[RE-wrenches] Question on Back up generators

[Drake]

Are people still happy with the Generac 
EcoGen?  Has anyone tried the 15 KW yet? 
Hopefully it won't get booted from off grid status.

At 01:54 PM 4/9/2015, you wrote:
>Dana,
>I find this emissions-related issue pretty 
>interesting. It hasn't been totally clear to me 
>why these generator manufacturers keep taking 
>various models off their "off-grid rated" lists, 
>but this seems to shed a little more light on the issue.
>
>However, I've been under the impression that the 
>really restrictive tier 4 regulations were 
>mainly targeted at high horsepower diesel 
>gensets. Does a tiny (relatively 
>speaking)  propane genset have to meet the same runtime restrictions, etc?
>
>In this penalty scenario where someone is 
>getting fined $39k/day for running a standby 
>power only generator in a non-standby situation, 
>who is at risk of getting fined? Surely not the 
>property owner
 And how could that possibly be enforced?
>
>Best,
>-Luke
>
>
>Luke Christy
>
>NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™: Certification #031409-25
>NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer™: Certification #ST032611-03
>CoSEIA Certified PV Installer
>
>Solar Gain Services, LLC
>PO Box 531
>Monte Vista, CO. 81144
>SGSRenewables at Gmail.com
>719.588.3044
>www.sgsrenewables.com
>
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2015 15:23:59 -0600
>From: "Dana" <dana at solarwork.com>
>To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>Subject: [RE-wrenches] Question on Back up generators
>Message-ID: <01a001d07242$54a175e0$fde461a0$@com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hey All -
>
>
>
>I just got off of a phone call with my Onan generator supplier. Last
>conversation with Kohler was the same story basically.
>
>
>
>I was informed that their smallest water cooled generator, the RS22 (22 KW)
>is now no longer "rated "for off grid. They actually called me to confirm
>that this generator was for backup power to a utility inter connected house.
>Tier 4 generators in the EPA CFR 40 is the Federal code what covers this, &
>you are allowed 100 hours of run time for standby power and maintenance per
>year.
>
>Q - Why am I using ridiculous sized generators for something that an 82-8300
>watt generator does just fine?
>
>A - The EPA current requirements, a shrinking economy, & manufacturers that
>have to meet very expensive air quality compliance.
>
>The Penalty - If you get caught running a "standby power only" generator the
>fine is now $39,000 per day!
>
>Now I am far from a polluting kind of individual and all for air quality but
>this is getting the best of us. The 13KW air cooled generators are only good
>for 2000 hours, & the water cooled go 20 years of moderate usage but cost a
>boat load. I hate having the "Generator" talk with a new client they look at
>me like I am crazy. So the air cooled units are basically throwaways and the
>22KW units are way more than we need and what a client needs to spend money
>on, unless you are at 10,000 ft el.
>
>
>
>If you figure 30 amps/120 VAC input per inverter +/- x 2 = 7.2KW plus say
>10-15% fudge or elevation factors would require an 8200-8300 watt generator.
>Air cooled at 3600 RPM = 80 MPH & 1800 RPM = 40 MPH.  Even if the generator
>were a bit smaller, ran slow (1200-1800 rpm) and ran a bit longer that would
>be acceptable.
>
>So, why are we installing even 13KW air cooled or 22 KW water generators?
>
>There is a business opportunity here folks.
>
>
>
>What are you all installing?
>
>Why?
>
>Is it reliable?
>
>Would you use it on your house?
>
>
>
>Thanks for sharing all the wisdom and knowledge.
>
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Dana Orzel
>
>Great Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136
>
>E - dana at solarwork.com  - Web - solarwork.com
>
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