pressure back down to 7" of water as well as regulating the house pressure back down to 7". Both of those regulators also needed to be sized to handle the flow requirements of the house and generator. It took a fair amount of research to come up with the right combination.

The overall job wasn't all that tough, but there's a bit more to consider than what most people think. If the house's natural gas supply is to be used, chances are that the gas supply will not be adequate. Resizing the regulators by calculating pressures, volume requirements and pressure drops can be challenging and most often will be required. There's a lot of plumbers that don't understand the principles and I'd suggest you do your homework before you get started.

Of course I haven't had to depend on the generator just yet so I can't give you much input on how well or how long it runs. It tests fine and runs its weekly exercise. This isn't much of a review until the unit gets tested under fire.

Purchasing was easy with a timely delivery via lift gate off the back of a semi. Good communications all the way along. Driver was unable to come down the 1/4 mi. drive so he placed the unit on his pallet jack and I towed it behind my lawn tractor to the house. Getting it off the pallet and un-crated was not as easy. Moving it into a position behind a 3' wall and over several shrubs was even more of a problem since I didn't have access to a fat tired tractor with extremely long lifting forks. After delicately arranging some sturdy aluminum loading ramps around the wall and over the shrubs... more

Works beautifully now, but my experience might be helpful to you.

My 20kw Generac arrived in perfect condition a few days after ordering ("curbside delivery"), but the driver (18 wheeler) graciously hand pushed it along a 150 ft gravel driveway on a handtruck, yet refused a large tip. I had it professionally installed and working perfectly. This is a vacation home and we have a 550g salt water reef tank that requires constant pump circulation. After about nine months, my wife started pestering me to test it, which I thought was silly since I had already seen it run. We decided to be there for its weekly scheduled self-test.

Well, it didn't self-test, and had never run since day 1, according to the L.E.D. log on the control panel. I shut off the house power and it ran for five seconds then shut down-- error-message: "under voltage".

Generac Warranty Service couldn't have been nicer. A serviceman called me that day, but after two missed appointments and unreturned phone calls, they gave me another, who promptly diagnosed and fixed the problem. It needed new electronics, motherboard, control panel, etc.

I have nothing but praise for the dealer, delivery, Generac, and their customer service. Circuit boards can go bad no matter what they are in, be it cars, tvs or anything else. I am sure they are not even made by Generac. My satisfaction (now) is five stars. I am happy to have it, and so will you be!

I suppose my advice, then, is to be at home once in a while during its weekly self-test so you know it's functioning.

Works beautifully now, but my experience might be helpful to you.

My 20kw Generac arrived in perfect condition a few days after ordering ("curbside delivery"), but the driver (18 wheeler) graciously hand pushed it along a 150 ft gravel driveway on a handtruck, yet refused a large tip. I had it professionally installed and working perfectly. This is a vacation home and we have a 550g salt water reef tank that requires constant pump circulation. After about nine months, my wife started pestering me to test it, which I thought was silly since I had already seen it run.... more

I Had two power outages for more than 24 hours in 6 months and had the Generac 20 k installed on Friday finished at 4 pm the next day Sat at 11 am the Oct snow storm took out the electric for 5 Days . The unit powered the entire house ( and two people in the development ran extension cords from the house to power their refrigerators and some lights, they are now ordering Generac generators) The unit did such a great job at one point I thought the power had come back on!!!! I thought it might be in bad taste to put the outside spot lights on, since no one else had power. WHAT A GREAT UNIT Should have done years ago, total cost 2,000 for installation and 350 for gas hook up.

I Had two power outages for more than 24 hours in 6 months and had the Generac 20 k installed on Friday finished at 4 pm the next day Sat at 11 am the Oct snow storm took out the electric for 5 Days . The unit powered the entire house ( and two people in the development ran extension cords from the house to power their refrigerators and some lights, they are now ordering Generac generators) The unit did such a great job at one point I thought the power had come back on!!!! I thought it might be in bad taste to put the outside spot lights on, since no one else had power. WHAT A GREAT UNIT Sho... more

My installation was quiet complicated. Electrician asked that I order a second Nexus Panel since my house had 2- 200 amp panels. He explained this would make for a cleaner installation. The Nexus panels had to be located on the exterior of the house requiring drilling several huge holes through brick. Because of my electrical room being located in the garage on a concrete slab the wiring from the generator was run through the basement up into my electrical room. Gas hook up was less complicated.
Have not needed unit yet. Would caution buyers to be aware of the large amount of propane these units use. I have a 500 gallon tank and the installer recommended installing another 500 gallon tank or upgrading to a single 1000 gallon tank. I did not do so.

My installation was quiet complicated. Electrician asked that I order a second Nexus Panel since my house had 2- 200 amp panels. He explained this would make for a cleaner installation. The Nexus panels had to be located on the exterior of the house requiring drilling several huge holes through brick. Because of my electrical room being located in the garage on a concrete slab the wiring from the generator was run through the basement up into my electrical room. Gas hook up was less complicated.
Have not needed unit yet. Would caution buyers to be aware of the large amount of propane t... more

We have been noticing a change in the weather patterns and decided it was time to put in a genset. I did a lot of research of the different brands and kW’s available. When we decided to go with the Generac 5875, it was time to find a supplier. This is no easy feat in today’s world with the internet and all. You have multiple companies claiming they can do it all and provide it all in less than a week. Of course we mad the decision to buy the generator after a storm and most places were sold out and orders were on the backlog.

I happened to find this site Electric Generators Direct and believed they were you ones who would deliver the product in the time frame they gave me, did they ever it came earlier. I also had some questions on the product and the installation, when I emailed the site they responded extremely quick and had the information I needed. I have given out your site to anyone who has asked who did your generator installation. I hope we did the product justice with how the installation looks. Thanks again for all the help and the great product.

We have been noticing a change in the weather patterns and decided it was time to put in a genset. I did a lot of research of the different brands and kW’s available. When we decided to go with the Generac 5875, it was time to find a supplier. This is no easy feat in today’s world with the internet and all. You have multiple companies claiming they can do it all and provide it all in less than a week. Of course we mad the decision to buy the generator after a storm and most places were sold out and orders were on the backlog.

I happened to find this site Electric Generators Dir... more

This is about the 10th generator I have installed. Primarily Kohler and Generac. They each have advantages and disadvantages. For this model they still do not give you the proper room to wire the 100A breaker. Kohler has the breaker already wired so all you have to do is wire to a terminal block which is readily accessible.

Generac needs to change this. The other small issue I had is there is no way to reach the bottom of the generator if one drops a screw, which I did. Taking the back off is not really an option, why not have the back come off the same way the front is accessed. The main complaint I have is that during the transport a ribbon cable became loose so the keypad was not functional upon start-up and support from Electric generators was non-existent, they referred me to Generac, who only helped because I was an electrician. Had I been the homeowner they would not have helped. That's a quote from their techs. Very disappointed with everyone's help. I had one problem with a Kohler and their tech support was fantastic!

This is about the 10th generator I have installed. Primarily Kohler and Generac. They each have advantages and disadvantages. For this model they still do not give you the proper room to wire the 100A breaker. Kohler has the breaker already wired so all you have to do is wire to a terminal block which is readily accessible.

Generac needs to change this. The other small issue I had is there is no way to reach the bottom of the generator if one drops a screw, which I did. Taking the back off is not really an option, why not have the back come off the same way the front is acc... more

Hurricane Irene. Six days without power. Spoiled food, boredom, frayed nerves. Solution = 20Kw whole-house generator. I'm also liking the 50/50 rebate offer that came with it.

The generator was well-packaged for shipping and the box bolted to sturdy pallets. Sufficient guidance was provided for the electrician and the gas plumber. Website specs indicated 541 lbs, bill of lading indicated 481 lbs. Just enough difference to make me wonder if they had shipped a smaller unit but it showed up as a 20Kw.

There is a small flat, metal latch in the bag (intended to secure the control panel access door). Probably not a bad idea to drill out the opening a bit more as a weatherproof padlock is an awkward fit.

We're still puzzled as to the purpose of the long black rubberized 'sheath' (approx 6" L) in the document bag.

The unit generates a commercial hum when running full out but it's quieter than a portable generator. The self-test happens weekly - now we're just waiting for a power failure so I can write the rest of this review!

