It’s a race to the bottom! At least in the manufacture’s residential offerings. Lawn mower engines. Kohler, Cummins/Onan, and Generac still produce high quality industrial machines. John Deere, Cummins, Volvo, and Rolls Royce engines. 125kva to megawatts.
DynaGen controllers are good. I have seen hiccups before. Today for example. One failed to stop a generator after the control circuit opened. After 400 hours! They also draw a small load, either a battery charger needs to be connected to the starting battery, or a minimum weekly exercise to charge. It’s a vulnerability. I don’t use generators that use them for unattended of -grid or when there isn’t another backup generator. Generators with simple engine controllers like Wrico W120, are best. Many generators can be retrofitted with such a controller. >> On Feb 27, 2020, at 5:24 PM, Ray <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > > Well, that's certainly a glowing (hot) review for Kohler. Amazing that with > as much progress as we've made with solar, MPPT controllers, and Li+ > batteries, the industry has gone backwards significantly in the generator > department. Kohler used to make a wonderful little water cooled 1800 rpm > model, some of which are still in service. > > Ray Walters > Remote Solar > 303 505-8760 > On 2/27/20 5:45 PM, Amanda Potter wrote: >> We Installed a Kohler 14RES, L.P. & the crank-case breather froze ( the >> generator was on auto & was in a shelter), and the dip-stick blew out & the >> generator had just started & set the engine on fire. Oil everywhere. >> Luckily a worker saw the flames, (this was new Off-Grid construction), and >> was able to put the fire out. >> The construction workers did not trust the off-grid system anymore (Conext >> XW6848, which worked exactly as it was designed), and the owner tried and >> tried to get Kohler to honor the warranty (500 hours), but to no avail. >> He had to buy another generator. >> >> Amanda Potter >> Energy Storage Specialist >> NABCEP PV Installation Professional >> NYSERDA Eligible PV Installer >> Adirondack Battery & Solar, LLC >> Potsdam, NY >> (315) 212-2114 >> >>> On Feb 27, 2020, at 6:22 PM, Mac Lewis <maclew...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> We have had pretty good luck with the 14 kW Kohler which has an off-grid >>> warranty. Its not perfect but it seems solid. We have had a few people >>> with near 5000 hours on them. The controller is a bit of an energy hog but >>> its the best we've found that weighs all of these issues. >>> >>> On Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 4:06 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar >>> <offgridso...@sti.net> wrote: >>>> The Honda EU7000i also has it's own remote start kit that plugs into a >>>> socket on the genset. I think it has a 140 foot cable. About as easy to >>>> install as there is. Incredible life and reliability. We do not need a >>>> genset here but many of my clients use these. >>>> >>>> Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar >>>> "we go where powerlines don't" >>>> http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ >>>> e-mail offgridso...@sti.net >>>> text 209 813 0060 >>>> >>>> On Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:53:09 -0800, Michael Morningstar >>>> <mjmornings...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> > For small propane generators: Honda eu7000i w/propane conversion from >>>> > GenConnex and 2 wire start kit from GenLine. I’ve installed a couple >>>> dozen. >>>> > 4-8k hours life expectancy. Correct jet is a must for altitudes over >>>> 5.5k. >>>> > Alternators are a bit weak so I install a NOKO that’s plugged into the >>>> > generators own receptacle for extra on board charging. >>>> > >>>> > Small Diesel 7.5kw and up, that’s easy. Wrico International. I’ve got >>>> over >>>> > a hundred out there. No standby power draw. Super simple. Bulletproof. >>>> The >>>> > only issues I’ve seen are fuel supply related. 20k hours no problem. >>>> Open >>>> > Frame, so some protection is needed. They are building 7.5kw and up >>>> propane >>>> > generators now. I haven’t used one yet, but will when the right project >>>> > comes around. Their product support is the best. Call them and you will >>>> > speak to one of the principals. They can walk a layperson customer >>>> through >>>> > just about anything I would be called on to service. >>>> > >>>> > The larger low RPM, water cooled propane generators aren’t without their >>>> > problems. Kohler and Cummins/Onan have had problems within 2-3k hours. >>>> They >>>> > just aren’t the same as 10 years ago. >>>> > >>>> > Many dozens of Multi Quips out there. They are good choice. Tech support >>>> > response is generally slow. >>>> > >>>> > Michael >>>> > >>>> >> On Feb 27, 2020, at 2:25 PM, Ray <r...@solarray.com> wrote: >>>> >> >>>> >> I know we have covered this before, but I just continue to be >>>> >> disappointed with the Generac Ecogen. Very high failure rate, and >>>> >> support is poor. Service requires expensive on site service. Also the >>>> no >>>> >> load AC draw and programming setup is just not off grid ready at all. >>>> >> I'm still not seeing any other great choices, though. Here's some >>>> other >>>> >> possibilities: >>>> >> >>>> >> 1) Quality portable, like the Honda EU 7000i or Northstar with Honda >>>> >> motor. Not the best choice especially for autostart, no propane, but >>>> at >>>> >> least they can take it in to the shop if it goes down. >>>> >> >>>> >> 2) Kubota (or MQ) diesel. expensive, and possible cold weather start >>>> >> issues? >>>> >> >>>> >> 3) 20+ kW water cooled, 1800 rpm propane model. Overkill, expensive, >>>> >> but probably will last a really long time. >>>> >> >>>> >> 4) Similar Home standby unit, but Kohler brand. Kohler used to be >>>> >> great, but now a days I'm not so sure. >>>> >> >>>> >> I just can't keep recommending a generator I know has been giving other >>>> >> customers trouble. Any new ideas on this age old problem? >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> Ray Walters >>>> >> Remote Solar >>>> >> 303 505-8760 >>>> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >>>> >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>> >> >>>> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> >> >>>> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >> >>>> >> List-Archive: >>>> >> >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>>> >> >>>> >> List rules & etiquette: >>>> >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >> >>>> >> Check out or update participant bios: >>>> >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >> >>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>> > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>> > >>>> > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> > >>>> > Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> > >>>> > List-Archive: >>>> > >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>>> > >>>> > List rules & etiquette: >>>> > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> > >>>> > Check out or update participant bios: >>>> > www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>>> >>>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List-Archive: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >>> >>> Mac Lewis >>> >>> "Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out or update participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org
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