Emergency Power/Storms/Prepping etc

[IReallyLikePizza2]

Thats not normal, what kind of lights? LED?

Did they have any other loads on that could be causing a big load fluctuation?

Sounds like the engine could be hunting slightly

 

[samplenhold]

Yes LED. He said they have no issue for the load.

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

Something wrong for sure, I have all LED lights and no problem, my neighbor has a 24kw air cooled and also has no issues

Is it an older genset?

 

[tigerwillow1]

If the LED lights are on a dimmer, any load change can make them glitch. Even with grid power.

 

[MTL4]

How loud is the Generac while running?
I assume it's loud enough to annoy neighbors?
My 7500k portable genset is very loud while running.

There’s a big difference in noise from engines that run at 1800 rpm like many of the liquid cooled ones do versus the air cooled ones and portable generators that run at 3600 rpm. I was looking at gettIng one of the Onan Quiet Deisels installed and you can barely hear it running (1800) versus the portable (3600) Honda I have now. Only other big difference would be using something like an inverter generator from Honda that can ramp up/down depending on power load.

 

[bigredfish]

Still do not have power but the houses across the street and down the street have power. The three streetlights on my corner are also out. I reported it and got an email back that they know about it and there are 245 houses in this outage. No estimate as of 10:15pm.

I know some guys who make great signs... just sayin

 

[samplenhold]

There’s a big difference in noise from engines that run at 1800 rpm like many of the liquid cooled ones do versus the air cooled ones and portable generators that run at 3600 rpm.

In my motorhome we have an Onan Quiet Diesel 10KW unit. Got it parked outside our home and have been running the gen since Tuesday. Basically living in there for AC and ran a cord to the refrigerator and the freezer in the house. I cannot hear it in the house.

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

In my motorhome we have an Onan Quiet Diesel 10KW unit. Got it parked outside our home and have been running the gen since Tuesday. Basically living in there for AC and ran a cord to the refrigerator and the freezer in the house. I cannot hear it in the house.

Do you buy plain diesel or get off road somewhere for cheaper?

 

[abita_brewing]

... Only other big difference would be using something like an inverter generator from Honda that can ramp up/down depending on power load.

FWIW, those rev PAST 3600 rpm on full load.

 

[ncpilot]

@IReallyLikePizza2

Was at my neighbor's home this evening and he has a 20kw Generac. I noticed that the lights would slightly pulse. Is that how yours is? Is this normal?

I've got a 20kW Briggs&Stratton--had a 2 hour power loss a while back and my lights would flicker, all LEDs on dimmers.

LEDs just seem more sensitive to minor fluctuations, especially on dimmers...

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

The only time I ever get a flicker is when the main AC kicks on with 120a inrush

I would not be happy if all my lights flickered. What brand lights? I have a bunch of cheap LED A19 bulbs that do fine, and then all of the HALO brand ones that do fine

 

[Techhead]

2 yrs ago we installed a new pacific energy wood stove right in the center of our house on the main floor, This keeps the hole house, including upstairs nice and toasty on those cold Canadian winters. Best $10,000 ever spent. We were spending $3500 every winter on propane, as that is our only option out here. We would be going full on Amish in an event of no power. Only thing I need to do is figure out a way to pump water from the well. Preferably a solar set-up.

View attachment 197876

Very nice but what is the wall surface and structure there? Looks like the stove is very close to it. We burned a 40,000 BTU Vermont Castings stove for years and had to space it a couple of inches away from brick that had an airspace behind it.

 

[MTL4]

FWIW, those rev PAST 3600 rpm on full load.

Yes, just pointing out they are variable RPM not fixed.

 

[abita_brewing]

I've got a 20kW Briggs&Stratton--had a 2 hour power loss a while back and my lights would flicker, all LEDs on dimmers.

LEDs just seem more sensitive to minor fluctuations, especially on dimmers...

If I had any weirdness for a whole house unit (portable or standby) I would look at the phase loading. You might have a really poorly balanced breaker panel.

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

Just mailed in the oil sample from my outage to Blackstone Labs. Will be interesting to see what they think of the oil with 162 run hours on it, when the book wants 125 hour changes

 

[dudemaar]

Very nice but what is the wall surface and structure there? Looks like the stove is very close to it. We burned a 40,000 BTU Vermont Castings stove for years and had to space it a couple of inches away from brick that had an airspace behind it.

Thanks, it’s just regular drywall behind the stove, but I had to install a fire rated pad on the floor. I did fire caulk all around between wall and pad for extra safety. Got lots of that stuff around here. Also was installed by a certified company and wet certified.