Hurricane Irene. Six days without power. Spoiled food, boredom, frayed nerves. Solution = 20Kw whole-house generator. I'm also liking the 50/50 rebate offer that came with it.

The generator was well-packaged for shipping and the box bolted to sturdy pallets. Sufficient guidance was provided for the electrician and the gas plumber. Website specs indicated 541 lbs, bill of lading indicated 481 lbs. Just enough difference to make me wonder if they had shipped a smaller unit but it showed up as a 20Kw.

There is a small flat, metal latch in the bag (intended to secure... more

The smart switch is not for light bulb electricians! I had a local electrician, recommend, install my 5875 20Kw. He ran 440 volts threw my house. The electric blanket exploded, with my wife under it!!! Freezer died,l two computers hit the dust as well as a number of surge protectors. I had a $19.95 plus a $79.00 protector in series and they both blew up, but my 42" TV was okay.

I live on a farm 22 miles from Columbus, Ga. and 100 miles from Atlanta. I talked to Lisa from Generac, she helped me to get a Generac dealer from Atlanta, the dealer helped me get a certified electrician to service my unit. Between TWO visits from EACH the electrician and the dealer, and calls to Lisa, my generator is up and running. Lisa, the electrician and the dealer went way out of their way to help and service my generator.

The smart switch is not for light bulb electricians! I had a local electrician, recommend, install my 5875 20Kw. He ran 440 volts threw my house. The electric blanket exploded, with my wife under it!!! Freezer died,l two computers hit the dust as well as a number of surge protectors. I had a $19.95 plus a $79.00 protector in series and they both blew up, but my 42" TV was okay.

I live on a farm 22 miles from Columbus, Ga. and 100 miles from Atlanta. I talked to Lisa from Generac, she helped me to get a Generac dealer from Atlanta, the dealer helped me get a certified elec... more

We had purchased the 5875 last year after 3 consecutive outages that lasted a total of 10 days. Before this October storm the unit has only run for it's weekly check. Saturday night at 11:30 the power went out and has been out since. This generator kicked in within 15 minutes and, aside from the recommended oil change has been running constantly since! We can run anything in the house and don't have to worry about power at all. I went and turned on as many lights as I could and it was no problem.

All I can say is I couldn't be happier with this model.

Highly recommended if you live in an area prone to more than a few hour outages. It is so nice not having to fill up the unti with gas every 8 hours.

We had purchased the 5875 last year after 3 consecutive outages that lasted a total of 10 days. Before this October storm the unit has only run for it's weekly check. Saturday night at 11:30 the power went out and has been out since. This generator kicked in within 15 minutes and, aside from the recommended oil change has been running constantly since! We can run anything in the house and don't have to worry about power at all. I went and turned on as many lights as I could and it was no problem.

All I can say is I couldn't be happier with this model.

Highly reco... more

I have had a portable gas generator for years since our vacation home is in a rural area. After a 4 day outage this summer and dealing with all the hassles and limitations of the portable, I decided it was time to install a permanent propane, smart-switch unit.

The Generators Direct site is easy to use and VERY informative to efficiently help determine type and size desired. The ordering process was hassle-free and subsequent 2 day delivery went without a hitch. The unit was installed within a week of ordering by my electrician.

As fate would have it, we experienced a 6 hour outage the first night after install. The lights went out and then came back on about 10 seconds later. I assumed it was just another electric utility "flicker" but I quickly realized that the generator was up running rather than the electric utility on. With the outage occurring so soon after install, it fully confirmed our purchase decision. Thanks for making the process so logical and smooth.

I have had a portable gas generator for years since our vacation home is in a rural area. After a 4 day outage this summer and dealing with all the hassles and limitations of the portable, I decided it was time to install a permanent propane, smart-switch unit.

The Generators Direct site is easy to use and VERY informative to efficiently help determine type and size desired. The ordering process was hassle-free and subsequent 2 day delivery went without a hitch. The unit was installed within a week of ordering by my electrician.

As fate would have it, we ex... more

After loosing power for the seventh time since we moved into this new home in 2009. I started looking for and reading up on Generators. We made the normal trip to the home show and asked Five Generator suppliers installers to come out and give us a price. All gave us a time and only three showed up. I told them all the same needs we had and that permits needed to be pulled. Each one had a different way to hook up there product and one told me that NO permit was needed. This man lost the job real fast. The other two were to high in price for me. One was $11,300.00 and the other 12,500.00. Both stated that there price did not include the propane hook up.

Then I found PED the price was good, everything was included paying with check covered the battery cost. Spoke with the county building department and they were very good and helpfull. Called the number for before you dig and they marked all of the under ground line services. I did not want this generator to sit on top of any thing. I put in the pad as directed in the on line instructions.

The trucker delivered and placed the generator off of the driveway by the pad real nice easy delivery. Next day the generator was set and my propane supplier gave me a day for hookup. The Electrician who wired this house gave me his date. Both pulled there permits and I spoke with the inspeactor when they were done. Passed with flying colors. My electrician had a factory trained service tech here for the start up and I now have someone to service every year.

I bet that you want to know what I ended up paying for doing it this way. $6,300.00 What a different and this price was with the propane hookup $700.00.

After loosing power for the seventh time since we moved into this new home in 2009. I started looking for and reading up on Generators. We made the normal trip to the home show and asked Five Generator suppliers installers to come out and give us a price. All gave us a time and only three showed up. I told them all the same needs we had and that permits needed to be pulled. Each one had a different way to hook up there product and one told me that NO permit was needed. This man lost the job real fast. The other two were to high in price for me. One was $11,300.00 and the other 12,500.00... more

After experiencing a 24 hour power outage last winter, my wife finally agreed to the purchase and installation of a whole house emergency generator system. I had been advocating for years, and had a portable 7000w standby generator that never worked when we needed it. The tipping point came with a large snowstorm that prevented travel to her office and loss of power at the same time. She had no computer access!

We have natural gas for all utilities but most(other than range) won't work without electricity. So it was cold and dark for a day. It really wasn't that bad, my wife accuses me of having a boy scout complex. I tend to be prepared for nearly anything. We don't have many of these storms in our area. But in the last year we've been threatened with a hurricane, tornadoes and an earthquake.

Each time we awaited with guilty glee the interruption of our electric service and the wonderful sound of our generator starting up. I especially seek vindication for the financial investment. Hasn't happened. So, if you want to guarantee that your power will never go out, buy a generator. We all pay insurance for products that we hope we'll never use. This can be considered another form of insurance that is worthwhile if never used.

I'll re-post an evaluation if the situation changes. I look forward to hosting my neighbors when I'm the only one with heat and light! So far I have to be satisfied with the reassuring weekly scheduled exercise start-up.

After experiencing a 24 hour power outage last winter, my wife finally agreed to the purchase and installation of a whole house emergency generator system. I had been advocating for years, and had a portable 7000w standby generator that never worked when we needed it. The tipping point came with a large snowstorm that prevented travel to her office and loss of power at the same time. She had no computer access!

We have natural gas for all utilities but most(other than range) won't work without electricity. So it was cold and dark for a day. It really wasn't that bad, my wife ac... more

I ordered my 20Kw Generac online and got the battery too. Saved enough to pay for the battery by sending a check and waiting an extra few days.

My son in law (an electrician, Lucky me!) and I installed the generator in approximately 5 hours. Please note I poured a concrete pad a few days earlier about 65 feet from the transfer box. I wanted the generator nearer my LP tank. All went great, got the password to start the unit via the website and all checked out fine.

Just waiting for another power outage here in Oklahoma. Our last ice storm , an 8 day event for us and we were the lucky ones, convinced my wife and I it was time for a Generac!

I ordered my 20Kw Generac online and got the battery too. Saved enough to pay for the battery by sending a check and waiting an extra few days.

My son in law (an electrician, Lucky me!) and I installed the generator in approximately 5 hours. Please note I poured a concrete pad a few days earlier about 65 feet from the transfer box. I wanted the generator nearer my LP tank. All went great, got the password to start the unit via the website and all checked out fine.

