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Standby Generator Installation Budget
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Use this calculator to estimate installation costs for a new standby generator system.  The number of control wires and load management arrangement is for Cummins QuietConnect™ and PowerConnect™ series generators.

To run this calculator JavaScripts must be enabled on your browser. And cookies must be enabled to email the results (see link below the results).

Make your input selections in the fields above the "Estimate installation costs" button.  Hover your mouse over the Hover over these question marks for more field-specific information. symbols for additional field-specific information.  Then press the "Estimate..."  button to see instant results.

ft
Horizontal distance A
from new ATS to existing load center 		ft
Horizontal distance B
from new ATS to power company meter


Utility service size or sub-panel rating If the generator will only be backing up a sub-panel, then select the sub-panel rating. The Power Company Meter in the diagram above should then be considered the upstream panel.

  ft
Horizontal distance C
from new ATS to new generator

Generator model numbers are Cummins QuietConnect and PowerConnect series.
Generally, for single phase generators kVA=kW.  For 3 phase kVA=kW÷0.8 if rated at 0.8 pf.

    
This should be the line-to-line voltage for split-phase and 3 phase systems.

 

project or customer name, quote number, etc.

  labor billing rate This is the rate billed by the contracting company which includes overhead and expenses. It is more than just the electrician's net hourly wage. For the detailed article Pricing Service Work for Profit click the question mark.
 material markup
 % sales tax on material  Enter as a percentage. Most states DO charge sales tax on material.
 % sales tax on labor  Enter as a percentage. Many states do NOT charge sales tax on material. Enter 0 if no tax is to be charged.
 material purchase trips
 prep site for generator
 move & mount generator
 drill & mount enclosure Automatic transfer switch must be mounted along with 1 or 2 load management contactor enclosures. This is the average time it takes to mount 1 enclosure. Do not include wiring time.

trencher rental cost If you own a trencher then this can be set to $0 or set to the time-value of the machine.
 pickup and return trencher
 electrical permit cost Set to $0 if no permit is required, or if others will be taking care of this.
 prepare and submit permit
 disconnect & remove serv cable
dig around buried lines If there are other buried utilities where you cannot use a trenching machine select the time it will take to hand dig those areas. Also include any time necessary to hand dig end of trenches.
final test and startup Include final system checks, testing and startup time.

MAKE INPUT SELECTIONS ABOVE BEFORE PRESSING BUTTON BELOW

 

   

 

RESULTS
Not for construction This quote for budgetary purposes only. Actual cost and system design may vary due to other local codes and site requirements.

distance A
load center rating
     		distance B
service size
    

distance C
generator rating
    
full load Single phase Generator full load Amps calculated from kW ÷ line-to-line Volts × 1000. For 3 phase generators the full load Amps equals kW ÷ line-to-line Volts × 1000 ÷ 1.732 ÷ 0.8
conduit length Buried conduit length is the horizontal distance plus 5' to come up out of ground and reach termination point on each end. However, if horizontal distance is less than 5' it is assumed that the conduit is NOT buried and this adder is not applied to each end.
wire length Wire length is assumed to extend 2.5' beyond the ends of conduit.
POWER RUNS A:
3 or 4 conductors plus ground
load cent wire size
load cent wire $ per ft
load cent conduit size
load cent conduit $/10'
CONTROL RUNS A:
LM dc control AWG 8c DC control wire for operating up to 4 load management (LM) contactors.
LM dc control $ per ft
ethernet cable Ethernet cable length reaches to load center panel. Additional cable length will probably be required to reach router location. This connection to the local area network allows use of Cummins Connect Cloud advanced remote monitoring and control using a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet.
ethernet cable $ per ft
120Vac 20A 3c This circuit provides power for the battery charger, engine oil heater, alternator heater, battery heater and any other accessories that may be present in the generator. It can be run in power conduit.
120Vac 20A $ per ft
From load center to contactors:
50A 8c jumpers Up to four 50A max 240V branch circuits can be controlled by the load management contactors. These 4 jumpers are not in the A conduit.
50A 8c jumpers $ per ft
control conduit size
control conduit $/10'		 conduit length
wire length
POWER RUNS B:
3 or 4 conductors plus ground
service wire size
service wire $ per ft
service conduit size
service conduit $/10'
CONTROL RUNS B:

