Whole House Backup Generators

Dean · Mar 24, 2014

I'm planning to install a whole house back-up generator soon. Currently, I'm looking at the Generac 20 KW Guardian air cooled, LP unit.

Anyone have experience with this or similar General units?

Anyone know who makes the "Generac" air cooled V twin engine used in this unit?

Thanks in acvance.

Dean

David G · Mar 24, 2014

I have the unit, engine seal failed first year, took me another year to get it fixed. I would go with Kohler next time.

rabbit-1 · Mar 24, 2014

Generac doesn't have the greatest reputation around here. You may want to research other competitive units.

Dean · Mar 24, 2014

You will get no argument from me concerning Kohler but currently the Generac is nearly $1,500 less expensive.

I wonder if Generac is replacing the Guardian series?

Dean

notjustair · Mar 24, 2014

I've had one Generjunk and won't have another. Mine had just a few hours on it when it began spewing oil from the rear main seal (out of warranty, of course). It was a smoking nasty mess. If I kept at least a bottle of oil stop leak in it I was able to use it as long as I watched the level. No one around here wanted to work on it - I got rid of it.

It seems that the older it got the harder it was to get started. I had to work on it for two days just to get it started so someone could come look at it. Luckily he bought it...

Dave H (MI) · Mar 24, 2014

I am surprised to hear the comments on Generac. I have a client who used to sell them and his biggest customer was CSX who, I assume, used them to power signals(?) at the time. Never heard bad about them but was in the market myself so I guess I will keep an eye on your thread.

Spook · Mar 24, 2014

I"ve had the 15kw version for over 10 years. Several hundred hours on it, no problems so far. If I had to do it again, I"d buy the 20kw version.

greygoat · Mar 24, 2014

About once a month, on Y/T forums, there have
been questions about "Generac". Answers have been,
for the most part, negative. Based on answers here
I wouldn"t get that brand !

VADAVE · Mar 24, 2014

Be careful. If you need a20K unit the Generac unit isn't. 20k unit should put out about 90 amp at 220 volt. The Generac unit and most others only put out 80 amp.

buickanddeere · Mar 24, 2014

There were some vertical shaft engines used to belt drive a vertical generator in some older Generacs. Not as reliable as the new direct coupled horizontal units .
Many problems rise from the home owner figuring a 9950W house load then installing a 10Kw standby unit for example. Plus not allowing for unbalanced loads with 7Kw on one line and 3Kw on the other.
Just because the nameplate says for example 10Kw doesn"t mean you should load the unit to 10Kw except for brief peak loads. Small gen sets are rated right to the ragged edge . Hot weather with extended loads make for too much heat even if not "over loaded".
Personally I would prefer an Onan/Cummins or Kohler unit.

David G · Mar 24, 2014

I think there is a reason for that.

Dean · Mar 24, 2014

Agreed.

I certainly do not need 20 KW so a 20 KW unit is overkill.

Still curious as to who makes the engine. Website sane USA made but haven't yet found manufacturer. One thread says made in WI. B & S?

Dean

bison · Mar 24, 2014

Might be better off with the older tried and proven long lasting Air cooled Lister and Deutz diesel gen sets.
Start them and forget them.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2014

I installed a 20kw Generac in my home in 2009. The reason I chose this size is because I have a Geo-thermal HVAC system. In 2012 We lost power for 6 days straight during some 90d plus days. We ran the AC all during this event without concern. It has not used a drop of oil.

This past winter the LCD display on the controller went blank. This happened during a time frame when we were experiencing -15d nights. The unit still functions I just can not read the display. When it gets warmer I will change it.

massey333 · Mar 24, 2014

Can't say todays,but it was their own engine and was or is?one of the longest life engine for hard usage out there.As far service,???they have more home units out there then maybe all the others put together and a lot of other cos.are buying them and putting their names on them.Dad had a PTO 40KW unit from 78 til 03 and was still running fine when sold, what troubles it had(1),the company itself was more then helpful on helping fix it.Any thing is only as good as the dealer.

W_B · Mar 24, 2014

I have a small Generac (about 6000 kw) from one of the big box stores and it has run through 3 big outages of several days and several small day-length ones without a problem. No oil loss at all. Not sure of the engine but think it might be from "the land of almost right." Maybe I'm lucky.

buickanddeere · Mar 24, 2014

(quoted from post at 12:09:00 03/24/14) Agreed.

I certainly do not need 20 KW so a 20 KW unit is overkill.

Still curious as to who makes the engine. Website sane USA made but haven't yet found manufacturer. One thread says made in WI. B & S?

Dean

General bought Briggs or Briggs bought Generac. Depends on who you ask . Who introduced the first 45 degree over head valve small engine. Briggs, Homelight, Generac or Honda.