Just waiting for another power outage here in Oklahoma. Our last ice storm , an 8 day event for u... more

I bought my Generac on line nine months ago. No problems with the order or the shipping. Everything was in the box, and everything was in good shape and on time.

A licensed electrician installed the generator. I consider myself a knowledgeable and capable DIY'er and I quickly realized that this has too many ways to go wrong. Hire somebody reputable and licensed so you can blame them if it blows up.
Everything works exactly as advertised and claimed. My LP contractor initially installed a regulator that was too small, but after he apologetically fixed that, I have had no problems at all.

The unit self-tests routinely without incident and without noticeable difference on my propane use. (YMMV, but I have a standard 250-gallon tank.) I've experienced several power outages since installation. The Generac powers my house, my shop, my computers and various home electronics without fail. (Bumpless transfer would really be sweet, but that would only triple+ the cost.)

I am fully satisfied with my purchase. Be sure you get a unit big enough for everything, or you will probably wish you had.

I bought my Generac on line nine months ago. No problems with the order or the shipping. Everything was in the box, and everything was in good shape and on time.

A licensed electrician installed the generator. I consider myself a knowledgeable and capable DIY'er and I quickly realized that this has too many ways to go wrong. Hire somebody reputable and licensed so you can blame them if it blows up.
Everything works exactly as advertised and claimed. My LP contractor initially installed a regulator that was too small, but after he apologetically fixed that, I have had ... more

I ordered my generator online from ElectricGeneratorsDirect, and was very happy with the speed at which it was shipped. I was even happier when I decided in midstream to pick my generator up from the local warehouse instead of waiting for delivery. One call to customer service and the generator was released to me and off I went waiting for my electrician to begin his install.

I poured my slab, and purchased the appropriate wire ahead of time, and only had to pay my electrician for permits and labor. I assume this saved me a small amount of money....(I think the wire was made out of gold and not copper $$$)

Luckily I had my generator up and running, and exactly one week after install I got to test it when Tropical Storm Lee decided to park itself off the coast of Louisiana for 3 days. I only lost power over a period of 7 hours, but my generator worked just like it was meant to. Life went on. No lying in bed sweating bullets! No lying in bed listening to my neighbor’s generator either.

The best part was when I got my gas bill. My bill was about $7.50 more than the previous month’s bill. Are you kidding me? $1.07 per hour to live like a normal human being! Being able to watch the weather on TV! Being able to make ice etc.! All I can say is why didn’t I do this after Katrina....or Gustav.

And to give some idea of what my generator is asked to do:
I have a house in excess of 3K square feet, Six tons of HVAC, 2 refrigerators, 1 freezer and a sump pump in the rear of my yard for drainage. All other appliances are gas (Heat, dryer, water heater and range). Right now I couldn't be more pleased, nor could my wife.

I ordered my generator online from ElectricGeneratorsDirect, and was very happy with the speed at which it was shipped. I was even happier when I decided in midstream to pick my generator up from the local warehouse instead of waiting for delivery. One call to customer service and the generator was released to me and off I went waiting for my electrician to begin his install.

I poured my slab, and purchased the appropriate wire ahead of time, and only had to pay my electrician for permits and labor. I assume this saved me a small amount of money....(I think the wire was made ... more

Ordered the 5875 Gen. on a Friday night, it was delivered on the following Wednesday. Truck driver was very nice about placing the gen in my shop. He and I both looked for any damage we could see to the box, however it was placed up against the wall, and I was unable to see a hole that was clearly made by a fork lift. It was several days before I was able to pour the pad, and move the gen. I had a friend that has a fork lift come by, and we pulled the box off of the gen.

It was then that I noticed a dent in the front of the generator. I immediately called Gen. Direct, and they advised me that I needed to take take pictures of it and send them to them, and they would send me the parts I needed to fix it. I went ahead with the installation. Had no trouble until I had completed the hook up and noticed I could not get my LED to say anything but LAUGUAGE, called Tech Support, they informed me it sounded like the ribbon on the push button control was somehow disconnected. I took the lid off slowly, and they were right. The ribbon had come out of it's plugin.

I carefully placed it back in and fastened in place. The Generator came to life. It has worked a dream. I am still concerned about the dent in my generator, but I will take the dent for the comfort I get from having the gen in an emergency. My cost were fairly low because I did most of the work myself.

Went to gas service company and got the correct regulator, piped it up and did everything but electrical. The Electrician was very fair, and his part was $1100.00. That included the wiring which itself was $300.00. It works like a dream, and he told me he would love to have one himself. I told him where to get one! My only concern for people buying them is to inspect the box and gen before you shipper leaves! Do not except it until you have done so, because you are hosed if you don't note any damage.
In conclusion, I would recommend the 5875 to anyone, it is a fine piece of machinery.

Ordered the 5875 Gen. on a Friday night, it was delivered on the following Wednesday. Truck driver was very nice about placing the gen in my shop. He and I both looked for any damage we could see to the box, however it was placed up against the wall, and I was unable to see a hole that was clearly made by a fork lift. It was several days before I was able to pour the pad, and move the gen. I had a friend that has a fork lift come by, and we pulled the box off of the gen.

It was then that I noticed a dent in the front of the generator. I immediately called Gen. Direct, and they ... more

Purchased generator in July 2010 but did not get it installed until December 2010, with the purchase, shipment and delivery being seamless. Had local professional contractor do the Natural Gas and electrical hookups and waited for first power outage, little did we know that April 27, 2011 would turn out to be a historic day of tornado out breaks in the state of Alabama.

Cullman was the first major city hit that day and lost all power at 3:00 pm. with the generator starting up as advertised 20 seconds after power went out. Four and a half days later utility power was restored. Since that time we have lost power several times due to the power grid still being very fragile since the storms hit. It is hard to put into words how having the generator gives you so much piece of mind and comfort. I calculated that the natural gas that we used to power a 3 Ton AC unit along with the entire house cost us about $1.00 per hour in gas usage or about $25 per day, you would never be able to replace the food that you would lose for that much money. One piece of advice - I would not recommend less than 20kw for a whole house standby unit.

I was also able to monitor the weather as well as communicate via wireless internet to my company as to my plant situation. We will never have a home without a stand by generator again - best money ever spent!

Purchased generator in July 2010 but did not get it installed until December 2010, with the purchase, shipment and delivery being seamless. Had local professional contractor do the Natural Gas and electrical hookups and waited for first power outage, little did we know that April 27, 2011 would turn out to be a historic day of tornado out breaks in the state of Alabama.

Cullman was the first major city hit that day and lost all power at 3:00 pm. with the generator starting up as advertised 20 seconds after power went out. Four and a half days later utility power was restored... more

Installed 0058750 20kw last Fall. This past weekend (Hurricane Irene) power went out @ 3am Sunday. The generator kicked right on & stayed running, powering everything in my home till power came back on Monday evening.

Added some oil no problem. It's worth every penny to know my family is safe & comfortable. It was actually a great feeling knowing you have power when it's out from the power co, especially at night when your family is enjoying the home & you have a look outside to see the house is lit up with exterior lighting when everything else around you is pitch black...

But be careful --- everyone is going to want to be your friend & if you have children their friends will want to have "sleep-over's" when the power goes out.... All good....

Installed 0058750 20kw last Fall. This past weekend (Hurricane Irene) power went out @ 3am Sunday. The generator kicked right on & stayed running, powering everything in my home till power came back on Monday evening.

Added some oil no problem. It's worth every penny to know my family is safe & comfortable. It was actually a great feeling knowing you have power when it's out from the power co, especially at night when your family is enjoying the home & you have a look outside to see the house is lit up with exterior lighting when everything else around you is pitch... more

I live on the coast of NC. Subject to the occasional hurricane(Irene on the way). Power is frequently out. I've been contemplating a standby generator for years and finally did it. Ordering from EGD was simple with good help. Delivery was smooth with the help of my neighbor and his fork lift.

My electrical contractor co. was well versed in the generator and had been to "Generac School". they set it up and wired in the smart switch and did a test run after the gas man connected the propane. I can't begin to tell you how comforting it is for me and my wife to know that we will have power the next time it goes out!!!

I live on the coast of NC. Subject to the occasional hurricane(Irene on the way). Power is frequently out. I've been contemplating a standby generator for years and finally did it. Ordering from EGD was simple with good help. Delivery was smooth with the help of my neighbor and his fork lift.

