Do i need to use rebar in the pouring of a pad for a generator?
Question:i need to pour a pad for a 45w generator, liquid cooled. pretty heavy. would you recommend using rebar or chicken wire or something of the nature? also, how thick do you think the pad should be 6".12"...18" i've never done any kind of residential concrete, and this job just isn't big enough to warrant poly forms and vibrators and the like, or is it?
Answers:
Always use some type of renforcement when poring concrete to prevent cracking. heavy gauge wire like fencing should do the trick. 6" should be plenty thick. make sure base is solid base rock and tamped. build your forms and go!
There is welded wire mesh, 4"x4" and 6"x6".
Either should be adequate for your job.
A 4" slab over a base of 4" thick gravel should
be adequate.
A 45 watt generator does not sound to be very
big. Or is it a 45 kilowatt gen?
Good luck on your project.
6" pad. Use the re-bar, there's going to be a lot of vibration. Run the pad a 1/4 bubble away from any structure min.
Since there is no 45watt generator and its water cooled you mean a 45 kw, which is quite heavy! good luck on your project!
Please post the weight of the unit, or at least the size of the genset. What class of soil are you putting this on? You did not mention the size of the pad you need? More info please.
The generator will vibrate when running. This vibration will act like a "micro-jack hammer" on the pad, eventually causing it to fail.
You can make it thick enough, and reinforced enough, to withstand the accumulation of the trauma, so yes, use reinforcing steel.
The mesh will hold it together when it finally cracks, so it will still function as a pad. The reinforcing steel bars, if thick enough, besides holding it together like the mesh, will add structural strength to the pad, making it much stronger than concrete alone.
Due to all the vibration, you need to reinforce it with something, I am not sure what people use. I service generac generators, and if you have a 45 kw generator, it is definitley gonna be vibrating. FYI---the generator should come on a pad that you unbolt from the pallet and lay the pad and all on the concrete that you pour, that will also cut down on the vibration.
6 to 8 inch slab with re bar is recommended. Also don't forget your conduit stubs into the pad where the wires will need to connect to the generator. This very important! Look in the manual for the generator, it will show you where to run these conduits.
A 6" pour will be fine.
Just make sure you tamp the ground so it is firm. You can form it out with 2x6's and wooden stakes. Do yourself a favor and oil the inside of the forms to ensure easy removal. As far as reinforcement, wire is fine, just make sure you elevate it so it's in the center of the pour. you can also add fiber mesh to strengthen the pour. Vibrators are only typically necessary on deep pours such as foundation walls so don't worry about that. Finally you can screed the cement with a long 2x4 and I would suggest giving it a broom finish because it's easy to do and provides traction when it rains.
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