[RE-wrenches] Generator for off grid

[penobscotsolar at midmaine.com]

We only recommend propane for our customers in cold weather. Propane burns
cleaner and certainly starts very reliably on even the coldest nights when
installed properly. We have "inherited" customers with diesel gennies that
over time eventually switched over to our recommendation of propane and
are very happy. Most "solar" homes already have propane on location as
well.

Daryl





> For something small it's hard to beat the Honda inverter generators, for
> larger I have customers who have the 16 KW Perkins Diesel generators from
> Hardy diesel and are very happy with them. These engines are built in the
> Caterpillar plant in the US (Georgia?) We are in a very cold area, last
> night was -32 F. They use a propane wall heater to keep the temp in the
> 40's
> to 50's or better sometimes and starting is not a problem. It's just one
> of
> the costs of a generator in a cold area.
>
>
>
> More of my .02 worth!
>
>
>
> Later,
>
> Bob Ellison
>
>
>
> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Randy
> Brooks
> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 3:16 PM
> To: Wrenches RE
> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Generator for off grid
>
>
>
> Fellow Wrenches,
>
>
>
> What generator manufacturer are you currently recommending for off grid
> use?
> A Kohler 18RES (LP, 3,600 rpm, air cooled) a customer installed last year
> has already failed after 370 hours of use during 6 months of construction
> and winter occupancy.  It consumed enough oil to cause the low oil shutoff
> to activate, and the generator controller board is fried.  The owner is
> still negotiating with Kohler, but Kohler has said they will not support
> any
> of their generators used off grid.
>
>
>
> The owner is looking at a Cummins Onan 20 kW GGMA (LP, 1,800 rpm, liquid
> cooled).
>
>
>
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Randy Brooks
>
> Brooks Solar, Inc.
>
> Solar Power for People
>
> 140 Columbia View
>
> Chelan, WA  98816
>
> 509-682-9646
>
> Randy at BrooksSolar.com
>
> www.BrooksSolar.com
>
>
>
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