My electrical contractor co. was well versed in the generator and had been to "Generac School". they set it up and wired in the smart switch and did a test run after the gas man connected the propane. I can't begin to tell you how comforting it is for me and my wife to know that ... more

We learned that to buy a smaller generator added the cost of a sub-panel. Since we were already inclined to install sufficient capacity to support all the house loads, we went ahead and got the 20 kW unit.

Installation instructions were clear and complete. The unit was installed and tested over a week's time. It took so long only because I did not have the unit on site at the agreed upon time, but my installers worked with me.

The beast is heavy. We knew that because some websites made it clear that a lift truck was optional. I deduced that I would need one. With the driver's help we wrestled it over the ground using plywood sheets and his pallet jack. I put about 8" of gravel under the unit. this was probably excessive, but the unit is stable.

My wife complained about the noise. Then the installer closed the lid. All was well. We turned on the heatpump and the stove with the oven and all the burners on. The unit drew about 80% of its capacity in amps. The transfer switch has the load-shedding capability so we wired the heatpump circuit to trip if the unit became overloaded.

I am very satisfied with the installation and the machine and would recommend it to anyone concerned about occasional power outages.

We learned that to buy a smaller generator added the cost of a sub-panel. Since we were already inclined to install sufficient capacity to support all the house loads, we went ahead and got the 20 kW unit.

Installation instructions were clear and complete. The unit was installed and tested over a week's time. It took so long only because I did not have the unit on site at the agreed upon time, but my installers worked with me.

The beast is heavy. We knew that because some websites made it clear that a lift truck was optional. I deduced that I would need one. ... more

We live in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Northern California in the old mining community of Rough and Ready. During the winter the power situation can be rough.......we experienced seven power outages last winter. The longest was three days. We have had outages lasting as long as seven days. This is usually weather related with trees falling on power lines, wild fires or errant drivers saying hello to power poles.

I anticipated these conditions almost twenty years ago when we moved to this location and I installed an electric start 8 kw on propane. It was electric start but required me to throw the breakers and go outside to start the generator. Additionally it did not service the entire property. Twenty years ago there was a limited selection of home generators available and anything larger or automatic was prohibitively expensive. Now that I am in my "golden years" I do not find trundling out to the generator in a snow storm to be the adventure it was twenty years ago.

After considerable research on the internet I landed on the Generators Direct site and consulted with a local electrician who had installed numerous units in our area. We decided on the fully automatic 20 kw Guardian model. It is tied to a 500 gallon propane tank. The price was considerably below the nearest competitor and the free shipping really closed the deal. The installation went well. Within a week we had a summer time power outage and the Guardian started immediately. Power was restored within a few seconds as though there was no outage. I am now confident that our power supply is secure and our freezers, refrigerators and well will operate virtually without a break in supply. I am impressed at how quiet the unit is considering its size.

When I told my neighbor about my intentions to buy a Guardian he researched the matter and immediately bought the 17 kw model from Generators Direct. He is as happy as I am.

With my new Guardian guarding our property life is no longer as rough and we are ready for any outage.

We live in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Northern California in the old mining community of Rough and Ready. During the winter the power situation can be rough.......we experienced seven power outages last winter. The longest was three days. We have had outages lasting as long as seven days. This is usually weather related with trees falling on power lines, wild fires or errant drivers saying hello to power poles.

I anticipated these conditions almost twenty years ago when we moved to this location and I installed an electric start 8 kw on propane. It was electric start... more

Ordered generator in July, took about 2 weeks to arrive do to payment with check saved the cost of the battery by paying with a check. I poured a concrete pad for the generator and installed the remote wireless controller.

The electrician could not start the install for 2 weeks due to completing a job and vacation. Transfer switch and wiring are completed,battery installed called for start up code all went well. Generator was checked out for proper operation,load shed worked properly electrical inspector came as we were finishing the operational check out.

Passed inspection and I am very happy with the generator and the install. Looks good too!

Ordered generator in July, took about 2 weeks to arrive do to payment with check saved the cost of the battery by paying with a check. I poured a concrete pad for the generator and installed the remote wireless controller.

The electrician could not start the install for 2 weeks due to completing a job and vacation. Transfer switch and wiring are completed,battery installed called for start up code all went well. Generator was checked out for proper operation,load shed worked properly electrical inspector came as we were finishing the operational check out.

Passe... more

I ordered the Generac 20KW primarily because of Generacs reputation. I needed a whole house generator because my Mother-In-Law lives with my wife and I and needs an oxygen generator 24/7. I also wanted to make sure we had air conditioning for her in the event of a long term power loss.

The semi driver was as good as you get. I have to wear a neck brace and cannot lift anything over 20 pounds.(yeah we're all falling apart around here)!He took the generator within 3 feet of the slab it sits on, and tried to get it all the way on the slab! Great Service!

I had a friend that owns a gas piping business pipe the natural gas, and had the local Generac Representative,
wire the transfer switch and provide the battery. All went well and the Generac was up and running in about 3 hours!

I have the piece of mind now that we will be comfortable and have lights when the next storm hits. Buying the Generac from Electric Generators Direct saved me money. If you're looking for a generator I would highly recommend the vendors I have listed above, as well as the Generac Guardian 5875!

I'm just sitting here waiting for the power to go out, not sweating a bit!

I ordered the Generac 20KW primarily because of Generacs reputation. I needed a whole house generator because my Mother-In-Law lives with my wife and I and needs an oxygen generator 24/7. I also wanted to make sure we had air conditioning for her in the event of a long term power loss.

The semi driver was as good as you get. I have to wear a neck brace and cannot lift anything over 20 pounds.(yeah we're all falling apart around here)!He took the generator within 3 feet of the slab it sits on, and tried to get it all the way on the slab! Great Service!

I had a frie... more

The unit arrived on-time, and the shipping experience was excellent. I had my new-born daughter in my hands, and the shipper placed the unit conveniently in my driveway. Since my hands were full, he removed the box and helped inspect the unit. It was delivered in perfect condition.

I pulled all of the permits myself from my town (electrical, plumbing, and construction), and hired my outstanding plumber and electrician to do the job. I opted to have the 500 lbs. unit installed on a steel-reinforced cement slab. I saved around $4000 purchasing the unit and sub-contracting the job, as compared to using a local Generac dealer that would have used their own technicians: that quote was without the cement slab.

My installation was complicated from an electrical standpoint, since the generator needs to sit on the side of my home furthest from my electrical service. My electrician used #1-wire that runs 100 feet from my service, through my garage, through my crawl-space, and out the side of the house to my unit. This wire is heavy gauge, and would not have been necessary if the generator was close to the service.

The unit powers my entire 3500 sq. foot house with a full load (5 ton AC, and large, 400,000BTU pool heater on). There was no pressure drop with the pool heater running.

My unit's main disconnect on the right side of the generator needed to be replaced, as it was intermittently impossible to keep the breaker closed. My electrician and Generac felt the breaker was defective and would require replacement. I almost spent $150 on the part just to have security, but I decided to call Generac. Tech support is very good. Generac insisted an authorized dealer replace the breaker. I wanted them to send me the part and have my electrician change it, but that would have voided my warantee. The dealer that came replaced the breaker at no charge, and it is working well.

My only "complaint" is that Generac needs to update their installation guide and YouTube installation videos. The Nexus Smart transfer switch is state-of-the-art and quite sophisticated. The installation guide and videos are more helpful for a 17kW, smaller unit. I'm grateful my electrician is experienced and knew exactly what to do, since the manual is quite anemic.

The unit arrived on-time, and the shipping experience was excellent. I had my new-born daughter in my hands, and the shipper placed the unit conveniently in my driveway. Since my hands were full, he removed the box and helped inspect the unit. It was delivered in perfect condition.

