I’ve enjoyed following this thread. Just today a customer with a Generac wrote to update me on a long anticipated control board replacement that ended with the discovery of a shot bearing and the need for more work/downtime.
I have another customer (whom I inherited) who has had a stationary Winco brand generator for ten years or more. His experience with the Winco has been a good one and I see that the company has some 8 and 12k units offered for prime power. I’d welcome any opinions on the reliability/suitability of the Winco brand for off-grid homeowners. My initial impression has been positive, but my experience with them is limited. -Matt Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 3, 2020, at 4:21 PM, Chris Mason <[email protected]> wrote: > > Ray, > Let me try to address some of those issues for you. > 1) You can get the activation code before you take it to site, you just need > the serial number. Generac has a good warranty policy but they need to know > where the generator is and when it is installed to be able to provide that. > 2) An electrician can connect the wires but you would not believe the > installations we have seen, done by licensed electricians. We have a dealer > forum where installers post pictures of installations they find, and the > mistakes are criminal and dangerous. I once found a propane 20KW generator > running side a shipping container, doors closed. > 3) Generac does not do direct support for generators, they require customers > call a dealer. The dealer can then call Generac, and often does. I can't even > call them if my certification expires. > 4) If the generator is under warranty, you may not pay anything, depending on > the coverage. Generac is offering up to ten year warranties. But once it is > out of warranty, you will have to pay. Dealers don't work for free. The > average electrician won't be able to diagnose problems reliably on these > generators. > The residential air cooled generators are very reliable and rarely have > problems if well maintained. Techs should be traveling with common parts, I > bring a controller and a few other parts so I can solve the problem in one go. > Blown engines are rare, but they do happen. Generally in the first few hours, > so under full warranty and replacement is generally done at Generac's expense. > If you do have issues, contact me and I will try to help you. > > > > > > > > > > >> On Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 4:41 PM Ray <[email protected]> wrote: >> Some of the issues have been Generac not providing a simple wiring >> schematic, nor simply labeling the 2 start wires. 2nd is requiring either >> internet connection or a call in to get the start code. Both have been very >> problematic in remote locations with no phone service. Totally unnecessary. >> We don't need a Generac tech just to connect wires, I'm the licensed >> electrician. Last time I called Generac, (control error not listed in the >> manual) they insisted I needed to call in a service tech, and offered zero >> trouble shooting. I fixed the problem by pulling the fuse and resetting the >> controller. 3rd, service requires a long expensive trip by the service >> tech, who then diagnoses the problem, has to order the parts and return >> weeks later. This means every issue takes 2 round trips to resolve. If its >> a bigger issue, it requires a truck lift to haul the 500 lb unit in to the >> shop. We're hearing $500 just to get the generator to the shop, then >> another $500 to reinstall it after. >> >> Failures have included several catastrophic engine failures, blowing oil >> every where, some of these have been in the first few hundred hours. Lots of >> control issues, one recently had voltage that varied from 90 to 130, 45 to >> 70 Hz, and the inverter wouldn't even connect to it. >> >> I quit selling generators a long time ago, because I didn't want the service >> liability. I'm not a mechanic, and I don't want to be. I do however, need >> a generator I can recommend in good faith. The Ecogen has made us look >> pretty bad. Glad I didn't sell them, but then I've seen some large water >> cooled unit that worked well. >> >> Ray Walters >> Remote Solar >> 303 505-8760 >>> On 2/28/20 5:14 AM, Chris Mason wrote: >>> Ray, >>> I'm a Generac dealer. Why are you having support problems? Generac has a >>> large dealer network, if the unit is under warranty you should have no >>> problem getting it fixed. Did you buy through a dealer and have them >>> install it? Why are the services expensive? >>> >>> What failures are you seeing? >>> >>> There is a hole in the market for products in this application. Virtually >>> no-one makes an affordable ~10KW diesel enclosed 2 wire start 1,800 rpm >>> reliable diesel generator. I once ordered, on spec, a 9KW Perkins engine >>> liquid cooled enclosed diesel from a factory in China I deal with. I sold >>> it to a customer that ran it 18 hours a day on 100% load, to power his >>> restaurant refrigeration outside service hours. It lasted him years, it >>> must have thousands of hours on it. >>> I think the big problem in the US is getting permits for diesel generators. >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 6:25 PM Ray <[email protected]> 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: [email protected] >>>> >>>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>>> >>>> List-Archive: >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html >>>> >>>> List rules & etiquette: >>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >>>> >>>> Check out or update participant bios: >>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Chris Mason >>> Solar systems designer >>> Generac Generators Industrial technician >>> >>> Comet Systems Ltd DBA Comet Solar >>> Anguilla Cell 264.235.5670 >>> WhatsApp 264.235.5670 >>> Skype: netconcepts >>> www.cometsolar.com >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance >>> >>> List Address: [email protected] >>> >>> Change listserver email address & settings: >>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >>> >>> List-Archive: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/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: [email protected] >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html >> >> List rules & etiquette: >> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm >> >> Check out or update participant bios: >> www.members.re-wrenches.org >> > > > -- > Chris Mason > Solar systems designer > Generac Generators Industrial technician > > Comet Systems Ltd DBA Comet Solar > Anguilla Cell 264.235.5670 > WhatsApp 264.235.5670 > Skype: netconcepts > www.cometsolar.com > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/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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