Cummins RS25 Generator Review
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- čas přidán 15. 12. 2019
- I recently installed a Cummins RS25 25kW generator for our house and wanted to provide folks with some info.
For those that want a good deal on maintenance items for this thing - the genuine Onan part #'s for spark plugs are A044H806, and oil filters are A044D820. However, these are very expensive parts! I received some that I ordered today, and the spark plug is just an NGK BKR6E-11 plug, and the oil filter is a Fleet Guard LF3537. You can cross reference the oil filter online and find better deals than just buying Cummins parts that are re-branded. - Zábava
*Came packaged perfectly. This **Generater.Systems** is awesome! No problems starting on Propane. Three cranks and it lit up. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a bigger generator for a camper or to have during a power outage. Dual fuel source is the way to go!!!*
I don't believe so
We are in Texas and the Cummins RS36 whole house generator saved our lives, when the entire state power grid went down 2021 winter, it switched over automatically, ran quietly and we never went without electricity. Ours runs on natural gas and ran our 6,000 sq’ house, pool house and pool for 4 days straight. When we got our gas bill and it was under $200.00. This was the best money we ever spent-had it installed by AAGenPro fall 2020. Had to wait 3 months for installation because of manufacture back order on these systems. If you live in a hurricane zone-this is a must.
We were extremely fortunate that our home was on a hospital grid in Round Rock so our power never failed but it really did make me think hard about whole home generation. Since we’re moving soon I’ve been looking into these systems. I’m glad you were able to run with natural gas for that long. My main concern with the NG option is that in an extreme duration emergency that the gas pressure will get too low to run. This makes me want to consider a separate 500 gallon underground propane tank.
Can you please tell me what your RS36 cost insytalled/ We are looking at this one but not able to gauge against anything.
I live in Houston, the entire Texas grid did NOT go down. We never lost power at all just depends on where you lived during the instance.
entire state? wtf you talking about? it only went out in some places
@@DanielDaniel1 What did this cost you installed, total cost?
FYI, I was one of several early (2010 to 2011) designers on this project. My area responsibility was engine design (FWH and integration with all other areas. Unfortunately, I fell ill with leukemia before the project finished. Several dozens of people worked on this design and the various nodes and options over the years. I maintain relationships to this day with a few who still work at Cummins. Having survived to stumble upon to see this video, which helps give me solace in the work I had done for decades. Helping create products used all around the world. Great review. Please follow up with anything you learn over the years.
Absolutely amazing to hear! Thanks for sharing and glad to hear your doing better.
What did engine design encompass? From what I can tell these are mostly off-the-shelf Mitsubishi engines same as several other manufacturers use.
@@nspro931 Its little add for a company which main business is to design and manufacture all kinds of engines to use some other brand.
@@nspro931 My Cummins RS-25 uses a Mitsubushi 4G64 engine with some modifications by Cummins.
Thank the Lord you are still alive. You have a great attitude in spite of your health problems. I pray the Lord will heal you and make you completely well.
Thank you for this video! I live in the Mount Dora area, and it's nice to see a review from someone in our area. I probably will have questions for you. :)
Perfect video! I live in the same city and have the same split phase panel setup as you, so this video was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks!
Travis, this was the most comprehensive videos that I have ever seen. You obviously have worked with electricity before. This would not be for me. Love Cummins diesel trucks and they provide the same service with their generators. Very nicely done. Thank you!!!!!
Thanks dude, great job, wise choice and excellent no BS video. On my summer bucket list to get done.
nice review, Travis. Thank you for sharing. This is size I'm looking at and comparing. It was nice to see your photos and gain a better understanding of the product.
Excellent!! Report. Thank you. I'm looking. I totally agree with the length of run time. Hurricanes knock power out for months sometimes. Those 2 cylinder lawn engines won't cut it. Great video!!
Thanks for taking the time to show this vid. Had a Generac but was not impressed with it. The Cummins. Sounds like the thing to get. 73
Finally got mine installed, awoke this morning to find it pitch black out everywhere except for my house. I couldn't even hear it running, until I went outside to check. I wish I could post a picture to show the final install I'm quite happy with it.
How much was your unit and install?
@@XX-166 I did most of the work myself, I set the generator, ran the gas and wiring and transfer switch. Transfer switch was 744 dollars, Rs30 generator was 11,280 dollars, pouring footings and the pad for unit and wiring probably another 1500.00. Worth every penny.
I had a 30KW Cummins 1800 rpm installed. It is very quiet when running. I went over sized because the cost from 20kw to 30KW was so small, I could not justify not doing it. I had mine installed by a contractor and all told it was about $23K. I selected Cummins because With my job with the phone company I was a cable splicer and we used Cummins Gennys to run our power needs for working in manholes and they performed well. Our home is a bungalow with 4 BR and 2 bathrooms, about 2000 square feet. We have a detached garage with two fridges and full freezer. We have an 18,500 gallon pool. It’s very hot where I live in Texas and our power goes out more than I like. I’m glad I went with an oversized unit just in case. Better to have more than to be just on the line. When our power goes out I want my whole house running. Central AC, tv, washer and drier, garage, pool especially. Everything. I can stand right next to it when running and talk on my cell phone. Although it performs well I had bad luck in the beginning with two parts failures that were covered under warranty, but our contractor became very difficult to deal with and they are more than an hour drive away. We found someone much closer and they have been terrific so far.