 


         none

conduit length
wire length
POWER RUNS C:
3 or 4 conductors plus ground
generator
gen wire $ per ft
gen conduit size
gen conduit $/10 ft
CONTROL RUNS C:
gen dc cont AWG 3c DC control signals for starting and stopping generator.
gen dc control $ per ft
LM dc control AWG 8c DC control wire for operating up to 4 load management (LM) contactors.
LM dc control $ per ft
ethernet cable Ethernet cable length reaches to load center panel. Additional cable length will probably be required to reach router location. This connection to the local area network allows use of Cummins Connect Cloud advanced remote monitoring and control using a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet.
ethernet cable $ per ft
120Vac 20A 3c This circuit provides power for the battery charger, engine oil heater, alternator heater, battery heater and any other accessories that may be present in the generator. It can be run in power conduit.
120Vac 20A $ per ft
control conduit size
control conduit $/10'

power wire cost
power conduit cost
power conduit fittings Includes elbows, adapters, bushings, couplings and locknuts.
LM control wire cost
ethernet cable cost
120Vac 20A wire cost
50A jumpers cost
control conduit cost
control conduit fittings
material total Run A 		power wire cost
power conduit cost
power conduit fittings

 

 

 

material total Run B

power wire cost
power conduit cost
power conduit fittings
gen dc control wire cost
LM control wire cost
ethernet cable cost
120Vac 20A wire cost
control conduit cost
control conduit fittings
material total Run C

MATERIALS & MISC. COST SUMMARY
material total Run A
 material total Run B
 material total Run C
 material total Runs A+B+C
 material markup

    material total billed
         sales tax rate on material
    sales tax on material
    trencher rental cost If all horizontal distances are each less than 5' then no trenching machine is included in estimate.
    permit cost
    material, rental, permit costs billed

LABOR HOURS SUMMARY 
permit prep and submit
trencher pickup and return If all horizontal distances are each less than 5' then no trenching machine is included in estimate.
material purchase trip
 genset site prep
 move and mount genset
 drill and mount an enclosure
 disconnect/remove service cable
 hand digging buried lines
 trenching for conduit A Trenching time based on an assumed 60 ft per hour plus 90 ft per hour for backfilling.
 install conduit A Cutting, laying and joining conduit time based on an assumed 50 ft per hour.
 meas & cut wires A Measuring and cutting each wire based on an assumed 600 ft per hour.
 pull wires A Pulling wire based on an assumed 50 ft per hour for pulling whole bundle through conduit.
 terminate wires A Based on an assumed rate of bending, trimming, striping and terminating 30 wire ends per hour.
 trenching for conduit B Trenching time based on an assumed 60 ft per hour plus 90 ft per hour for backfilling.
 install conduit B Cutting, laying and joining conduit time based on an assumed 50 ft per hour.
 meas & cut wires B Measuring and cutting each wire based on an assumed 600 ft per hour.
 pull wires B Pulling wire based on an assumed 50 ft per hour for pulling whole bundle through conduit.
 terminate wires B Based on an assumed rate of bending, trimming, striping and terminating 30 wire ends per hour.
 trenching for conduit C Trenching time based on an assumed 60 ft per hour plus 90 ft per hour for backfilling.
 install conduit C Cutting, laying and joining conduit time based on an assumed 50 ft per hour.
 meas & cut wires C Measuring and cutting each wire based on an assumed 600 ft per hour.
 pull wires C Pulling wire based on an assumed 50 ft per hour for pulling whole bundle through conduit.
 terminate wires C Based on an assumed rate of bending, trimming, striping and terminating 30 wire ends per hour.
 final testing and startup
 total hours
BILLING ESTIMATE SUMMARY
total hours from right
 x billing rate $ / hr
    total labor charge
        sales tax rate on labor
    sales tax on labor
    material, rental, permit costs from above
    GRAND TOTAL Does not include fuel hookup costs. It is normally less costly and better for owner to arrange for natural gas or propane service directly with fuel supplier.
                      (without fuel hookup)

Project Name


  

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NOTES:

  1. Printing Help: You may need to decrease the displayed font size in your browser to improve print readability. Press CTRL - to decrease size or CTRL + to increase. Also changing to landscape printing can improve quality.

  2. The calculation assumes uncoated all copper stranded conductors in PVC schedule 40 conduit.  The Ampacity is based on NEC 2011 Table 310.15(B)(16) for 75C insulated conductors rated 0 through 2000 volts with not more than three current carrying conductors in raceway, cable or earth with an ambient of 30C (86F). Conduit sizes selected based on NEC Table C.10 for THWN conductors.

UPDATES:
06/07/2017 Improved unit labels and two time assumptions, changed kVA menu to kW and updated FLA formulas. 

 

 

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