[RE-wrenches] Kohler Generator Issues

[Darryl Thayer]

Although the 48 volt output from the Cummings small gen is unusual, I like the Propane option, and perhaps it is suitable.  It is small, 5 kW but also batteries last longer on a slow charge.  It also has a controlled output to do battery charging.  
Darryl

--- On Mon, 3/29/10, All Solar, Inc. Jeremy Rodriguez <allsolar at scswifi.net> wrote:

> From: All Solar, Inc. Jeremy Rodriguez <allsolar at scswifi.net>
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Kohler Generator Issues
> To: jryago at netscape.com, "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> Date: Monday, March 29, 2010, 12:52 PM
> 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
> > 
> >
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