Very cool! Glad to hear that you've had a good experience. My only negative experience I had was I had to have a tech come out and change the exerciser program because it was not set correctly from the factory and I could not change it. But they came out, adjusted it, and it's been working great since!
Hey Your generator is diesel. Diesels run at lower RPMs then Gas. This Cummins Onan is a nice unit. I’m only looking for something to run only essential systems.
@@josephpuchel6497 my unit is not diesel. Natural gas, liquid cooled. Very quiet.
I live in College station. Can you share where you live? Can you recommend a good Cummins dealer to go through?
@Travis: Great choice! Expensive, but of all in the KW range, you chose the absolute best.
Just waiting for this video to blow up and appear in everones recommendation just like it did mine
Lmao
Fantastic job. I wish I could have done it myself too and saved money. I went with the Kohler 30RCL. for my home in Florida. I have a Kohler 60 RCL natural gas at my store for backup. You can't beat an 1800 RPM generator. I agree with you 100% on going with the liquid cool 1800 RPM over the air cool 3600 RPM screamer generators. . Another good thing about having a backup generator in Florida is you can also run the AC in your home to keep the humidity down after a storm if the power is out.
Awesome! Liked the Kohler as well. That is a reputable brand!
Thanks so much for this informative video! We have started to search for a whole home generator. I will definitely have this at the top of my list. Thanks again!
I am very glad I saw this video. Now I have a better idea of what gen to get.
I'm in the process of installing the same RS25 liquid cooled unit . I have the concrete pad about 25' away from my house, I don't want to hear or see it.
I'm also doing all of the install, Really good video!
I was worried about the noise, but it's really not bad at all. Especially compared to my neighbors portable generator. I can hear that damn thing from inside the house!
I'm also planning on doing a video on maintenance supplies and the Power Command system in the near future. It took a lot of research to figure out what is needed (part numbers) for maintenance and I want to share my results with others, because it's not very well documented.
Great review just got the 20kW version just need to get it installed
Love this video. Probably never install one here in SoCA but still love this nonetheless. I geek out on this stuff. Great video!
Nice video, and the comments were as useful as the video itself. Given that I live at 7500' in a
Enjoyed your video. Outstanding install. Love your electrical setup
Great installation. I commission these and work for Cummins and don’t see professionals do it as neat as you did if you truly did it yourself. Those are great units. Never had anything serious to repair on them. Very quiet even with the doors open. FYI when you exercise it let it run for anything longer than 15 minutes. They need to get hot. Short runs doesn’t let the oil get up to temp and they wind up with condensation in the oil. If you can run it with load even better. They like to be loaded.
I'll increase my run time. Right now it's setup to exercise twice a month. I try and apply a load for 30 min over a month to ensure it's loaded and that the transfer switch is working. Thanks for the feedback!
I wish all my customers had the knowledge and enthusiasm that you do
I run mine for 15 min every week and once a month I run the whole house on it. RS25 installed in November.
Well done video and a good Public Service just wanted to say thank you
Thanks for the kind words!
Very Well Done... You have the one I am considering. Sold Me! I am a believer in doing thing right the first time.
Neighbor had 20kw Cummins installed....sold me on it as he explained his research info. Am single senior with health
Issues....need continuous temperatures year round ....SOLD!!
yes, measure twice, CUT ONCE.
Fantastic video review. In most (if not all) videos that review standby generators, the reviewer does not state how many A/C units, the size of the A/C units, or the wattage of their oven. All of those helped me make my decision to go with the Cummins RS25 over the other manufacturers and air cooled. Thank you!!!!
he said 2 ac units, one 3 ton and the other is 2 ton.
Excellent video. Everything you talked about towards the end of the video on the 1800rpm units is why I am looking at these. We don't need the power, but as you noted when you get to this class of generator (one that will last - not a screamer 3600rpm air cooled unit) the pickin's this small - even 25kw or so - are few and far between. They only get bigger. I'd be interested in what your costs were - generator itself vs materials for the install vs permitting. I am in a different state, but it would be an interesting base line. Thanks and 73
Edit: I went thru comments and, doing the math on how far back the post was, there is a reply around 5/2020 that lists more detail on the costs. So for the $15k all up and ~$12k in the unit that would put the materials, permits, etc around the $3k ballpark. Excellent info!
I purchase a Cummins 20KW for a 6 bed rm 4000 sqft home and it never missed a beat. I was told by a Generac dealer that I would need a larger unit. The Cummins dealer put this in and said the 25KW was over kill because no one ever has everything on at once in a home. I must say that it has came on a minimum of 6 times this year, with the AC, clothe washer and dryer on it ran perfectly. My family doesn't change anything when it comes on. We do have a gas a stove so I do not use electric for that. I love my unit. Also it was 9,000$ for my unit and installation which was also cheaper than the Generac quote by 2K. Located in Augusta Georgia area.