I pulled all of the permits myself from my town (electrical, plumbing, and construction), and hired my outstanding plumber and electrician to do the job. I opted to have the 500 lbs. unit installed on a steel-reinforced cement slab. I saved around $4000 purchasing the unit and sub-contracting the job,... more

6 years ago we built our custom home on the outskirts of Norman, OK, a town with a population of +100k. Little did we realize that our neighborhood would be the last to get power when things went down. Since living there we have been without power 4 times not including the occasional 10 minute outages, the longest being 8 days in 2009 during a blizzard. After the 8 day outage we decided to get the Generac 5875 system. It just happened that I ordered it online the same week that another blizzard hit our state and several others North of here. Shipping was delayed due to weather, no fault of R&L Carriers. As I was talking with R&L about an expected delivery date I inquired what kind of truck would be delivering the unit, they said a 54’ tractor-trailer these trucks are NOT made for going down residential streets, something to think about. R&L was more than happy for me to stop by on my way home from work in my pickup, they loaded it and on the way I went. Again this isn’t R&L’s problem, it was mine and could be yours, I would suggest you contact the closest R&L terminal and see if some arrangement can be made for truck size or whatever.

Once home I was able to get the unit out of the truck myself using metal ramps, the crate is every bit of 550 lbs., so be careful. I had already poured a large slab next to the power meter so rolling the unit on pipes to its final resting place was easy. Our NG meter was only 3’ from the unit so fuel hook-up was breeze. Electrician was out next and took about 5 hours to install everything and test. Total cost to install, not including the concrete, was about $700.

Since we installed the unit we have had to use it twice, once for about 20 minutes which gave us plenty of time to check things out, see how loud it was under load, what happens when you turn the dryer on or the water well kicks in. Then on June 14 a severe thunderstorm hit Norman with hail and high winds. Our power went out at about 7:30pm that night and didn’t return on until almost 48 hours later. The Generac 5875 never missed a beat! The only thing we noticed is when one of the HVAC units would start up a slight dimming of the lights and you could hear the motor rev up, but nothing shut off or was harmed. HVAC was used heavily since the outside temps were hovering around the 100F mark. The sound level was just a little louder than a push mower but still low enough it wasn't a problem in the house. It was considerably quieter than the portable units our neighbors were running extension cords from.

We are completely satisfied with the Generac 5875 system and wished he had it during the blizzard of 2009. As noted in other reviews plan, plan and plan some more! I never really talked to anyone at Electric Generators Direct since I ordered it online but they did ship as stated and even our electrician said he couldn’t touch the price EGD was selling this unit for. Since this latest outage several neighbors and co-workers are asking me about our generator and I’m more than pleased to show it off.

6 years ago we built our custom home on the outskirts of Norman, OK, a town with a population of +100k. Little did we realize that our neighborhood would be the last to get power when things went down. Since living there we have been without power 4 times not including the occasional 10 minute outages, the longest being 8 days in 2009 during a blizzard. After the 8 day outage we decided to get the Generac 5875 system. It just happened that I ordered it online the same week that another blizzard hit our state and several others North of here. Shipping was delayed due to weather, no fault of... more

For approx. 1 year I have been researching the possibility of purchasing a generator. During this time a friend of mine, who was an electrician, advised that a 5875 with the smart Circuit would power my residence. He then directed me to this site. The price was the best, and I made the call. The person I spoke with was helpful and answered all my questions. He further advised that the shipping company would contact me 24hrs prior to delivery.I also got an E-mail verifying the purchase and the approx delivery date. Three days later the company driver called and advised that he would deliver the next day at approx. 10:30.

I advised that a large truck could not make it down our road. He was courteous and advised that he would be in a smaller delivery truck with a liftgate. I met him at the time stated and he unloaded the generator and placed it in my basement. I contacted my friend who was an electrician. He came over and after checking everything out advised that he would install the generator on Saturday.

The next day my son and I poured a concrete pad at a site that I had previously chosen. The generator comes with a pad but I felt that the concrete pad, along with the existing pad would be best. Now the interesting part. This generator is shipped on two wooden pallets. It weighs 495lbs. I contacted my son who got several of his friends to come over. I got a pallet jack from a friend and we rolled the generator up on a small utility trailer. After placing the generator, pad on the concrete pad my work was done.

The electrician arrived on Sat morning at approx 0745hrs. and at approx. 1500hrs the installation was completed. The generator was activated by calling the number provided, and all test were completed. Since the installation the power has gone out twice. The generator activated and the power came back on . Both times the power outage lasted approx. 40 minutes. Upon activation of the regular power the generator automatically switched back over . After the cool down period it shut off.

To say I am pleased is an understatement. Everything from the purchase, delivery, and installation turned out great. If you plan on purchasing this generator do your homework first. Contact your electrician, have a plan and know where your going to place the generator and Smart Circuit. If you are going to use natural gas or Propane. Carefully plan everything out. I would highly recommend this company. It worked for me.

For approx. 1 year I have been researching the possibility of purchasing a generator. During this time a friend of mine, who was an electrician, advised that a 5875 with the smart Circuit would power my residence. He then directed me to this site. The price was the best, and I made the call. The person I spoke with was helpful and answered all my questions. He further advised that the shipping company would contact me 24hrs prior to delivery.I also got an E-mail verifying the purchase and the approx delivery date. Three days later the company driver called and advised that he would deliver the... more

Hurricane Ike came right over us and knocked out the power for over a week. After cleaning out 3 refrigerators full of spoiled food, I decided that we were getting a whole house generator.

EGD had a great price with free delivery and no tax ( what a deal! ). My generator arrived exactly when they scheduled it and the driver put it in the garage for me.

I had previously poured an 8" concrete slab and ran the gas and upgraded the meter when I put in my pool heater. The electric meter and box were also within 6' of the slab. This made the install and start-up a lot faster than normal.

Everything seems to be working just fine, but we have not had a power outage yet.

Hurricane Ike came right over us and knocked out the power for over a week. After cleaning out 3 refrigerators full of spoiled food, I decided that we were getting a whole house generator.

EGD had a great price with free delivery and no tax ( what a deal! ). My generator arrived exactly when they scheduled it and the driver put it in the garage for me.

I had previously poured an 8" concrete slab and ran the gas and upgraded the meter when I put in my pool heater. The electric meter and box were also within 6' of the slab. This made the install and start-u... more

I will write a review for my hubby. I 'fought' him for years about getting a generator. Now I wish we had done it sooner. We have had the power go out three times in the first two weeks we had it.

No lost food. Life went on. We could do laundry. We could use the computer. We could watch TV. Oh, and yes, we had AC!! First time the power was out five hours - squirrel + transformer. Second and third times were from the storms - once for 29 hours and the other for 12 hrs.

So, I am very happy. We didn't get the quietest one, but the sound doesn't bother us or the neighbors. So, thank you Generac (and the guys that installed it)

I will write a review for my hubby. I 'fought' him for years about getting a generator. Now I wish we had done it sooner. We have had the power go out three times in the first two weeks we had it.

No lost food. Life went on. We could do laundry. We could use the computer. We could watch TV. Oh, and yes, we had AC!! First time the power was out five hours - squirrel + transformer. Second and third times were from the storms - once for 29 hours and the other for 12 hrs.

So, I am very happy. We didn't get the quietest one, but the sound doesn't bother ... more

We use this generator at our Ponderosa Basin Fire Station and I was so impressed with it I bought one for my home. Our best friends bought one at the same time and since then we sold our Fire Station Captain one as well.

We were without power for 6 days and then another 4 days this year alone. This Generator is AMAZING!!! So much so, that we are going to buy our daughter one for her horse farm in the state of Washington this fall, She is already getting ready for it.

Love this Generator, so easy to use my wife changed the oil and filter this year.

Jim - Mariposa County Fire Chief

We use this generator at our Ponderosa Basin Fire Station and I was so impressed with it I bought one for my home. Our best friends bought one at the same time and since then we sold our Fire Station Captain one as well.

We were without power for 6 days and then another 4 days this year alone. This Generator is AMAZING!!! So much so, that we are going to buy our daughter one for her horse farm in the state of Washington this fall, She is already getting ready for it.

Love this Generator, so easy to use my wife changed the oil and filter this year.
... more

A squirrel gave his life today and we were able to really test our new generator! It was wonderful - we were able to continue what we were doing without interruption. We had a TV, a computer and a washing machine going plus overhead fans (didn't need the AC, but am confidant it would have come on).

It works great, BUT our electrician says it should have a back panel for easier access. (He dropped a screw that took 'forever' to retrieve!).

