[RE-wrenches] Off-grid generator update?

[Michael Morningstar]

I've been using Cummins RS 22's, where a propane fuel source is dictated (my preference is diesel). They are 20kw, liquid cooled, 1800rpm, and available without enclosures and cost a little less than 10K. A little bit larger than what we are talking about, and usually oversized for a lot of my applications, but I refuse to deal with disposable generators and the crappy support that comes with them. Cummins has always been great to work with. Generac or Kholer have great support when your installing 500kw gensets in heavy commercial or industrial applications!

Michael

> On May 5, 2016, at 8:11 AM, Luke Christy <sgsrenewables at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Wrenches,
> I have been following this thread with interest ever since Lena started it a few days ago.
> I don't have a whole lot to add but I thought I would chime in. 
> 
> I struggle with the same issues I've heard from others on the list of needing  good quality, smaller (8-15kW) generator options for off-grid. My interpretation of the consensus is that there is a lot of stuff available in the higher dollar, commercial category, but for smaller gensets the options still seem limited and somewhat unsatisfactory. I have been using Generac EcoGen units for the last 5 years, and they have been generally ok, though in my opinion the quality is not there. In addition, when I finally had a major failure on a unit that required warranty service, the process of getting help from Generac with that was a nightmare. If not for the generous help of several folks on this list, it would have been even worse. As Allan pointed out upthread, Generac is simply not set up to deal with the needs of Wrenches who support off-grid installations. This is especially true for remote locations. 
> 
> For those of you who have been using the 14RES from Kohler, do they reduce the warranty period for Off-Grid installations? 
> 
> -Luke
> 
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