Did you say it was $9000 for the generator AND installation included?
@@chalemi Yes, but that was for the 20KW not the 25kw that is shown on the video. The 20KW works great for my large home 4000SQFT . Even thought all the other companies said I needed a larger unit.
Just got a Cummins 20KW installed for $9k as well.
Travis that was a very good video, you are a hella man to do that work yourself. Maybe do another one now that you have had the unit for awhile and maybe one when the lights go out from a storm.
Good video. Good information. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Helpful video! Loving Florida allowing you to connect. Thanks!
Hey Travis,
We just went through Hurricane IDA in SE Louisiana. The Cummins RS25 on propane ran for 114 hours nonstop. Max load was measured at 12,000 watts and it
worked perfectly the whole time. My 500 gallon propane tank went from 80% to 50% in the 114 hours of running. I am very pleased with the Cummins. Now it's time
to change the oil and filter and get ready for the next one. This generator was new as of Oct 2020.
Pat Darby
Covington, LA
Wow that's great news! Congrats, I bet your neighbors were jealous
@@bruehlt My nearest neighbor is about 200 feet away and he couldn't hear my Cummins, but I did hear his 3600 rpm Generac which is on the opposite side
of his house. In all honesty, though, the Generac also ran throughout the blackout, but I could hear it when I stood outside even with my Cummins running. The Generac was hooked up to natural gas. I don't know if the neighbor changed the oil and filter in the 5 days of running.
I’m not scheduled to get power back until Sept 29th. That will be 1 full month without electricity from Hurricane Ida. Running on a portable. I will buy the RS25 now after watching this video. Thanks for the info!
@@nogeek43 that's not good. That engine will burn itself out of he's running it that long without changing the oil.... Yikes!
@@chesterguidry sorry to hear that. That's quite a long time without power!
Thank you sir that was very informative you could do this for a living thank you for all the information
Great setup sounds much quieter than most generators that I have heard. Here in Massachusetts the Cape Wind windmill project promises to quadruple our electric bills. It might be more cost effective for me to run my home off of a generator like this and use the grid as backup.
This is a standby generator, its not meant to run all the time. For that, you'll need a diesel type of generator.
@@christschool Incorrect... These liquid cooled units are perfectly fine for primary power
@@jimsbagels1991 liquid cooled?
@@basajacosaja2735 Yes, these Cummins generators are liquid cooled.
Enjoyed this. Well done!
I like the build quality of Cummins a lot more than my Generac 48KW. If I have to change mine I'll be looking hard at Cummins.
Great job Travis. I work on these units for Cummins and you cover all the important things. One of the things I have seen customers do is unplug the coolant heater because it does not get that cold here. I have to explain to them that the coolant heater is not for cold weather, it is to keep the engine warm so that if it has to start up and assume a load it does not have to do that cold. Sometimes when an engine starts cold it will not take a load, it will surge up and down in RPM until it warms up. Anyway, I thought I would throw that in. Great video.
Great feedback! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I've got to find a whole house generator for my friend's house. I have real 5.9 Cummins engines diesels the best in the business when it comes to diesels. Are these Cummins Onan generators made coming strong? I'm thinking not when someone said it's a Mitsubishi engine. Or maybe I should say is the Cummins stronger than the generac, Kohler and Briggs & Stratton? Who's the best in the business with the least problems? The person will be running natural gas and in a pretty cold climate.
@@manofmanyhats142 Based on my research for natural gas the two best brands are Cummins or Kohler
@@manofmanyhats142 They are all good in their own way. Some price wise, some quality wise, and some warranty wise, and some support wise. Quality wise, Generac is at the bottom. Kohler is good but not the quality of the Cummins. Cummins is at the top but does have issues with some models. I don’t know about the others but Cummins support is great. As a Cummins techs, we call 1-800-cummins to get help on some problems because they are at a company that has internet connection and access to the latest information. In short, Cummins has great tech support. I can’t speak for the others. Hope this helps you.
@@HHIMgary Great info. What models should I stay away from and what are the issues you are seeing? Tx. The RS25 is the model I am currently looking at. Tx in advance!
Beautiful install awesome choice going with 1800 RPM 4 pole machine
You made good selection of engine Cummins by far, for where I work Kohler is not my choice for there oil filter. With Cummins you can go to any parts store for oil filter, trust me you can and same with air filter. Wix has cross over section or you can measure and see what they offer. If the outfit or Cummins says you have to specifically use theirs for it will void warranty, not so. I would suggest run it for break-in then switch over to synthetic oil, it will well be worth it. Also you can get spark plugs from parts store as well, Cummins is proud of their pricing.
Yes - absolutely! I actually have another video where I cover the spark plugs and oil filters (eg - don't buy OEM).
