Gary,
Interesting that you bring up Generac in response to my request. The
customer for whom I made this request for recommendations has a dead
Generac EcoGen 15kW at her property now. I don't know what's wrong with
it; it had failed before she bought the property. But she had it checked
out and was turned down for a service call at her home, told instead
that it would have to come into the shop and that basically the cost of
repairs was more than replacement cost. So another EcoGen isn't likely
at this point.
Even on Generac's website, there are a surprising number of 'one-star'
reviews for the EcoGen 15 (the EcoGen 6 is discontinued). The one at my
own home, an early EcoGen 6 that Generac gave me around 2010 in return
for evaluation and review, had a throttle solenoid fail with relatively
few hours on it. So I remain cautious about Generac products.
Thanks for your reply, though.
Allan
On 10/17/2021 8:58 AM, Gary F Willett PE wrote:
Allan:
DISCLAIMER: I have no business or financial relationship with any
Generac dealer.
I have owned two Generac EcoGens in the past 10 years and am pleased
with their performance. The EgoGen is configurable using an option
setting to use either LP or NG fuel. It is warranteed for the off-grid
environment, with a 500 hour recommended interval for routine maintenance.
Even though I live in an urban area, I setup my PV system in the
grid-tie battery backup configuration. I have always used LP for fuel
instead of natural gas because of some issues we've had with natural
gas reliability here in north Texas under extreme winter weather
conditions (last one here was in mid-February).
I use my EcoGen only as a battery charger in a grid-down situation, it
does not serve house loads directly. I'll admit that most of the hours
on my generator are the bi-weekly exercise runs!
I started with the 6kW 240V AC EcoGen as a field trial participant in
Generac's beta testing of the EcoGen in an off-grid environment in
2010. Later I upgraded to the 15kW kW 240V AC model. I very pleased
with this model too.
So, consider Generac as an option too.
Regards, Gary
On Sat, 16 Oct 2021 20:32:35 -0600, Allan Sindelar
<[email protected]> wrote:
Mac, I appreciate your suggestion, thank you. Indeed, I called a
longtime regional independent generator dealer about this before
posting here. I was surprised that he has Kohler 12s and 14s in stock
and available. I’ll go that route if I don’t hear better from our
fellow Wrenches.
Allan
On Oct 16, 2021, at 7:29 PM, Mac Lewis <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Allan,
I suggest finding a local long-standing generator technician and see
if they can help provide the generator. We see so many generators
bought online with no way to get service because there are no local
and qualified service technicians to service that brand. If you buy
from a local technician, or at least ask for their advise, it may
allow you to get service in the future (maybe).
We have had good success with Kohler 14 RESA or RCA machines, they do
have off grid warranties, but good luck getting them now.
Let us know what you decide.
Thanks
On Fri, Oct 15, 2021, 4:42 PM MD Electric & Solar
<[email protected]> wrote:
Check out Wildcat Generators, hand built in Kansas.
I just placed my first order for one. 10KW LPG 1800RPM liquid
cooled, built to run 24/7. They even make a DC (battery direct)
generator.
You can purchase through a master dealer in the Reno Nevada area,
Freds Mountain Electric:
https://fredsmountain.com/
https://wildcatpowergen.com/
On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 3:37 PM Sindelar Solar
<[email protected]> wrote:
Wrenches,
Generators have become a moving target, especially for off
grid applications. Most are set up for grid backup, and I'm
assuming that many may simply be unavailable, given that half
of most everything else is on back-order with no expected
delivery date... I'm seldom asked to recommend a generator
these days, but I am today, so I'm requesting recommendations
from other off grid-savvy Wrenches, please.
I'm working with an older (2014?) existing dual Outback
VFX3524 system which will be upgraded to dual VFXR-3648s to
work with a 16kW Blue Ion LiFP battery bank; 4kW array with
upgrade infrastructure in place to later add 2kW more if
needed. Once the upgrade is done I expect relatively little
generator runtime. The customer would prefer LP fuel and
2-wire start (for remote control). Pretty much any
well-regarded model in the 8-14 kW @240 VAC rating range
could work.
Thank you for your suggestions!
Allan
--
*Allan Sindelar*
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
*505 780-2738 cell*
--
Michael D Nelson
MD Electric & Solar Inc.
Office: 707-884-1862
Cell: 707-684-0064
www.mdelectricsolar.com <http://www.mdelectricsolar.com/>
www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar
<http://www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar>
--
*Allan Sindelar*
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
*505 780-2738 cell*
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