 

[MTL4]

Thanks, it’s just regular drywall behind the stove, but I had to install a fire rated pad on the floor. I did fire caulk all around between wall and pad for extra safety. Got lots of that stuff around here. Also was installed by a certified company and wet certified.

I installed my own wood stove twice and the WETT certification in Canada is a pain, they definitely look at every little detail for insurance purposes. Luckily the changes I had to make were quite minor to get it to pass.

 

[samplenhold]

Finally got power back today at 4:30pm. They replaced a very large transformer in a neighbor's back yard.

So, @IReallyLikePizza2 if you could elaborate/comment for me on these points below, I would really appreciate it as I am going to pull the trigger on a gen for the house.

From your posts I gather the following:

• Liquid cooled are quieter than air cooled
• The 1800 rpm models are quieter than the 3600 rpm models
• Liquid cooled models have a longer time between oil changes than the air cooled models?

You state that you would now buy the Kohler RCLA30. Why?

I have been looking at spec pages and the Kohler page states the RCLA30 is for 125amp service. They recommend the RCLC48 for a 200amp service. We have a two-story home of 4100sqft, 200amp service, and two AC units. What is your take on the sizing?

How do the Generac and Kohler compare for reliability and serviceability? I see some literature stating to check the oil every 8-12 hours. Some say every 24 hours.

 

[IReallyLikePizza2]

Finally got power back today at 4:30pm. They replaced a very large transformer in a neighbor's back yard.

So, @IReallyLikePizza2 if you could elaborate/comment for me on these points below, I would really appreciate it as I am going to pull the trigger on a gen for the house.

From your posts I gather the following:

• Liquid cooled are quieter than air cooled
• The 1800 rpm models are quieter than the 3600 rpm models
• Liquid cooled models have a longer time between oil changes than the air cooled models?

You state that you would now buy the Kohler RCLA30. Why?

I have been looking at spec pages and the Kohler page states the RCLA30 is for 125amp service. They recommend the RCLC48 for a 200amp service. We have a two-story home of 4100sqft, 200amp service, and two AC units. What is your take on the sizing?

How do the Generac and Kohler compare for reliability and serviceability? I see some literature stating to check the oil every 8-12 hours. Some say every 24 hours.

Liquid cooled 1800RPM = Best
Liquid Cooled 3600PM = Better
Air Cooled 3600 = Good

Air cooled is less complex, but is of course cooled by air. Here, the air is hot as shit. Make of that what you will! The liquid cooled models also usually have higher ambient operating temps before being derated

Liquid cooled models do NOT have a longer time between oil changes, interestingly. For example, my genset wants an oil change every 125 hours, but the air cooled Generac wants one every 200 hours. I suspect Generac are quoting these times based on the target audience for the generator, and a calculated lifespan of the engine.

Tell me how a larger engine running at HALF the RPM, and liquid cooled, needs its oil changed sooner? Makes zero sense. I worry about the air cooled units with 200 hour oil changes. I would change mine at 100 if I had an air cooled.

I would go with the Kohler RCLA30 as Kohler is an objectively better brand than Generac. Generac and Cummins are no longer able to source the 2.4L engine they used in their liquid cooled gensets around that size. So now if you want an 1800RPM liquid cooled genset from Generac, you have to go all the way up to the 32kw XC series. Thats a 4.9L engine, very overkill. The Kohler RCLA30 is the perfect sweet spot for a house IMO

Kohler is a better brand 100%, no one will argue that. However, Generac have the numbers on their side. For every Kohler genset there is probably 10 Generacs, which means they see the problems and fix them sooner. I've heard of plenty of people with issues with Kohler Gensets that they had a hard time getting fixed. Generac's may have their problem, but there is SO MANY of them out there. Its like the Ford of generators.

A big plus of Generac is extensive Genmon support, which I love.

I would not check the oil every 8, 12 or 24 hours honestly. Who wants to shut down their genset? Not me. They all have low oil shutoff and low oil pressure shutoff. Make sure its full and change the oil at the interval required. If I had an air cooled genset, maybe check at 100 hours, if you can.

It will shutoff before it damages the engine either way

 

[biggen]

My Generac 24kW states in the manual if running continuously in ambient air at 85F, change the oil and filter every 100 hours. I’d do it at 100 hours regardless of the ambient temp like you say. It’s easy to do.

The cost on a 30kW liquid cooled Kohler is gonna be big. Probably pushing somewhere in the $25k range when it’s all said and done. Would be a pretty sweet rig though.