Thank you for the information!! Looking to purchase a backup for the house and had someone tell me go Cummins not Generac or Kohler. 1500 to 3k hour lifetime on those units
BESTUS is for you ...
Very useful info. I am looking at installing one vs portable unit I now use.
Iam looking at the 25 for my house and have 38 panels on roof they are shutting down two coal fired power plants and Iam sure we are going to have plenty more power problems so that’s why Iam getting ahead of the ball not wait till they start, I don’t want to be that guy. I want to just smile and sit back and enjoy my house fully powered and sleeping with the ac on or the heat and a freezer full of beef not to spoil !
Great looking unit and seems well designed especially for doing maintenance. It's a little strange seeing the Cummins name on something not diesel powered but the Cummins name usually means it's a good product.
Getting mine installed today.
I'm in Louisiana and just went through Ida. I have 2 small generators that I swap out. Been looking at the Generac quite source liquid cooled. But after watching this I'm going with the Cummins. Been out of power for 15 days now. And people with the smaller home units are having all kinds of problems.
In louisiana to and everyone's generacs been crapping out they not made to run long term
Hey, I hear ya on the Hurricane IDA power outage….just got power last week myself. Where do you plan on getting your Cummins? I was looking at Generac myself but ran across this video and your comment so I may be changing my plan.
In Louisiana too I have a 20kw Generac like all the rest mine ran without issue I wasn't there but the neighbors said it never stopped but others had issues Generac and Kohlers. Too bad my house didn't fair as well.
I was convinced that I wanted a generac 22kw system. But what I really want is bullet proof reliability, especially if the power is out for a week straight.. Seems like Cummins has that.
I've been recently quoted 19k OTD for a generac 24kw, transfer switch, whole house surge protector, 60 ft run of gas. Seems high to me. What does the rest of the internet think? Price was from a franchise, mister sparky
@@blueboat9581 That price seems about right, but it depends on where you live and the amount or work to hook up the unit. The Cummins RS25 was around $10,000 just for the generator and transfer switch in 2020.
Mann I hope Cummings paid you for this incredible review haha. Awesome video..I'm sold! Could you run propane to this if needed, with your current setup?
Wow what a system.
excellent video. Currently looking at getting a whole home generator vs using my bobcat welder/generator and transfer switch I can plug in. Its freezing down in Houston. Luckily we didnt lose power and definitely dont want to. Will have to get a propane tank as we live out in the country and there is no NG. crazy that install could have cost you the price of the gen unit.
@Vilfredo Pareto Miller welding machine. I'm a welder by trade. Better resell but loud. You can weld with it and puts out 11kw.
Betcha the oil filter is a GM style 1060.. Wix 51060.. our ten year old unit has an ol GM iron horse four banger. They may have changed it by now YMMV.. Been solid with over 700 hours of use since installed. That airfilter is the same as our unit from the looks of it.. I do have a Wix number for it somewhere but rarely need to change it.. Probably written inside the case as I usually do.. But it is 30 miles away for me to go look.
Travis, this is a well done video. Hope this unit is still doing well for your place. I, too, am looking at 1800RPM for a whole house (where we run two separate businesses from) backup in Wisconsin. I agree with your comments on: 1) using 1800RPM and 2) brand reliability. I'm unsure if I'm going to rely on the Nat. Gas or go to a small Diesel with self-contained tank. I'm getting paranoid with the news reports on malicious vandalism and the whole idea of natural gas reliability. Thanks for your efforts on the vid.
Still working strong with no issues! Sorry to hear about the vandalism issues!
Great video!
Not for nothing but I really appreciated this video thank you
Great review thanks
And yes you are 💯 correct, 1800 rpm liquid cooled is the only way to go!
Awesome video by any chance do have a video on what the cummins power command app will do and looks like ?
Thanks Chris
I have the app on my phone and tablet it has a built-in demo mode it's called CUMMINS CONNECTED CLOUD. THE APPLICATION IS VERY SIMPLE TO USE .
What AWG size for the wire from the gen to the transfer switch did you use? What is the on-gen circuit breaker AMP rating? Nice video!
Thanks - the wire size is based on the ampacity, plus any required oversizing per NEC code. For my case I believe that it is 1/0, which is rated to 150A. The breaker in the generator is 125A I believe.
Nice video and congrats on the install. I had the RS50 installed at my place and you are right the cost is almost twice the cost of the generator. I am still learning how it all works but for the most part, it is set and forget. The only issues I have had so far are settings for the weekly exercise duration and a warning light when the temp gets too low, even though it comes with a block and oil heater. Both were firmware settings that the tech sorted out. We have had power outages last 12+ hours and we just go about our business as the generator takes care of the rest. Do you have any more info on the Cummins app and module required?
Will make a video of that soon!
@@bruehlt Awesome, I am looking forward to it.
How does it connect to the internet? Kohler has an option to run at Cat6 cable in the low-voltage conduit with the signal cable...is this similar? Are there any yearly costs?