It is a little loud - Everyone nearby now knows we have a generator, but it isn't so loud as to keep you awake.

We can't speak to the cold weather kit, as it is now spring!

A squirrel gave his life today and we were able to really test our new generator! It was wonderful - we were able to continue what we were doing without interruption. We had a TV, a computer and a washing machine going plus overhead fans (didn't need the AC, but am confidant it would have come on).

It works great, BUT our electrician says it should have a back panel for easier access. (He dropped a screw that took 'forever' to retrieve!).

It is a little loud - Everyone nearby now knows we have a generator, but it isn't so loud as to keep you awake.

... more

Day 1

Its all good. Ordered generator on Friday. Paid the $50 shipping guarantee thing. Had my generator by Monday.

I have the 20KW unit (#5875) with the Nexus smart switch. Got it all wired up today. Works like its supposed too.

Only two little tid bits that I have noticed with this unit, which of coarse is not a Generator direct issue, just an issue with this model generator, and that is.

1. There is only one 1" hole for wiring to the unit, when the book for the wiring says that the AC wires and the DC control wires need to be run in separate conduit.

2. I think that the smart charger on my particular unit my not be working right, as it has been over 6 hours now since I ran the unit and the battery voltage is 14 volts, witch tells me that the unit is still charging the battery, and there is some acid that has bubbled out of the vent cap on the battery witch indicates overcharging. The battery may have also been overfilled I suppose.

Time will tell. Other then that, i love it. I have never had any real power outages that have amounted to anything where I am at,(central Missouri) but its sure nice to know that my power needs are covered.

So for anyone curious about cost, so far the cost break down for me is

$4270 for the generator with the Nexus smart switch.
$325 to have my electric meter moved out onto the pole with a service disconnect.
Still waiting for the bill from the propane company and the bill from the electrician. I will update as I get the bills.

Day 2

I came home from work and noticed some fluid stain at the generator witch I knew was battery acid. I got some water and rinsed the battery acid that was in the bottom of the battery compartment. I checked the battery voltage and it was 13.04 volts, witch leads me to believe that the smart charger is working properly and the battery was over filled to start with. At least that's my conclusion at the moment.

Other then that this thing is great. I went out to the pole and killed the power. generator started right up after programed delay and everything switched over just fine. I have a TED(the energy detective) transmitter with a pair of CT's in the house breaker panel to monitor household power usage in real time.

While on generator power, I turned on the oven, then the central air, and then the clothes dryer, all on at the same time, With the TED meter showing about 13.5 kilowatts, everything worked like a charm.

Now the manual says not to bend the rubber propane line, as this may reduce gas flow and reduce vibration absorption. Well my hose is bent because that's just how things worked out. There should be no problem with the flow as long as the hose is not kinked, and the vibration while running is virtually zero. There is some shaking of the enclosure while starting and shut down.

Day 1

Its all good. Ordered generator on Friday. Paid the $50 shipping guarantee thing. Had my generator by Monday.

I have the 20KW unit (#5875) with the Nexus smart switch. Got it all wired up today. Works like its supposed too.

Only two little tid bits that I have noticed with this unit, which of coarse is not a Generator direct issue, just an issue with this model generator, and that is.

1. There is only one 1" hole for wiring to the unit, when the book for the wiring says that the AC wires and the DC control wires need t... more

I finally installed my generator earlier this week and I couldn't be happier. Delivery from EGD was great.

I was very happy with the build quality of this generator. We have not had an outage yet but when we do it is so reassuring knowing I won't have to do anything but sit in the dark for 20 seconds until the generator kicks in! It's great! I did a simulated outage and it literally is about 15 seconds from the time the utility power ceases and the generator starts. The generator runs for another 5 seconds before the transfer switch changes over. After that it was like nothing happened!

It sounds crazy but I'm actually hoping we lose power with one of these big storms we seem to be receiving...

I finally installed my generator earlier this week and I couldn't be happier. Delivery from EGD was great.

I was very happy with the build quality of this generator. We have not had an outage yet but when we do it is so reassuring knowing I won't have to do anything but sit in the dark for 20 seconds until the generator kicks in! It's great! I did a simulated outage and it literally is about 15 seconds from the time the utility power ceases and the generator starts. The generator runs for another 5 seconds before the transfer switch changes over. After that it was like nothing ... more

Before you order up your transfer switch and generator, I would suggest doing load calculations before hand.

I am running all electric heat (3 dbl pole breakers), Well, Hot Water Tank, Range and Dryer for 240V loads. I got the transfer switch RTSD200A3 with my 20KW 5875.

It comes with (2) built in load sheds but they were designed for small load. It ended up I had to purchase (4) DLM modules to shed enough load to pass state electrical inspection.

It is a nice set up and seems to work on tests. I have not lost power yet but am confident I will have no troubles.

Only problem I had was with shipping. A slight inconvenience, but Electric Generators Direct took care of me.

Great Prices too.

Before you order up your transfer switch and generator, I would suggest doing load calculations before hand.

I am running all electric heat (3 dbl pole breakers), Well, Hot Water Tank, Range and Dryer for 240V loads. I got the transfer switch RTSD200A3 with my 20KW 5875.

It comes with (2) built in load sheds but they were designed for small load. It ended up I had to purchase (4) DLM modules to shed enough load to pass state electrical inspection.

It is a nice set up and seems to work on tests. I have not lost power yet but am confident I will hav... more

We live in an area that experiences more frequent power outages then in years past. I would normally hook up my 5kw Honda Generator, shut off the Main Breaker and turn off all high wattage appliances.

This theory works well if I happen to be home when the power goes out, with my travel schedule taking me out of town more often, a better solution was needed.

I started researching Standby Generators by looking at houses that already had them installed, I would stop and ask the homeowners of their experience.

The one system that prevailed as the "best" was the Generac 20kw.

I opted for the whole house "Nexus Smart System". I am a business owner and Refrigeration Tech by trade so installing the system for me was not so intimidating.

I would recommend that if you do not have any experience that you hire a reputable firm to do the install. There are details that need to be paid attention too. It took me about three days to do the install from arrival to start up.

I also purchased the battery at the time I ordered the Generator.

Pros: came packaged well, tracking was easy, appears well built.

Cons: Terminal blocks too small to accept # 2 wiring, had to split the wire which was very cumbersome, battery compartment very tight to get battery in, had to fight and use the correct set of curse words to get it in. Had too punch my own set of holes to accept the main wiring and the control wiring (only one 1" hole provided on unit).

Overall, while these are little items, it did pose a small level of "what were they thinking mentality". I would recommend this unit as a good investment.

We live in an area that experiences more frequent power outages then in years past. I would normally hook up my 5kw Honda Generator, shut off the Main Breaker and turn off all high wattage appliances.

This theory works well if I happen to be home when the power goes out, with my travel schedule taking me out of town more often, a better solution was needed.

I started researching Standby Generators by looking at houses that already had them installed, I would stop and ask the homeowners of their experience.

The one system that prevailed as the &qu... more

I am the installer. For the most part everything went well.

The space to wire into the generator is extremely tight.. For the 100 amp max of the generator, #2 wire is the minimum. I used a finer strand of wire than standard, and even it was a bit-h to get into place. Also the neutral lug on the generator was only large enough for at most a #6 wire, not the #2 required, and there was no room to install a larger lug.

The wiring diagram on the generator did not match the manual for the control wires. The unit did not want to start. I had bled the air from the line to the generator, but there is no provision for getting the air out of the fuel system inside the unit.

Finally I gave it some propane directly into the air intake. After it finally started, I was able to complete the testing of the ATS with no problems.

All in all, the unit seems to be a fair item for the price. I wouldn't recommend it for frequent heavy use, but for its intended use, it should last a long time.

EGD RESPONDS: Should you need technical support from Generac, their toll free number is (888) 436-3722.

I am the installer. For the most part everything went well.

The space to wire into the generator is extremely tight.. For the 100 amp max of the generator, #2 wire is the minimum. I used a finer strand of wire than standard, and even it was a bit-h to get into place. Also the neutral lug on the generator was only large enough for at most a #6 wire, not the #2 required, and there was no room to install a larger lug.

