Anyone who has $30,000 to spend on a household generator+ has .... more money than I!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the genny itself is the least important part of the installation. Your priorities ought to be, in this order:
1) Proper design of the entire system;
2) Proper selection of size;
3) Placement of, and access to, the equipment;
4) the specific sub-systems and accessories; and, last,
5) the genny itself.
Regarding the genny, I'd take a reliable small one over an unreliable, cheap, low-power quality big one every day of the week. Or, for that matter, one that requires me to go to any one source for parts and maintenance.
That's my main problem with Generac; their business model centers on boxing you into their equipment. The convenience of a genny-mounted transfer switch pales when you have to replace the thing- and have to replace the switch as well.
Likewise, I cannot stress the value of having a QUIET genny. Sure, the 'sound package' can nearly double the price .... but a loud genny won't get exercised, and an idle genny won't work when you need it.