Hi - Their generators don't come with the gateway device as is. You need to purchase it. It's called Powercommand Cloud. The gateway device (Cummins PC550) connects via ethernet cable to your network. The device connects to the generator contorl board via RS-485. It doesn't cost anything to access the device, just the initial upfront cost. Unfortuantely you also need to purchase this from a dealer that can establish an account with Cummins. I purchased everything (generator and PC550 from Buckeye Power Systems. They handled setting everythig up, and testing the generator and gateway device before they shipped it. You can test their system as a demo from this web site: portal.powercommandcloud.com/
Great video - question: any issues with slip rings since its been a year? We own an RS12000 and have issues every year with slip rings
No issues that I am aware of
You should do the nightly news!
great job sir thk u
Travis, when your RS25 was delivered, how did you move it from the street (curbside), lift it, and set it in its permanent location? I am a DIY guy and trying to save the $6K I was quoted (move, set, and install) without injuring myself or dismantling part of my fence. Thanks.
I was honestly surprised that the truck company took it off the truck and set it on my driveway. From there I had a friend who had a tractor with forks. We used lifting straps and set it into place.
Travis, I am seriously considering the RS25 for my house. Your video is very helpful. Do you still feel as positive about the unit 20 months later?
Yes absolutely this thing has been rock solid!
Those are some of the best transfer switch box layouts. Artist - wire routing is awesome. Are the wire mounts UL rated for fire? (LOL).... great job.
Good video. I install and service Kohler and Cummins, most all are 14 & 20 kw 3600 RPM. I have yet to have an air cooled stop working. Annual service (oil, filter, plugs) and an occasional valve check adjustment. Any job bigger than a 20 gets a 1800 24kw Kohler or a 25 Cummins. Genercrap makes up to a 24 3600 RPM which I would never recommend. Genercrap spends an enormous amount on 24/7/365 advertising which is why there are so many out there and also brand them as Honeywell. You basically never here Kohler or Cummins advertised and you don't really need to. Those wanting the best like yourself will to the homework and make the smart choice and spend the minimal extra for quality.
I’ve been wondering about Generac. Always hearing of them. So which is better. Kohler 20,000 LP watt or Cummins? Any advantages or one easier than another to service?
@@edwardluth7740, Cummins builds the best, then Kohler and Generac at the bottom. Honeywell uses the Generac generator but uses Honeywell controls.
@@brucejones2354 I’ve heard that but no installers in my area. So I wish my Retired Electrician was still working. He was the best along before him was his Dad.
Would you have any pics of the stub ups/outs for the electrical lines going through the slab? If not, what side of the generator did you place these and what size conduit did you use? Thank you.
They are behind the panels on each side of the generator. The installation drawings show where they need to be placed on the pad. I used 1/2" PVC for mine - it depends on how long of a run you are planning, the wire size, and percentage of fill.
@@bruehlt thanks Travis. I think I’ll just use 2 inch schedule 80 conduit for the stub outs. My generator will be about 60 feet from the electrical meter and about 40 feet from the gas meter.
@@ktate2002 sorry....I forgot that I used larger conduit for the power lines and the smaller conduit for the control wiring. You definitely don't want to go small on the power wiring since you'll need larger cables for that and you'll probably need to rent a cable puller. I tried pulling without one and it was a fruitless endeavor. I rented one and got the job done in about 30 min! Well worth it!
Which one puts out the cleanest voltage sine wave? Cummins, Generac, Or Kohler? I always heard that they can damage a computer, and sensitive electronics with bad sine wave voltage.
I believe all of these whole house generators use pure sine wave generators. They aren't like the cheap portible generators. Those usually output a modified sine wave output, because they're cheap.
Output from a generator like this is a true sine wave (not a modified sine wave), because the waveform is created by geometry. However, the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) is sometimes a problem for electronics.
See several links here:
duckduckgo.com/?q=generator+total+harmonic+distortion
Also: Comparison of THD of mains (utility) power and two types of generators:
czcams.com/video/9zfKbiHl__g/video.html
@@bruehlt YES. i have a Coleman Powermate 3750, on two large wheels. running voltage, no load, is 127.5 or so. with my big box battery charger/boost option, 200 amp TURNED ON, AND CHARGING A 12 CAR BATTERY, the load voltage is now 117.5....probably a modified square wave, as i have no oscilloscope.....BUT, when i plug my quarter horse air compressor in, it doesn't ever start it, have to give the belt a tug, and only spins for about 5 seconds, hums...so .....that is that..
Is there a dual fuel option to also run it off gasoline if gas service is shut off?
No it will either run on propane or natural gas
Super impressed. All my company trucks are Cummings. I will plan on this setup. What is teh fuel consumption per hour?
According to the spec sheets - full load on NG is about 310 cubic feet per hour. 1/4 load is 123, and half load is 185.
I am planning a future purchase for a home standby gen and the RS25 / 25KW is the best in class. Full 25KW output on NG and no reduced output like the lower cost air cooled high RPM gens.
What gauge wire did you use for the gen output to your transfer switch ? What model Cummins transfer switch did you use ?? VERY clean install if you DIY.
Did you use one of the preformed base pads or pour one onsite ?
