<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div></div><div>I have a customer with a Perkins from Hardy Diesel in an insulated building with a wall mount propane heater</div><div><br></div><div>Constant propane use most of the winter but it keeps a small building warm enuf that starting the generator is not a problem it happens to be a diesel</div><div><br></div><div>That made more sense for his installation then block heaters and all the rest of that</div><div><br></div><div>Plus the inverters and the battery bank are in a nice comfortable room</div><div><br></div><div>This one happens to be a 16 kW with a Perkins power plant</div><div><br></div><div>Bob</div><div><br>On Apr 28, 2016, at 7:00 PM, jerrysgarage01 <<a href="mailto:jerrysgarage01@gmail.com">jerrysgarage01@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><div>Have you looked at Cummins, we have have great luck and no programming issues but battery charging needs to be added foroff grid</div><div>Jerry</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:9px;color:#575757">Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S™ III, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone</div></div><br><br><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Ray Walters <ray@solarray.com> </ray@solarray.com></div><div>Date:04/28/2016 7:28 AM (GMT-10:00) </div><div>To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> </re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org></div><div>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Off-grid generator update? </div><div><br></div>
FYI, generally we haven't had cold start issues with propane units,
as long as the pipe is sized properly ( as mentioned in another
recent post) and the starter battery is kept fully charged.<br>
This is based on about 20 years experience in the Rockies with temps
below 0, but not 40 below. We don't use block heaters, carb
heaters, etc.<br>
We currently have been using Generac Ecogen, but not that happy with
them. Cheap air cooled motor, way too many computer gizmos, no on
board charging (must have AC power or PV to charge the starting
battery) We even had to call customer service to get an
authorization code to set up remote start. This is off grid with no
internet or cell service; ridiculous. I hope Generac reps are
lurking here, because these are really not much better than the crop
of stand by generators.<br>
IMO no off grid generator should have a phantom load, or require
cell service to commission. What happened to the old water cooled
Kohlers?<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/28/2016 11:17 AM, Jeremy Rodriguez
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:CY1PR17MB0568B3ECDBF2DA94D0D9B415CB650@CY1PR17MB0568.namprd17.prod.outlook.com" type="cite">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;
charset=windows-1252">
<div>Check out Gillette generators. Made in Indiana </div>
<div id="AppleMailSignature">12.5 kW w Subaru <br>
<br>
Jeremy Rodriguez
<div>Solar Installation And Design Expert <br>
<div>All Solar, Inc.
<div>1463 M St<br>
<div>Penrose Colorado 81240</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and
shorthand!</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><br>
On Apr 28, 2016, at 10:20 AM, Lena Wilensky <<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:lena@nunatakenergy.com"></a><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:lena@nunatakenergy.com">lena@nunatakenergy.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">I did some searches on the list for what folks
are doing for off-grid propane generators these days, but
all the threads I found were from 5-6 yrs ago, so I was
hoping to get some more current info.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We're looking for about a 10kw+ propane unit (big
derate at altitude), and we run into 2 main problem areas:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>First is the warranty - either there are no units
warranteed for off-grid use, or there are only a couple of
models and the warranty is short (1 year).</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Second, and perhaps larger, is all the loads that now
come with the "off-grid" units. The computer takes some,
but mostly the "cold weather kit" aka carb heater must be
installed in our climate (to actually start, but also for
warrantee), and it's set up to be on a thermostat (read:
"on all the time from Nov-April" here in the mountains).
According to the Kohler tech support it takes a steady
50W. We have set up older units to do battery charge only
during the day, and have the carb heater on a manual
switch, but it sounds like we can't really get at these
circuits anymore since they're all pre-configured and
pre-wired in the guts of the genset computer.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The Kohler and Onan support folks said both these
issues are due to EPA considering off-grid use as prime
power as opposed to standby, so they are held to tougher
emissions standards.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Whatever the reasons, we're wondering what people are
actually doing these days - still the standby units they
kind-of warrantee for off-grid? 12RES from Kohler and the
13kw unit from Onan? Generac? Have folks been going back
to the smaller gas units from Honda and running them
more? And how are cold climate folks dealing with the
heating issue?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Any suggestions appreciated!</div>
<div><br clear="all">
<div>
<div class="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">Lena Wilensky<br>
<img moz-do-not-send="true" src="http://static.squarespace.com/static/52f26626e4b049d9fe1f4f70/t/52fd4d40e4b0c0844a0eb2de/1393270590052/?format=1500w" height="74" width="200"><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.nunatakenergy.com" target="_blank">www.nunatakenergy.com</a><br>
970-642-5554<br>
NABCEP Certified PV Installer:<br>
Cert. #R02907-17<br>
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</div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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