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Keep in mind you will probably need service and/or parts one day. If you buy a common brand like Generac, you will always have parts and service available. Get something like Volvo or Kohler, and it may be a better generator, but where are you going to get parts in ten years? Catepillar is a pretty safe bet. they are a huge player in commercial generators so they will be around the generator world for a while.
Yes, Generac has the bulk of the 8+ kW residential standby market in the US
Kohler all but invented the modern home/farm generator market a hundred years ago, 40 years before Generac even existed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coldjensens
If you buy a common brand like Generac, you will always have parts and service available. Get something like Volvo or Kohler, and it may be a better generator, but where are you going to get parts in ten years?
Well, if it's a e Generac OHV, you'll get the parts from China, just like everybody else.
He was saying "buy a common brand like Generac" which implies that Kohler is uncommon or new to the market.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtab4994
I talked to a counter man at an electrical supply company, and he recommended Kohler over Generac so we're going with Kohler for the replacement. I'm sure everyone has their prejudices but his explanation sounded reasonable, and they don't sell generators there so he had nothing to gain personally by steering me to Kohler.
Around here I see about equal distribution of the two brands in residential installs, but hear a lot more gripes about silly failures with Generac.
For example, home standby Generac models installed in the mid 2000s include an el-cheapo chinesium battery tender inside the chassis, these are a common cause of failures. If you're lucky it just stops charging instead of cooking the battery until it boils over. I've seen both happen to Generacs.
He was saying "buy a common brand like Generac" which implies that Kohler is uncommon or new to the market.
just because it has been around a long time doesnt make it common. i dont know what % of the residential standby market kohler has but it appears to be very small.
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Yes, Generac has the bulk of the 8+ kW residential standby market in the US