The gauge depends on the run length and ampacity required. For this install I believe I used 10 gauge and 1/0. The transfer switches were model A064G376.
Those service disconnect automatic transfer switches are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
I like it that every RS25 sold online is within about $10 of each other.
Its the generator I will be buying , just planning it out now and options.
Considering your access to Natural Gas, seems you’d be better off running NG Appliances to take full benefit of the NG access.
Also, was there any consideration in regards to how close you installed the generator? Here in Louisiana, especially recently, there’s been a big problem with CO emissions so most people install theres 50’ away. Any comment on that?
Yes we do have NG appliances in our house and it's definitely a cost savings on our monthly bills!
I followed local code requirements for setback requirements from the sides of the house as well as the shrubs. Some manufacturers have more relaxed setback requirements I believe.
Travis Bruehl well I’d just be sure that you have good and new CO sensors. Many families down here have got CO exposure even staging their generators away from the house. Of course this is considering these generators have been running for 14+ days. Even with breaks, for maintenance, my neighbors CO sensor went off the other day. Heavy Fog, zero wind, can be a recipe for disaster. Just a heads up.
I’m considering the RS25 Cummins for this new house I built.
Is their a link to the generator via WiFi/Cellphone? Would be nice to have a connection to the generators system.
Thanks
BTW / Great job on the install. Looks like you took your time and did it right.
@@vSwampFox Thanks for the feedback - I'll look into adding the CO detectors! To connect it to a network you will need to get a PC550 module. You'll need to buy it from whichever dealer you buy the generator from because they need to configure it on their end before it ships. The device wires up to the circuit board using RS485 cable or you can also use cat5e if it's a short run. You can use cellular backup if you want as well - but I just have mine connected to my network. It works using their cloud based service (which is zero charge). You can see their demo here: portal.powercommandcloud.com/ It works great for me - I get email and text notifications if there are issues, if it starts, if it loses comminication, etc. Very nice system!
Just got my 40kw Cummins generator setup here in Texas along the coast, didn’t know you could control unit with an app on phone. I’ve got mine in an 15x15 vented enclosure with well and pool equipment, humidity here will ruin everything if left out in the elements, plus my wife doesn’t want it to be seen.
Would you mind telling us how much was the grand total for the genset, permits, installation, transfer switches, etc.? Thanks.
Sort comments by newest - I just replied to another person asking the same thing.
I was going to complain about how often you have the change the oil until I did a calculation. If you drive your car for 200 hours at 60 mph, that's 12,000 miles. So, a requirement to change the oil every 200 hours is really good. So then I wonder about using synthetic oil to extend the oil service life. Any thoughts? Thanks.
I always use synthetic oil in every engine I have. Right now my favorite is Pennzoil platinum or ultra platinum as the base stock is actually made from natural gas, not actual oil, meaning technically should be cleaner for the engine. Based on the fact that this is for emergency back up I'm not sure I'd push the oil change intervals though.
Thanks for the review. I'm a amateur radio operator in Texas and just experienced a power outage, 3 days and it was cold so, I am looking for a home standby generator. 73 KI5KGT
If you only need a smaller portable unit, the Westinghouse is the best I've seen for the money. Duel fuel cost more but you can use propane & gas on them.
@@JackAgainski ....do you know what model by chance?
@@alcopower5710 The WGen9500 is $950 at Home Depot. The 7500 in DF is the same price.
@@JackAgainski .....thanks for the quick response 👍
I'm also an amateur radio operator looking for a home standby generator. 73 KG5TVP
Good vid. One question ... I am near the beach ,,,what kind of material is the housing made of ?
It's made out of aluminum to ensure it doesn't rust
is that a Yamaha engine similar to Generac QuietSource?
Cummins is the best ever gen. thanks for this vedoe
i disagree
@gippygipmg kholer generators, very solid equipment.
Great Video Travis, Is the housing design sufficient to act as a Faraday Cage to protect the unit from interference?
My guess would be no - it's aluminum which technically should block / shield some noise, but there are enough holes in it for cooling and exhaust that it probably wouldn't block much.
I’m interested in getting one . Getting 2 quotes this weekend. What’s the cost so I can compare pricing.?
Thanks for the video. I am seeing references to "Sound Level" on Cummins' site. Do you know about that? Which one did you get? As much as I would enjoy automatic operation, I'm having a little trouble migrating from my relatively quiet Honda EU7000iS (which I converted for tri-fuel operation).
@@MstrMark it's about as loud as an air conditioning unit outside of my house very quiet really
@@bruehlt I'm certainly no expert, but it looks like "Level I". If nothing else, I like the aesthetics of the design better than Generac, and 1800 RPM just has to be less nerve-wracking than 3600 RPM. I only wish that my gas meter wasn't 130 feet from my eclectically panel. And the powers that be seem intent on preventing DIY underground gas line installations, which means that I would have to pay plumber's wages for trench digging, even if I wanted to do rest of the work myself. As you pointed out, installation cost can exceed the cost of the generator itself. And every installer seems to prefer Generac, so they charge more to install all other brands.
