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Dickinson, ND | I'm interested in a whole house generator. We have natural gas so I'd run it off that. I want to buy it locally so I can get service and we have a Generac and a Cummins Onan dealer here.
I understand that the Generac is the lower cost per KW of the two.
Which would you buy for dependability?
Does anyone know who makes the engines for Generac?
Thanks.. |
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Caraway, AR | I don't know how big your wanting, but the 20K onan is a 4 pole generator (1800 rpm) . The 20K Generac is a 2 pole (3600rpm).....but I expect you'll pay a bit extra for the onan. Briggs/straton bought generac a while ago......so I would assume the build their own engine. Google both onan and generac.......their specs are there. Have a good night, John |
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Chebanse, IL..... | John I'm already familiar w/the 20Kw Generac, so I Googled Onan. Unless I don't understand what I read, it looks like the Onan is completely different than you assume? Am I reading the right specs? http://www.cumminsonan.com/residential/products/homestandby/compare?gensetId=110&detail=true First of all, it's a water-cooled 20kw. Then it also says it spins @ 3600 rpm because of a 2-pole armature. I think their RV models are 4 pole for noise reasons, but maybe they don't go up to 20Kw? I'm guessing if I had a choice on standby generators, I'd choose air cooled over water cooled. I think the overall maintenance would be less on the air-cooled. Now, if one is expecting thousands of hours of operation from it, then the water cooled would have longer life, I'd assume.
Edited by Ron..NE ILL..10/48 1/29/2010 06:23
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Caraway, AR | I don't know.....here is the link I referenced to http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/html/Common/pdf/specsheets/a-1492.pdf This shows ....yes liquid cooled .....GM engine w/ operating speed of 1800rpm. Could the 2 pole your refering to (in your link) be the circuit breaker, indicating a 1 phase 240v system?? Or onan has their spec sheets mixed up..............or I'm mixed up.........could be either Freezing Rain here, I might get to try out my ebay special, Have a good day, John |
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NW ILLINOIS | We sell B&S portable / standby / power now generators and switch gear.
They have a great reputation and world wide support.
Lots of sizes to choose from. Most people purchase a generator larger than
they actually need.
olf20 / Bob |
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Berks County Pa. | Check parts prices. My very limited experience with small generators, Onan wanted outrageous prices for parts. |
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SC North Dakota | I have a Onan powered by Briggs. Thrity years old and has not missed a beat. Lots of use. Been used for five days straight. Neighbor brought it back last nite and this morning it started right up. 10 below and it cranked with no problem. Its been good for me, hopefully it keeps doing it duty. |
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Dickinson, ND | Thanks to all for the good advice. I think for what we need we'd go with an air-cooled model, probably Generac just for the cost. Of course, we might get what we pay for but Generacs seem to be OK.
Thanks again. |
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Cummins Onan or Generac?
