What Standby Generator Do You Like

TomA said: What is your opinion on the 2 cylinder Onan generators used in motorhomes and campers. I have a couple. I believe they are 3000 watt units running at 1800 rpm. I would think they would be more long lasting than the screamers. Mine are 120v only. Couldn't they be stepped up to 240v with a transformer? Click to expand... Easily step them up, I'm not familiar with price, I'd expect to spend $1200. for the transformer, $400. for the components to connect. I have a Kohler 7500 watt unit in the shed I'd love to sell for $300. We used to install them for battery storage off grid systems. They are good for 20,000 hours before rebuild. If you want 120 volt power these are perfect.

You don't need a transformer, 90% of them have dual windings and can simply be reconfigured. But I am not a fan, early in my generator career my predecessor had converted many of the Onan twins to propane and installed them shoddily in people's houses for off grid application. They have commutators which go bad more than they should, and they are flat heads which are terribly inefficient, burn a lot of propane for the power you get. I spent a lot of time and other peoples' money keeping the things running. Nobody is left running one now, they are ancient history. The Kohler 14 kw is a much better, more reliable replacement, even though it is 3600 RPM.

Birken Vogt said: You don't need a transformer, 90% of them have dual windings and can simply be reconfigured. But I am not a fan, early in my generator career my predecessor had converted many of the Onan twins to propane and installed them shoddily in people's houses for off grid application. They have commutators which go bad more than they should, and they are flat heads which are terribly inefficient, burn a lot of propane for the power you get. I spent a lot of time and other peoples' money keeping the things running. Nobody is left running one now, they are ancient history. The Kohler 14 kw is a much better, more reliable replacement, even though it is 3600 RPM. Click to expand... The Kohler manual shows procedure to switch to 240 volt. Manual applies to several models, mine doesn't seem to have those leads to change. Be a fine backup generator if it did. On grid homes are always set up for 240/120 volt power. I had one very similar 15 years ago, used it to power a welder rebuilding a building after the great flood. I ultimately sold that one.

All the Generac units I've been around are mass-produced consumer grade crap. My uncle who was a big commercial/residential electrical contractor was a dealer for them for about a year and quickly dropped them in favor of Cummins/Onan.The Generacs had poor quality components, poor quality control and too many call-backs. My brother who installed them for a propane company had similar feelings.

Willie B said: The Kohler manual shows procedure to switch to 240 volt. Manual applies to several models, mine doesn't seem to have those leads to change. Be a fine backup generator if it did. On grid homes are always set up for 240/120 volt power. I had one very similar 15 years ago, used it to power a welder rebuilding a building after the great flood. I ultimately sold that one. Click to expand... Give me a model and serial and I will tell you how it can be done, if it can be done. Including some ideas that are not found in any book. I spent a lot of time and energy amassing these ideas but it never really paid off.