I think a big part of the generator selection is who is around to service the machine. If there is a good generator technician around a certain brand, that may be the way to go. I don't like Generac at all. There is no real presence on Cummins/Onan here and Kohler has worked fine for me and Im familiar with it.
On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 8:50 AM MDElectricSolar via RE-wrenches < re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > After having many many failures very prematurely with the Kohler 14 and > 20s I've switched to the Cummins-Onan air cooled two wires start units and > they have been flawless so far. > > Michael D Nelson > MD Electric & Solar, Inc. > 707-684-0064 mobile > 707-884-1862 office > www.mdelectricsolar.com > www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar > > > On May 13, 2025, at 7:33 AM, Mac Lewis via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > > > Hello Jay, > > I am using Kohler 14 RCAs in Colorado. It has the off-grid warranty > 18-month/1000 hr. I have seen good results, I probably have 60-70 out > there now. If you can make it through the 6 month mark, its probably going > to be pretty good machine (control and /or sensor failures). I have had > random issues, they aren't perfect, but its the best I've come across for > an autostart machine that works well with elevation derate here. Very > simple to troubleshoot, stepper motor, controller, not much else. Btw, > Kohler sold its residential line to Rehlko recently so who knows! > > > > On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM Jay via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > >> I’ve installed one. It works and simple >> Like the other AIOs. >> It has a different firmware/display than the 8,12 kw units which is a bit >> frustrating. >> >> The main drawback with the 6 is it’s only 3kw per leg. It doesn’t like >> being too out of balance either. Tare loss is a bit high and the fans seems >> to run a lot but better cooler than hotter. >> But it’s less than 1/2 the price of the 8kw. It’s about $1600. >> If you just bought it as a CC it’d be a great deal. >> >> As to it not being made in China I think is nothing more than simantics. >> It might now be assembled in Texas but the parts are all made in China. >> So draw your own conclusions >> >> >> >> On May 13, 2025, at 6:10 AM, Drake Chamberlin via RE-wrenches < >> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >> >> >> >> Talking to Steve at Zonna about the problems with off grid equipment, he >> recommended the EG4 6000XP as a good off grid inverter. He said they are no >> longer made in China and are a very good product. Does anyone have >> experience with that unit? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Drake >> >> >> *Drake Chamberlin* >> >> *Athens Electric LLC* >> >> *Ohio Electrical Contractor’s License 44810* >> >> *NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional* >> --- >> >> >> >> On 2025-05-12 13:11, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote: >> >> So the bypass switch gets the house power on, and I too always recommend >> a hard bypass switch. However, you still need a 48 v power supply to get >> the battery system back up, and that's becoming a serious pain in my aging >> backside. Until AIOs with Li+ batteries, lead acid would have enough >> voltage to get the charge controller to come back on, and eventually the >> customer could get the inverter back on too. No special trip out. >> >> We need an independent circuit that would sense array voltage, and wake >> up the battery, so it could take a charge: a backup battery for the offgrid >> battery. Without that, AIOs and Li+ batteries are not self healing like >> Lead Acid. We are going backwards fast, but with an amazing amount of new >> Chinese technology driving the jalopy in reverse. (Danger Will Robinson) >> >> Ray Walters >> Remote Solar >> On 5/12/2025 10:54 AM, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote: >> >> We always recommend a transfer switch to bypass the inverter and send >> generator power to the loads. Most clients take us up on it. For retrofits, >> sometimes there can be space limitations, however. >> >> As for the function of the AIO, there is no integrated mechanical bypass, >> and since there is an internal relay controlling the generator input (or >> smart load output on that breaker), I think the default function is for the >> relay to open when the inverter turns off. AC voltage on the load side of >> the breaker does not close the relay and turn the inverter back on >> automatically. >> >> Jason Szumlanski >> Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group >> NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP) >> Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956 >> Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208 >> >> On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 9:49 AM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar via >> RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: >> >> All sounds wrong to me. Call Midnite. >> >> Typically there is a AC bypass mechanical switch that allows the gen to >> bypass the inverter and power loads. >> >> >> >> *Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar >> "we go where powerlines don't" >> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/>https://offgridsolar1.com/ >> <https://offgridsolar1.com/> <http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/> >> e-mail offgridso...@sti.net <offgridso...@sti.net> >> text 209 813 0060* >> >> >> On 2025-05-12 9:29 am, Jason Szumlanski via RE-wrenches wrote: >> >> Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems like there is a flaw in the >> logic for how generator integration works with this product. Unlike some of >> the other AIOs, you can't put the generator on the Grid input in an >> off-grid scenario. You have to use the Generator smart load breaker, which >> isn't a dedicated generator input, but a programmable circuit. This is >> problematic because it seemingly has a normally open internal relay that >> closes only when the inverter is ON. At least, that's how it seems to work >> in my limited experience. >> >> Why is this a problem? If the battery capacity drops below the low >> voltage cutoff, the inverter turns off. You have to turn the inverter ON >> for the generator relay to close so you can charge the battery, but since >> the battery is too low, the inverter won't turn on. You would have to >> reprogram the inverter to drop the cutoff voltage/SOC below the current >> battery state. For people who do not want to use AGS, or if AGS fails to >> start the generator for any reason, getting the generator to charge the >> battery manually is no easy task. >> >> Moreover, turning the generator on manually when the inverter is in an >> OFF state will not pass power to the loads, and will not turn the inverter >> ON automatically. You have to get the inverter turned ON somehow so that >> the generator power can pass through to the loads. And since the startup >> sequence for this inverter is very quirky, non-intuitive, and unreliable, >> that makes the problem even worse. I'm not sure if you can even turn the >> inverter ON when there is generator input and the battery is too low. I >> don't think you can because the relay is open and the inverter doesn't even >> see generator voltage when it is in an OFF state. >> This seems like a serious oversight and a reason to go with one of the >> other AIOs on the market. I believe the Sol-Ark 15K and EG4 18kPV will both >> immediately power loads and start charging when the generator is on, >> regardless of whether the generator is connected to the Grid or Generator >> input. Any AC input immediately passes through to the loads. This is >> because those inverters stay "on" when a low battery condition is met, and >> they simply stop using the battery to invert power if the battery >> conditions do not allow it, based on the settings. >> >> The logic of the Midnite AIOs turning "off" when battery cutoff is met >> and opening the generator relay doesn't make sense to me. Am I wrong about >> how this works? >> >> Jason Szumlanski >> Principal Solar Designer >> Florida Solar Design Group >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >> >> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org >> >> 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 >> >> There are two list archives for searching. 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When one doesn't work, try the >> other: >> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org >> >> > > -- > > > > Mac Lewis > > *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates* > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > 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 > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > > 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 > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/ > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org > > -- Mac Lewis *"Yo solo sé que no sé nada." -Sócrates*
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