Nice video, im in florida too, how much did you spend on permits and inspections?
Permits and inspections will vary based upon where you are. Best way to get an accurate estimate is to contact your local permitting office.
I am thinking about installing this. Did you pour the slab yourself? What size and depth? Thanks.
I did but I can't recall the size off of the top of my head. It is about 6-8 inches in depth I believe. I used rebar in it as well. I think it was about a half cubic yard.
Very nice. Do you have enough water column for your generator at full load? I have a Generac 25KW 1800rpm Industrial generator with the Ford 2.5L engine and I had to have the gas company upgrade my regulator to a 2 pound at the meter and then I tapped off of that and put a 4 oz regulator to feed my home appliances and then I tapped off the 2 pound regulator again and ran 1 inch pipe to my generator (about 40 feet) and there I put another 4 oz regulator and then finally went about 24 inches into the generator. Did most of the work myself. Just had an electrician hook up the transfer switch. It's so nice to have as you are finding out now.
Yes sir - they upgraded me to a large meter. Surprisingly, they stated it would cost more on my bill. I must have lucked out because so far I haven't seen any increases!
@@bruehlt cool. I recently upgraded from a 15kw industrial unit. And this 25kw hasn't seen any action yet. So patiently waiting for a tropical storm or weak hurricane. Lol
I just seen your video very nice that you took out the time to put the video together it's over 2 years now do you have any complaints with the motor or the alternator or Electronics of this unit ? thank you so much for the video
Nope no complaints or issues. It works great!
Thank you very much
Great review, thanks. Just bought a rs25a yesterday, can't wait to fire up my Acom 2000a on genset! Mine is a RS25A and I'm hoping the A stands for Automatic and not Air? de NV2A
I think you're good to go. They don't make air cooled above 18 or 20k I believe. I noticed to appreciable noise on my radios when it was running!
The a stands for extreme temp package I believe. Oil filter, alternator, battery, battery charger, coolant, will all have heating units on them! You will need to run a. 20 amp dedicated gfci circuit from utility to the generator to run these.
I want to see that gas meter gauges spinning. Lol 😂
No matter. Still cheaper than propane and the satisfaction of not living in the dark.
@@vSwampFox It sure beats having to go to motel at $ 400 per night for 2 weeks. While you are away thieves are cleaning out everything in your house that's not nailed down.
OR in freezing weather all the pipes froze and burst and your ceiling is not on your floor.
This happened in much of Texas in February 2021.
@@dhansel4835 damn right. Hurricane Laura put us out of power for 16 days. Delta, 7 days. We've been through enough of these to know. You want to be home, not 500 miles away.
We have the Cummins RS36 which is larger than this one. Ours ran for 4 days straight when the Texas power grid went down Feb. 2021. The gas bill was under $200.00 for a 6,000 sq’ house and pool.
@@sonosource4811 It sure beats trying to find a motel at $350.00 a night and hope they have electricity and water.
Hey Travis. It's 2022 now and I thought I would ask you how your generator is doing. I am in the market for one and although this is a bit of overkill for me, I would rather buy something a bit too big than too small. I'm curious how reliable it has been so far and if there has been any warranty work or issues come up along the way. Thank you!
It's still working as strong as day one, no issues at all. Changed the oil last December and topped off the antifreeze overflow bottle. No issues at all! Still love it
@@bruehlt man this is great news. Bad news for my bank account however! Lol. Tx again!! May I suggest an update video? You certainly got alot of interest on your other generator ones and you are very thorough. You should be sponsored by Cummins!!
I’m in El Paso and we occasionally get power outages too. Damn hot this week. I notice Cummins calls this a quiet connect, but on the video sounded kind of loud. Is there further sound dampening you could add and if you have neighbors do they complain when it’s running? Thanks.
Hi Travis you said you had the cloud i do as well but having a issue with the last software update it will not start on the 1 of the month like it supposed to are you having any problems please respond thanks Chris
Hi Chris, I did have the cloud connect but lightning took it out and I have been unable to get Cummins to fix it. Sadly I think they've given up. I would really like to have it as it's a useful feature but it's not required for the generator to work.
Nice work. I have one to install with two transfer switches soon. Do you mind telling me how many control wires are needed and the name or type of relay needed to control the second transfer switch?
Hi the installation documentation shows relay ONAN 307-2817-01. There are 4 control wires.
@@bruehlt Thanks. Trying to plan ahead.
Great video, I live nearby in Tangerine/Mount Dora. I was comparing the liquid vs Air cooled. I was wonder what made your mind up to go air cooled? Also what was the total cost installed for you to do yourself if you don't mind sharing? you have two transfer switches which I guess add another 1,000 Seems like a 22KW air rouglhy 4-5K and the liquid cooled model start around 10-11K.
Researching the difference, all liquid cooled models run at 1800 RPM and all air cooled models run at 3600 RPM. Almost all air cooled models use lawn mower engines in them (1 or 2 cylinders). All of the liquid cooled models use true car size engines in them - at least 4 cylinders. The liquid cooled engines will last much, much, much longer than the lawn mower engines, due to the liquid cooling, as well as the fact that they are running at 1800 RPM vs 3600 RPM. Also - the alternators (the parts that generate the electricity) in the liquid cooled models are designed for 100,000's of hours.
Basically, they are worth the cost to buy if you are serious about a whole home unit. The cost difference is greater, but you are paying for longevity. When I was researching the air cooled models, none of them said that they could run a week straight. You need to basically stop them once every day or two and change their oil, if you were running them constantly. The liquid cooled models can run far longer between maintenance - which is a huge deal for us because as us Floridians know, hurricane related power outages can last up to 2 weeks sometimes depending on the area.
Ultimately it also depends on your needs. You can't get a small liquid cooled unit - they start around 20kw I believe. So if you are looking just to run a few circuits when power goes out it doesn't make sense to get a large liquid cooled unit. I wanted something that I could run my entire house (including AC units, pool pump, oven, etc) if the power went out. No AC in FL sucks in the dead heat of July!
As for installation - costs ranged from $6,000 - $10,000. Most companies I received quotes for did not include installation of the gas line, which plumbers wanted another $1,000 minimum to do. The installation costs were exceedingly high in my opinion, for the amount of work required - which is why I decided to do it myself. The hardest part, at least for me, was digging the line for the gas and electrical, because you need to be at a minimum required depth and digging in wet sand sucks.
Is this the same Chinese made engine they put in their smaller gen. sets?
What size gas pipe did you run and how long is the run from meter to generator?
Hi honestly I can't recall. I had purchased everything a few years ago now. I believe that the pipe that goes from the meter to the stub up under the ground is 2-3". Once it leaves the ground it appears to be about 1.5" I think? The installation manual has all of the correct pipe sizing to ensure the correct volume of gas that you need. I suggest you take a look at that as every case is going to be different.
Very informative and well done video. Question: How long can the generator run before a mandatory oil change is required. Some brands say 35 to 50 hours, others say 100 hours and some dealers have told me a Cummins can go 200 hours. I like the Cummins. My research indicated that Cummins is a favorite of contractors. Kohler seems to be a close second and many like the Briggs and Stratton. The most divisive brand seems to be Generac
The maintenance log states to change the engine oil after the first 50 hours of operation, then 200 hours thereafter. That'd be like running 8 days straight before changing the oil. From what I recall, you are supposed to change the oil in the little 3600 RPM units much, much sooner than that. Spark plugs it says to check and replace if needed, every 200 hours.
@@bruehlt Thanks for the information !!1
Since your post 2 years ago Generac customer service and quality are worse! Was leaning toward Champion but past 2 months of research Cummins looks like the choice.
@@anthonythomas6977 i have learned the Briggs & Stratton Generators are also good. Several people I know of have purchased Briggs and are well satisfied. The warranty on some of their models also includes labor
@@albertlevet119 Here is a reality check Cummins whole house? 61 WEEK backlog, yes 61 weeks. due to the chip shortage BS. Well so much for Cummins unless I find a low hours used. WOW
1800 RPM. THAT'S HALF OF WHAT TYPICAL SCREAMING 3600 RPM MODELS RUN AT. THAT IS HALF THE NOISE AND COMPONENT WEAR. FUEL CONSUMPTION SHOULD ALSO BE LESS. VERY NICE GEN-SET AND INSTALL.
There are a lot of generators to pick from, do you recommend a cummins generator over a generac or kohler generator
I recommend a cummins or a kohler over anything else due to reliability and quality.
I have a 20kw Generac Protector diesel unit, which is a liquid cooled, 1,800 rpm unit. The Generac has the same easy maintenance features as this Cummins, minus spark plugs which a diesel does not have. I think any of the 1,800 rpm units from Cummins, Generac, or Kohler will serve you well.
How has the generator been holding up? Any major issues since this video? I'm dealing with hurricane Ian right now in Florida and I don't even want to use my 8kw generator because it can't cool the house and it eats way too much fuel for what it is doing. I should have bought a smaller generator to run the fridge or gone all out and got a whole home generator.
Its served us well. Have changed the oil once, and topped off the coolant, it's worked well. Our power hasn't been the best this year and I think we've used it 3 or 4 times already. I installed hard start capacitors on my AC units and it starts and runs both (2.5 ton and 3 ton) while allowing us to use other items in the house as well. Well worth it, still going strong with no issues!
@@bruehlt Thanks for the feedback.
She’s purring!!!!
One question: If your city has “roll outs/ self black out”. Does the city turn off the gas supply?
Great share!!
Larry
Honestly I hope not. I wouldn't think that if they ever had rolling backouts that they would shut off the gas....but who knows
Self contained propane tank would solve that
Wow. I like this set-up, and I bet I could run everything in my house on this, but it sure looks very expensive. I'm guessing at least $20K for this?
Slightly less than $15k since I did it myself.
@@bruehlt Well done, sir.