John Fulton · Mar 24, 2014

I installed that exact unit about 5 years ago. No problems at all. A great machine. My only complaint is that ever since installation, we have only lost power a few time, and then for just short periods! LOL!!
Generac manufactures their own engine, supposedly for endurance that may be necessary for running for long periods.
BTW, you will be surprised how quiet they are, I located mine about 50 ft. from the house because I thought it would be noisy, but not so! Also, with the automatic transfer switch, it kicks in just about 8 seconds from instance of power loss. It is a big cash outlay, but gives wife and myself a lot of peace of mind in our advanced age.

John Fulton · Mar 24, 2014

Nathon, Have you checked the fuse for the LCD?

John Fulton · Mar 24, 2014

I am reading the operator manual right now, and it states that Generac makes the engine.

Ray · Mar 24, 2014

I've got a kohler unit from lowes.I think it's a 18000 unit.My neighbor had a generac that lasted about 3 years when the windings in the generator went bad.They were made from aluminum.The kohler has steel windings I'm told.

Wile E · Mar 24, 2014

There is a guy on here named Billy Shafer I think that calls the Generacs, Genejunks. High amount of failures he says, Go with Kohler you will be happier.

alg · Mar 24, 2014

Check out G.E. I put in a 20kw. last year and they are cheaper than Kohler. And very easy to install.And a better warranty.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 24, 2014

My 6KW ---- cheep Chinese knockoff from pep boys
ran for 14 days with out a problem.

At sub $400 I'd say I got my money's worth

El Toro · Mar 24, 2014

I have a 14kw Kohler that was installed in 2012. It has 16 circuits and I don't have a well pump. In Oct 2012 when Sandy hit the east coast it ran 26 hours when the power was off. It's programmed to start once a week for 20 min. I changed the oil last August when the generator was one year old. I paid $3700.00 just for the generator. Hal

Billy Shafer · Mar 24, 2014

This is what you get with a Genajunk unit.
Poor if any service from the factory.
Hard to find anyone to work on it.
Need a bank loan to get parts.
Who makes the engine. Who knows. I have seen everything from Topaz,Chevy,Ford,Hino,Mitsubishi,Mazada.On the Topaz engine. We had to order the oil filter from India. Genajunk didn't have any in stock.On a Hino engine. They wanted 2800.00 for a starter.

There are two Guardian around my county. Or there was. One was scooped up by the owner and dumped into the trash ditch. After the fourth failure in three months. For the same problem. The other has been leaking oil since day one.

So if you are ok with facing all that. Buy a Genajunk unit. I have been dealing with them for over thirty years. I would buy a Kohler.

massey333 · Mar 24, 2014

First off Billy,I wouldn't buy anybodys air cooled gen set.Second Kohler-Onan and Etc.use the same engines as Generac on their bigger units.Would I buy a Generac unit??Proability no. As far as service,(home owner)in our area I would trust getting help now,Generac more then any other because of some good local dealers,the others are sold thru distributors open M-F 8-4.30 with no after hours help unless a MAJOR Commercial account.

jm. · Mar 24, 2014

Dean you can see all the bad answers below but I for one have exactly the unit you are looking at. Installed it when we built the house 4 years ago. It test itself ever Friday for 15 minutes. Have had several 3 to 6 hr outages and one that was over 3 days. Unit has over 200 hrs to date and no problems. Would not be without it. Was easy to install.

notjustair · Mar 24, 2014

I have a 19K whole farm generator. It is an Onan and the diesel engine is built by Onan. Certainly not the junk engine that was on my Generac.

jm. · Mar 24, 2014

Dean since I was dealing with a new house we split the electrical 400 amps into two 200 am boxes. Everything that is essential is in the box that the generator picks up so my load is never close to the rated output. Check the photos made before gas was hooked up.

Billy Shafer · Mar 25, 2014

I agree.Water cooled is the way to go.I can also agree dealers from Onan or just about gone.Cummins has dumped almost all of them to make their own shops the only source of repair. Don't know how Kohler dealerships are doing.

From my thirty years of dealing with Generac. I wouldn't have one.They will make anyone a dealer. So good some bad. Service depends on the one you get.

One short story about Generac service.
I was called to a nursing home in Glen Rose Texas. Generac man had just installed a remote alarm panel. Now the engine starts and stops for no reason.Called the dealer that did the work. He denied there was a problem. Called the factory to get some information.Told them what the problem was.Storms coming in,At a nursing home with critical machines in it need steady power.They told me to call the dealer that did the work and hung up the phone.

I ended up removing the remote panel. To get them through the storm.

Billy Shafer · Mar 25, 2014

Water cooled is the way to go. But most can't afford them.

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