[RE-wrenches] Kohler Generator Issues
All Solar, Inc. Jeremy Rodriguez
allsolar at scswifi.net
Mon Mar 29 10:52:53 PDT 2010
Jeff,
check out Gillette Generators.
Prime power warranty. and 'ok with inverter'
Jeremy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Yago" <jryago at netscape.com>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Kohler Generator Issues
>
> Although we have specified and included Kohler RES models in all our
> off-grid and battery based solar projects for over 15 years, we have seen
> a real decline in the suitability of the Kohler line in the past few years
> for use in solar/battery/generator applications. First they killed off
> the 1800 RPM units under 15 kW. We had many older systems that would not
> work when we replaced an aging 1800 RPM unit with their same kW size new
> 3600 RPM units, which made inverters go nuts with under-voltage and
> over-current errors.
>
> Then several years ago they got rid of the battery charging alternator or
> whatever that re-charged the battery when the generator was running as a
> way to reduce costs, so now the only way to keep the battery charged was
> to plug in a full time float charger. This 24/7 electrical load is not a
> good idea for smaller off-grid systems and requires another set of wires
> out to the generator to supply this outlet. Finally, Kohler added a
> diagnostic electronics panel that adds another 24/7 electrical load. We
> "kill" this off during installation on any off-grid application as we
> cannot justify this 24/7 standby load. There is a software switch to do
> this, but its not easy to find in the instructions.
>
> Funny thing was the other day I received a call from the main Kohler
> factory about some marketing issues and I finally let loose with the above
> rant. I really complained that so far they have done everything they
> could NOT to serve this very large and growing off-grid market, and I
> pointed out that most of their recent design "improvements" made their
> generators LESS suitable for this market, not better. This guy was
> absolutely dumb-struck, and it appears to me that they have made no effort
> to understand this market. Their more recent efforts to void warranties
> is just another reason to look for a different generator supplier.
>
> Has anyone on this list had any contact from Kohler central office about
> finding out what features this industry needs? The guy I talked with may
> be just blowing smoke, but he promised to have a followup call in next few
> weeks to learn more about what they can do. According to him, he thinks
> they can add a software "switch" in the programming for little or no cost
> like "on/grid - off/grid" that we could access during setup that would
> adjust generator parameters and standby losses when used in an
> inverter-battery application. In case he really does followup, are there
> any other rants I could include from you guys that have been a problem for
> you when using Kohler generators. I will assume we are limiting this to
> their non-water cooled units under 15 kW.
>
> While ranting on generators, the main reason we liked to use Kohler was
> the easy 2-wire start/stop connections you can connect to the aux relay in
> most inverters, while many other generator brands were not easy to remote
> start from an inverter or required multi-step starting relays. Has this
> changed, and are there now other brands of generators in the 8 to 15 kW
> range that work well for backup of solar/battery charging applications and
> the manufacturer does not have warranty issues when used in off-grid
> applications?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff Yago
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Netscape. Just the Net You Need.
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Options & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
More information about the RE-wrenches
mailing list