The wiring diagram on the generator did not match the manual for the control wires. The unit did not want to start. I had bled the air from th... more

Our new whole-house generator makes going into another winter much less stressful. We know if, that is, when the power fails, we will be covered.

We are on a farm with four horses and other animals that depend on us for basics, such as water and shelter. We know with our new Generac 20kw whole house (and barn) generator, we can now sleep better when we know an ice storm is imminent.

Electric Generators Direct had our new Generac delivered right to our front door just a few days after ordering. The carrier could not have been more helpful in unloading at a convenient place.

Setup was eventless except for one small glitch, and that is the electrician failed to connect the battery trickle charger, so a second trip was necessary to have this done.

The price was right, the service experience with Electric Generators Direct was good and the product is of high quality.

For us, purchasing a whole-house generator was a big decision, and now that it's installed and on standby, I feel very much that the decision was a good one. Thanks Electric Generators Direct and Thanks Generac.

Our new whole-house generator makes going into another winter much less stressful. We know if, that is, when the power fails, we will be covered.

We are on a farm with four horses and other animals that depend on us for basics, such as water and shelter. We know with our new Generac 20kw whole house (and barn) generator, we can now sleep better when we know an ice storm is imminent.

Electric Generators Direct had our new Generac delivered right to our front door just a few days after ordering. The carrier could not have been more helpful in unloading at a c... more

I had my generator professionally installed this week. It runs well, however it will not shut down when the outside power source is turned back on.

The problem was diagnosed by the tech dept as being a bad main board in the generator. I find this a little unusual as I would have assumed that this unit would have been run/checked at the factory.

EGD RESPONDS: The units are checked before they are packaged for shipping, however during shipping or warehousing sometimes delicate components can be affected.

This unit has a generous 3 year Factory Warranty, so you shouldn't have any problems getting a replacement board at no cost to you.

If you have any questions for the folks at Generac, please contact them directly at (888) 436-3722; they'll be happy to help out.

I had my generator professionally installed this week. It runs well, however it will not shut down when the outside power source is turned back on.

The problem was diagnosed by the tech dept as being a bad main board in the generator. I find this a little unusual as I would have assumed that this unit would have been run/checked at the factory.

EGD RESPONDS: The units are checked before they are packaged for shipping, however during shipping or warehousing sometimes delicate components can be affected.

This unit has a generous 3 year Factory Warra... more

The customer service for the local utility (South Carolina Electric & Gas) has degraded yearly for the last 17 years.

When I first moved into my retirement home, they would respond in less than 30 minutes to remove downed trees from the power lines. 17 years later they now take days to respond.

Last year I lost power on an average of once a month. I lost everything in my freezer (all my garden vegetables, all my venison, all the beef I had packaged ---a very large freezer and everything rotten).

Now my wife is disabled and her medicine is very expensive and must be kept at a certain temperature. When the power went out last month, the utility company would not respond even though they knew my wife's condition. I had to remove two trees myself (yes, I know it is dangerous).

When they finally showed up (there was one large branch I could not remove because it was intertwined between both hot wires) a full day had passed and my wife's medicine was worthless. The local utility said "it was not their problem." So I decided to install a whole house generator, and chose the Generac Guardian 20K.

Very pleased with my choice. Exceptionally pleased with the delivery. Not pleased with installation charges. There are so few electricians here who service generators, they can pretty well charge what they want. I could do the work myself, but it had to be done by a licensed electrician to honor the warranty.

Very pleased with Electric Generators Direct telephone contacts. They patiently answered all my questions. They are what makes this company the very best. Thanks guys.

The customer service for the local utility (South Carolina Electric & Gas) has degraded yearly for the last 17 years.

When I first moved into my retirement home, they would respond in less than 30 minutes to remove downed trees from the power lines. 17 years later they now take days to respond.

Last year I lost power on an average of once a month. I lost everything in my freezer (all my garden vegetables, all my venison, all the beef I had packaged ---a very large freezer and everything rotten).

Now my wife is disabled and her medicine i... more

I researched a lot of generators and decided to purchase the 5875 20KW air-cooled model with the Nexus smart controller/switch. The reason I settled on this decision was based on very competitive price, plus the smart switch allows this generator to handle the power needs of an entire large house.

You need to purchase a transfer switch for a standby generators, and for many generators this is a separate additional cost for this generator the switch is included.

Basically this generator and the included Nexus transfer switch will supply power to the entire panel (200 Amps) of your home. Some large homes will potentially exceed the power needs of this 20KW generator. For most homes, the major power eaters are the AC units.

I went around my house with a Kill-a-watt meter which measures the amperage draw of things that you plug in. When you first plug something in, it normally consumes a higher amperage and then settles to a lower stable current draw.

I also found on the Internet the estimate for current draw for AC units per ton of cooling capacity (sorry, can't recall what it is at the moment). Bottom line is that I calculated that the total peak current draw for my house would likely exceed the approximate 70 AMP generator output (I use NG for LP the output is 83 amps).

This is the beauty of this generator- you can wire it so that two AC units (I have two units one 4 tons and one 3.5) can be individually controlled and "shed" so that in the event that the current draw exceeds the generators capacity, it will automatically not supply power to one or both units.

Other generators that do no have this feature will simply shut down requiring a manual restart. Once power needs drop sufficiently, the Nexus Smart Switch will automatically supply the AC units again. I think this is really cool, and gives me confidence that the system will be able to handle any situation automatically.

I got three estimates for installation of the generator from electricians. The range was quite startling. The highest was $5900, and the lowest was $1125. All of the electricians had done standby generators, but none had installed one with the load-shedding Smart Switch.

They all commented that the Smart Switch was really a cool feature. Let me point out that that I am not especially handy around the house. I can replace a plug fixture, but that is about it. Some people can supposedly install a generator themselves, but this is not a project I could possibly do. Unless you have some electrical experience, Iwould recommend NOT attempting to do this yourself.

The generator arrived when I was at work, but the truck driver lowered the generator and did actually have a dolly and took it down to my driveway (not always the case) at the request of my girlfriend.

I hired the electrician (from a large company with AC division/commercial division/electical division) who gave the $1125 estimate and gave me confidence he knew what the project entailed and understood the Smart Switch installation.

I watched the entire installation. Once again, it is NOT something that an average person could/should do in my opinion. There were two people from the company, and they completed the entire project from wiring to testing is about 10 hours total.

Plumbers had to come out to install the gas line to the generator, and this also is a separate charge. Be sure to check if you have a gas line located close to the generator, and if you have the pressure and capacity to handle the generator.

To my surprise the generator started and both AC units came on without problem. The electrician told me the power draw off the generator was 60 amps (within the capacity). They left and the people from the AC division of the company arrived.

Please note that wiring for the AC units to the Smart Switch was not included in the estimate, and Ii still have not gotten the bill for this. This turned out to be more involved than I anticipated. Two guys had to run wires from the inside air-handling units to the smart switch. This involved going into the attic. Total time was about 4 hours to do this (so yes, the bill might surprise me).

I still have not tested the 'shedding" function of the smart switch (Tried turning on every light in the house and the generator still had the capacity to handle both AC units.) Next thing I will do is to plug in three 10AMP vacuum cleaners, and turn on a window AC unit, and make sure the pool pump in on, to see if the Smart Switch will automatically divert power away from one or both main AC units.

After the first day, I got a "low battery" warning light, so I took out the new 12V battery to the place I bought it, and they tested it and told me it was fine. I reinstalled the battery and the next day, the generator had a low voltage red warning light.

I called Generac and they asked me if the "G1 leg" was connected, and I had no idea what they were talking about. This apparently is the wiring for the generators trickle charger for the 12 volt battery, and if it is not connected, the battery will not charge.

They told me that this is something that installers have not been doing. I called electrician, and was told that they are aware of this issue and will return to correct the situation.

EGD RESPONDS: Please check your local ordinance and building codes; some areas require that installation be done by licensed electricians & plumbers.

I researched a lot of generators and decided to purchase the 5875 20KW air-cooled model with the Nexus smart controller/switch. The reason I settled on this decision was based on very competitive price, plus the smart switch allows this generator to handle the power needs of an entire large house.

You need to purchase a transfer switch for a standby generators, and for many generators this is a separate additional cost for this generator the switch is included.

