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
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 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
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 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
al...@sindelarsolar.com
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
www.facebook.com/mdelectricandsolar
___
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: