Case Study: 20kW Standby Generator Install in Fort Myers
We’ve done a lot of generator installs around Fort Myers, but every once in a while, one stands out as the perfect example of why proper planning matters. This one was a 20kW whole-home standby generator for a family in the Whiskey Creek area — a mid-70s home that had been through more than a few power outages over the years.
When they called us, they’d just gone through another storm where the power stayed out for almost three days. Their fridge was emptied, the AC never came back on, and their sump pump barely kept up. The homeowner told us, “We’ve had enough. I don’t care if I ever have to listen to another generator again, I just want the house to stay running.”
We laughed, but we got it. This wasn’t just a convenience job — it was about peace of mind.
Step 1: The Assessment
Every job starts the same way for us: we walk the property, check the panel, and talk about what the homeowner actually wants the generator to do.
In this case, the house had a 200-amp main service panel with a subpanel in the garage feeding the air conditioning, pool equipment, and appliances. It was well-kept, but the layout was a little tight, which meant we needed to plan carefully for the transfer switch and conduit runs.
The homeowner said, “I don’t need to power the whole house — just the AC, the fridge, and the main lights.”
But as we started listing loads, it became clear that he really did want a full-house setup. He wanted both air conditioners running, the kitchen appliances, and the pool pump so it wouldn’t go green after a week without power.
That put us right around a 20kW load, which made a 20kW generator the perfect fit.
Step 2: Choosing the Fuel Source
The home didn’t have natural gas, so propane was the only realistic choice. We sized it with a 500-gallon buried propane tank, which would give him four to five days of runtime under moderate load.
We handled everything — tank placement, trenching, line sizing, and permitting. Fort Myers soil can be tricky with all the shell and sand mix, but we used a compact trench setup that minimized yard disturbance. By the time we were done, the only thing visible was the fill valve and the cap — clean and low-profile.
Step 3: Sizing the Conduit and Wiring
This part’s where a lot of people cut corners. A 20kW generator puts out around 83 amps at 240 volts. That means you can’t just run it through undersized wire or long conduit runs without planning for voltage drop.
We ran #3 copper wire in 1¼-inch Schedule 80 PVC conduit, fully sealed from the generator pad to the transfer switch. That heavier gauge wire ensured voltage stayed steady, even under full load.
We also added a grounding electrode system right at the generator location — two copper-clad ground rods tied into the existing home grounding. With Florida’s lightning-prone weather, that’s a step we never skip.
Step 4: Installing the Transfer Switch
We used a Generac 200-amp automatic transfer switch (ATS) mounted beside the main panel. The homeowner wanted a clean look, so we recessed it into the wall and painted the cover to match the stucco.
That switch is the brain of the whole system — it senses when the grid goes down and transfers the load to generator power automatically. When utility power returns, it flips back and shuts the generator off smoothly. No manual cords, no guesswork.
We wired it to prioritize the main panel loads and installed load-shedding modules on the pool pump and one AC compressor. That way, if both tried to start at once, the system would stagger them automatically.
Step 5: The Generator Pad and Setup
We poured a custom concrete pad just behind the house, elevated about six inches above grade to avoid any standing water during heavy rain. The generator — a Generac 20kW Guardian series — fit perfectly on top.
We positioned it 5 feet away from the nearest opening, per Fort Myers code, and ran all conduit and gas lines neatly along the foundation.
Before connecting the fuel line, we pressure-tested it to 10 psi for 30 minutes — zero leaks. Then we tied everything in, filled the propane tank, and ran the first startup sequence.
Step 6: First Test Run
When we fired it up, that generator purred like a new truck engine. The transfer switch kicked in within ten seconds, and every circuit in the house came alive.
Both AC units ran smoothly. The pool pump cycled perfectly. The homeowner stood in the kitchen with the lights on and said, “I can’t believe this is what I was missing all these years.”
We let the system run under load for about an hour, checking voltages, frequencies, and pressure levels. Everything was rock solid.
Then we simulated grid restoration, and the ATS switched back to utility power exactly as it should — smooth, silent, and automatic.
Step 7: Final Touches and Training
Once we were confident everything worked perfectly, we showed the homeowner how to monitor the system.
This particular model had Wi-Fi capability, so he could check generator status and fuel levels from his phone — something a lot of homeowners love. We also set the weekly self-test to run every Tuesday morning.
We left him with a maintenance plan that included:
Annual oil and filter changes
Propane regulator inspection
Load testing every two years
We told him, “If you take care of it, this unit will take care of you for 20 years.”
Real-World Results: Hurricane Test
A few months later, Hurricane Milton hit. Not a direct Fort Myers strike, but enough to knock out power across most of Lee County for a full day.
The homeowner called us afterward, just to say thanks. The generator kicked on instantly and ran through the entire outage. They never lost AC, never lost Wi-Fi, never opened a warm fridge.
He said, “It was the first storm we actually slept through.”
That’s what it’s all about.
What We Learned (and Keep Doing)
Every job teaches you something, even after years in the trade. With this one, it reinforced what we already know: the details matter.
Proper wire sizing keeps the voltage steady.
Load management keeps the generator from overworking.
Grounding and weatherproofing prevent long-term headaches.
And most importantly — a generator’s only as good as its installation.
We’ve seen plenty of “budget installs” done with flexible hose gas lines, undersized conduit, and no grounding. They might work for a few months, but when a hurricane hits, that’s not the system you want to rely on.
Wrapping It Up
A standby generator isn’t just about convenience — it’s about comfort, safety, and peace of mind. When you size it right, install it properly, and maintain it, it becomes one of the most valuable systems in your home.
This 20kW Fort Myers install was a textbook example of how it should go — clean, code-compliant, and ready for the worst Florida can throw at it.
👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule your standby generator consultation. We’ll walk you through load sizing, fuel options, and a clean installation that keeps your home running — no noise, no panic, no stress.
We make standby power reliable, safe, and built for Fort Myers weather.
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