Basically this generator and the included Nexus transfer switch will supply power to the entire p... more

The last hurricane that hit Houston left us without power for almost two weeks. I did not think I could mentally or physically survive without power that long again.

My research quickly identified the 5875 as being the best value with the latest technology. I paid by check and had my generator shipped to the installer. That solved my liftgate problem and saved me cash. Thanks Electric Generator Direct.

My installation is incomplete at this time. I am waiting on the new wireless monitor. I need to have the pool pumps put on a a load shedding device and the electrician has ordered hard start kits for my two 5 ton air conditioning units. The wireless monitor is on back order.

When those things arrive the installation will be completed. However, my current installation was complete enough to handle most everything.

Last night a violent thunderstorm hit North Houston and left my part of the city without power from 8:30pm to 2:30am. The generator functioned flawlessly. It was eerie to be the only one in the neighborhood with power and my house is well lit with security lights.

I don't think my neighbors even knew I had a generator as I saw them with flashlights checking their power panels which are usually in their garages in my neighborhood. So far so good.

The last hurricane that hit Houston left us without power for almost two weeks. I did not think I could mentally or physically survive without power that long again.

My research quickly identified the 5875 as being the best value with the latest technology. I paid by check and had my generator shipped to the installer. That solved my liftgate problem and saved me cash. Thanks Electric Generator Direct.

My installation is incomplete at this time. I am waiting on the new wireless monitor. I need to have the pool pumps put on a a load shedding device and th... more

I'm not much into writing reviews, but I'm very happy that I have this unit installed now and everything seems good to go. Here's my story... In 2003 and 2009 we had a couple of pretty devastating ice storms (by our definition anyway) and, of course, we went many days without power, save for our little portable DeWalt generator. (I've got to hand it to DeWalt - that little 5000 watt workhouse ran 24 hours a day for 7 days straight during the '03 storm, except for a brief rest while I changed the oil). Anyway, back to the present - I decided to finally splurge and get a generator that would run most everything we had in the house. The Generac Guardian 5875 (with the RTSD2003A3 Automatic Transfer Switch) was nicely priced at $ 4499.00... (it is my luck that in two weeks the price has dropped almost $ 200 to $ 4319.00, but that happens...) I was going to have a wee bit of difficulty unloading the unit from the freight truck to my pickup anywhere locally because a big truck can't fit down my road. However, I was able to drive to the freight company's warehouse about an hour away in Lexington and they loaded it into my pickup with a forklift. When I got home, I used the forks on my tractor to unload it on the patio (not an option for everyone, I realize) so the heavy part was done. (After unpacking, if you push the generator onto a couple of four foot sections of 1" PVC conduit, you can scoot it anywhere you want). I am going to reveal how ignorant I am with the next statement - I couldn't get the keys to work that allowed me to open the top canopy (there's a lock on both sides. I swore up and down that they'd sent the wrong set of keys. I spent a couple of hours on the net trying to find out why the key and locks wouldn't work... anyway, what I finally figure out on my own (and this may same one or two people grief in the future) you have to push down on the canopy in the corner right about the lock then turn the key and everything works fine. It loosens up after a bit, but the first time they're good and tight. I saved a little money by digging the trench for the propane gas line myself. I rented a 500 gallon propane cylinder and they did the install last week. Everything went well there. My electrician came early Wednesday morning and got started on the electrical part. The utility company was there quick and things progressed well for the most part. My electrician had installed a number of the Guardian series generators, but the RTSD2003A3 transfer switch installation manual is a big vague in just a couple of sections - one being the battery charging circuit. Apparently, this switch, from what I can gather, is fairly new to the market and even his distributor hadn't seen one yet. Soooo, before we destroyed something, we called Generac's tech support line and the guy was super nice and told my electrician exactly what to do. And just for future planning, when you install the service entrance rated ATS (I didn't know this) all circuit panels downstream (ie your main breaker panel) has to have the neutral and ground bars separated (which might result in a little extra work, but not bad)... but back to the story - the utility company returns, restores power and we test the new generator by pulling the meter after its in automatic mode and sure enough, after 10 seconds it started and a couple of seconds later I heard the switches in the ATS box activating and the house was powered entirely by the generator. Put the meter back in and a minute or so later, it all switched back to utility power. For an easily impressed guy from Kentucky, it all seemed pretty cool. The last thing I'll comment on was how quiet it was. I was in the back part of the house tonight and my wife called on the intercom and said the generator just came on. I didn't hear it at all until I got into the room right next to the patio... it was running its first self-exercise. Compared to the portable DeWalt, it was whisper quiet. I admit that I was a little nervous buying the unit online as opposed to the local Lowes or Home Depot, but as it turns out, I know I saved several hundred dollars doing so, especially when you figure in the cost of the ATS... Perhaps I'll update this after our first loss of power event. So far, I'm very pleased.

I'm not much into writing reviews, but I'm very happy that I have this unit installed now and everything seems good to go. Here's my story... In 2003 and 2009 we had a couple of pretty devastating ice storms (by our definition anyway) and, of course, we went many days without power, save for our little portable DeWalt generator. (I've got to hand it to DeWalt - that little 5000 watt workhouse ran 24 hours a day for 7 days straight during the '03 storm, except for a brief rest while I changed the oil). Anyway, back to the present - I decided to finally splurge and get a generator that would run... more

We live in Houston Texas. My wife's an invalid, and we decided we are not leaving for hurricanes.

I bought this on a Sunday online, and it arrived on the next Friday. The guy who delivered was really nice. I had a furniture dolly and he helped me put it under the box and push it up the driveway. He also told me to place it around back get a couple of sheets of 1/2 inch plywood to roll it on. That worked really well.

I mixed Sackrete and poured a 4 inch deep slab (it was easy) and now it is 7 inches above the ground. I set the unit and plumbed the gas in.

I had electricians come out and do the wiring and mount the box. This is all done to code and looks great. 68 db is not very loud behind the garage. The whole thing is automatic, and this was great value for the money spent.

The total cost including battery was about $5800. The gas line was right there and the breaker box was only a 10 foot run that helped reduce the cost.

There's a great feeling of security to know that 12 seconds after the power goes out everything comes back on.

We live in Houston Texas. My wife's an invalid, and we decided we are not leaving for hurricanes.

I bought this on a Sunday online, and it arrived on the next Friday. The guy who delivered was really nice. I had a furniture dolly and he helped me put it under the box and push it up the driveway. He also told me to place it around back get a couple of sheets of 1/2 inch plywood to roll it on. That worked really well.

I mixed Sackrete and poured a 4 inch deep slab (it was easy) and now it is 7 inches above the ground. I set the unit and plumbed the gas in.
... more

The generator arrived Thursday, my wife was home alone. The driver said he couldn't come up the driveway because of the size of his truck and he didn't have a dolly with him that worked very well so he couldn't dolly the generator up the drive either.

So basically the driver dropped the generator off at the end of the driveway next to the street where it still sits until my wife can have it moved unless it is stolen first.

I work in the offshore oil and gas industry so I will not be home until June 28th so my wife has to deal with this. So far, our experience with your company hasn't been good due to the delivery service or lack of service.

I can't believe we have the only house set back from the street that receives your generators and the delivery service dumps them at the curb.

I hope the generator works better than the delivery service when we get it installed and off the street.

EGD RESPONDS: We understand your concerns, however, we plainly state on our web site "Free Freight- Ships via Semi-Truck; Arrives in 2-5 Business Days".

Other customers have either timed their order so the unit arrived when they would be available to deal with it, or contacted a moving company or U-Haul to have day laborers dolly the unit where they needed it.

There are 3 U-Haul locations in Huntsville: 936-291-0728, 936-730-1439, 936-291-8512. Other similar companies (Ryder, Penske) are available in your area as well.

The generator arrived Thursday, my wife was home alone. The driver said he couldn't come up the driveway because of the size of his truck and he didn't have a dolly with him that worked very well so he couldn't dolly the generator up the drive either.

So basically the driver dropped the generator off at the end of the driveway next to the street where it still sits until my wife can have it moved unless it is stolen first.

I work in the offshore oil and gas industry so I will not be home until June 28th so my wife has to deal with this. So far, our experience wi... more