Hi Kirk, The Ecogens we have out there (3) have been working great, without needing service. We do leave the switch set to "manual" which I don't believe has a phantom load. It so, it is very minimal as we haven't had customers complaining of lack of power. I continue to recommend them for small to medium size systems.
Daryl > Kirk, > > I have 4 Eco-gens out there and working fine. I'm not sure about the > phantom load but it does include the battery charging. My guess is > that after the battery recovers from starting, the load probably drops > to minimal. There is an hour meter in the menu under "state" which is > many keystrokes to find. Took me awhile to find it. Other than a > possible ghost load problem, my customers and I really like them. > Quieter and more fuel efficient. However, for larger off grid systems > with really big loads, it may not be strong enough. Time will tell. > I have one wired at 240 and the others all at 120. We did have a > problem with one of them with a faulty rpm sensor. I found that the > authorized service from the middlebury outfit... Taylor Rental or > green Mtn rental... Not sure of the name... Was excellent. No charge > to the customer under warranty and fast service. P > > John > Cvsolar. > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jul 7, 2013, at 9:58 AM, jay peltz <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi Kirk >> >> One trick I learned from my generator guy is to hook up the remote start >> to the manual on position >> This bypass's the auto position and the extra load on the battery >> >> Best I can tell only difference on the Koehler anyway is how fast it >> starts. On auto right now >> On manual a few seconds delay. >> >> Jay >> >> Peltz power >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Jul 6, 2013, at 10:46 AM, "Kirk Herander" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Alan and others, >>> >>> I have an off-grid customer looking at the Ecogen. Now that 6 months >>> have passed since your comments, can you tell us more of the pros and >>> cons of this unit? >>> I read somewhere the phantom load of the controller (and charger?) is >>> 20 to 50 watts total. Is it just the controller which needs to stay >>> awake? Is there a separate charger for the battery, meaning no >>> alternator / rectifier direct from the engine? Regardless, it seems >>> dumb to me that a generator designed for off-grid would mandate a >>> phantom load to operate. For that reason, it seems no more appealing >>> than the Kohler R series. Is there an on-board hour-meter? Thanks. The >>> brochure does not address these questions. >>> >>> Kirk Herander >>> VT Solar, LLC >>> dba Vermont Solar Engineering >>> NABCEPTM Certified Inaugural Certificant >>> NYSERDA-eligible Installer >>> VT RE Incentive Program Partner >>> 802.863.1202 >>> >>> From: [email protected] >>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Allan >>> Sindelar >>> Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 3:21 PM >>> To: RE-wrenches >>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] generator suggestions >>> >>> Ray, >>> Everything has changed. The Kohler 6.5RMY and the Onan 6.5 Commercial >>> were wonderful units, but also both flathead twins, eventually >>> discontinued for efficiency and emissions reasons, as I came to >>> understand. Also, the American residential market was (and remains) >>> almost exclusively about home standby, not off grid, and the major >>> manufacturers went in that direction. Home standby is a competitive >>> market, and generators aren't expected to run for many hours over their >>> useful life, so internals can be cheapened and features to make them >>> more like a home appliance are added. Many of us have customer horror >>> stories about home standby units used off grid. >>> >>> I have written favorably about the Generac EcoGen here and in Home >>> Power, as it's pretty much currently the only under-10K unit designed >>> for off grid use. I have now had two at my home - we had a fire in May >>> that took out an outbuilding and the gennie, and I replaced it with the >>> same model, because it had performed well and there was nothing else to >>> compete with it. Always starts, minimal maintenance, exceeds its rated >>> output on occasion, doesn't require a separate enclosure, and is sealed >>> against mice. Oh, and very quiet. So far the only disadvantage is the >>> need for either an AC feed for the 8W phantom load to keep the >>> controller awake, but a PV module and small controller on the starting >>> battery will handle that one of these days. It's not just one of their >>> standard units with different bells and whistles, but has hardened >>> valves, lower (2,500) rpm, longer maintenance intervals, and other >>> reliability features. >>> >>> I know all about Generac's otherwise-poor reputation, and am willing to >>> stick my neck out about this model, as I think it's the best we >>> currently have in this size range. My understanding is that the Propane >>> Reliability Council (or some similar organizational name) was involved >>> with sponsoring development of an LP gennie tough enough to handle off >>> grid demands. They first approached Kohler, who turned them down, and >>> then worked with Generac (all this is hearsay; don't quote me on it). >>> Allan >>> >>> Allan Sindelar >>> [email protected] >>> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer >>> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional >>> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician >>> Founder and Chief Technology Officer >>> Positive Energy, Inc. >>> 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) >>> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 >>> 505 424-1112 >>> www.positiveenergysolar.com >>> >>> >>> On 1/30/2013 10:41 AM, Ray Walters wrote: >>> Hi Randy and all; >>> >>> I definitely like the water cooled 1800 rpm machines too, but for >>> regular off grid homes, they just are way out of the budget. We jumped >>> on the inverter generator band wagon for a while, but had the same load >>> issues Allan described. (Microwave kicks the breaker, and you're >>> running the genny for hours for nothing) Many customers have turned to >>> the contractor portables with equally disappointing results, but often >>> they already have the genny, and we just provide an inlet box and cord. >>> The Generac looks like a good idea, I wish Onan or Kohler would build >>> one. Kohler used to make a 6.5 Kw that fit the one inverter household >>> fairly well. >>> >>> Ray Walters >>> >>> THeOn 1/30/2013 8:55 AM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems >>> wrote: >>> Randy, >>> >>> I concur, the Cummins/Onan generators are built well and are reliable. >>> They provide a 1 year, 1000 hour warranty for off grid use when a RE >>> system is installed for primary power. >>> >>> We install lots of Magnum Energy inverters with AGS modules in RV's. >>> What sold me on the Onan's is having seen many RV generators (3600, >>> 2880 and 2400 RPM), some with several thousand hours, still operating >>> with tight frequency and voltage control, no leaks, easy starting, etc. >>> >>> Larry Crutcher >>> Starlight Solar Power Systems >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jan 30, 2013, at 7:52 AM, Randy Brooks wrote: >>> >>> Todd, >>> >>> We don't sell or install generators, but the only one I recommend for >>> permanent installations is the Cummins/Onan, 1,800 rpm, propane fueled. >>> All others have failed early. >>> >>> Good luck, >>> >>> Randy Brooks >>> Brooks Solar, Inc. >>> Solar Power for People >>> 140 Columbia View >>> Chelan, WA 98816 >>> 509-682-9646 >>> [email protected] >>> www.BrooksSolar.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: [email protected] >>> >>> Options & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >>> >>> List Address: [email protected] >>> >>> Change email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List rules & etiquette: >>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>> >>> Check out participant bios: >>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> List sponsored by Home Power magazine >> >> List Address: [email protected] >> >> Change email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Change email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
