Ray this is {again} what I have experienced over my solar career with Generac,
controls that burned, oil leaks, all in all gener-wreak. It is sad to see yet
another unit dead & almost every offgrid time, “oh you need to bring it in for
servicer” over & over.
Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc.
C - 208.721.7003 [email protected]
Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374
NABCEP # 051112-136 <http://www.greatsolarworks.com>
www.greatsolarworks.com
"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
From: RE-wrenches <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Ray
Walters
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Generator recommendation request
We've seen such poor reliability with the Ecogens, that we can't recommend them
anymore. We've seen as high as 50% failure rates in full time off grid use as
backup. Charging batteries for hours is a very hard load and does not compare
to biweekly exercise mode. The failures have been fairly catastrophic,
resulting in blown motors.
The other issue with these types of pad mounted generators, as Allan just
mentioned, is that they need to be pulled and taken into the shop for major
repairs. This can quickly add another $500 to $1000 to the cost, to have a
tech with a crane pull it, truck it in, and then reinstall it later. I'm
actually just recommending a good quality portable generator for this reason in
many cases. At least the customer can take it in themselves if there's a
problem.
The alternative is to get into the bigger (>20 kW) units with water cooled
motors and 1800 RPM operation. I was surprised when I compared fuel
consumption, the big units can actually use less fuel than an Ecogen when
charging with dual inverters. The wildcat is interesting, but I'm not ready to
recommend a manufacturer I've not heard of before.
Another option I have not tried in cold weather, is diesels. I have clients in
warmer places with Kubotas that have offered excellent service. I have clients
in Alaska that love their diesels, but I'm not sure what they've done to cold
proof them.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
On 10/19/2021 1:13 PM, Sindelar Solar wrote:
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
<mailto:[email protected]> <[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 <mailto:[email protected]>
<[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 <
<mailto:[email protected]> [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://fredsmountain.com/
<https://wildcatpowergen.com/> https://wildcatpowergen.com/
On Fri, Oct 15, 2021 at 3:37 PM Sindelar Solar <
<mailto:[email protected]> [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
<mailto:[email protected]> [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
<http://www.mdelectricsolar.com/> www.mdelectricsolar.com
<http://www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar>
www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar
--
Allan Sindelar
<mailto:[email protected]> [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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