An independent report by SGS US Testing Company compares residential generators rated at or near 20 kW made by the top four U.S. manufacturers: Briggs & Stratton 20 kW (GE) 04035, Cummins Onan RS20A, Generac 20 kW (Guardian) 55060, and Kohler 17 kW 17RESL.
The tests, which measured voltage and frequency performance using an industry-standard test procedure, showed that the RS20A generator from Cummins Onan was clearly superior. In fact, it was the only unit to be rated as G2 (Residential Grade).
Detail on the tests
The generators were evaluated using the industry-standard ISO8528-5 voltage and frequency test procedure. This test procedure evaluates a generator’s voltage and frequency performance and rates it as G1 (Marginal) or G2 (Residential Grade). This rating takes into account the stability and response time of the electricity delivered from the generator. Unstable or erratic frequency will result in irritating noise coming from the generator, and can cause connected devices to operate poorly and inefficiently. Erratic voltage will also cause lights to flicker.
As the sample figures below indicate, the products with lower performance ratings have more erratic and larger spikes and valleys than the products with ISO G2 and G1 ratings. It is also easy to see the drastic performance difference between G1 and G2 results.
How a generator responds to load changes in the home is critical. If it takes too long for the voltage or frequency to respond, devices like air conditioners, washing machines and dimmer switches will stop operating. If the voltage or frequency rises too much or too fast as loads are turned off, expensive electronics or appliances may be damaged. To ensure proper operation of devices in a home, a G1-rated generator is a bare minimum, and a G2-rated generator is highly recommended. This is to ensure the devices in the home operate properly, efficiently and safely while the generator is providing power.
John Klesk, product manager team leader for Cummins Onan, noted, ”Electricity is the lifeblood for our home appliances and indeed our standard of living. The quality of that electricity can have a real impact on how well appliances function when the generator is providing power. We are proud that the RS20A measured up in this independent test.”
Cummins Mid-South recently assisted the oil cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico. The Piranha Environmental expressed their intent to build fourteen skimmer boats to Louie Zinc, territory salesman for the Mid-south region and Cummins readily agreed to help. The boats are to be used to clean the water for the state of Mississippi. The boats had to be able to operate 24 hrs per day if needed and were equipped with 120V AC lighting and winches.
Due to the high power demands for lighting (water at night absorbs a lot of light) and cleaning, there was a need for generator output that far exceeded the capacity of marine MKY genset.
The electrical demands on the boat indicated that two Cummins Onan Commercial Mobile 5.5 HGJAE sets would be needed. Cummins Onan Commercial Mobile application engineer Eric Bollensen stated “this was a unique application. Normally we wouldn’t want customers using a non-marine gasoline genset on a boat. But this boat was equipped with two gasoline outboard motors so gasoline was the fuel of choice."
Eric continues "This boat was unique with the gensets mounted in back, high above the outboard engines. With this configuration the potential for accumulation of gasoline fumes was low, so using a non-marine genset was acceptable. These gensets are out in the open, so they will get plenty of cool air - an important consideration out on the water, in the sun in hot, humid Mississippi."
Weight was also a consideration on this boat. Because the HGJAE gensets are air cooled they offer the highest power output per pound of any Cummins Onan product.
- Amanda Putzke Cummins Power Generation
About Cummins Power Generation
From powering the Statue of Liberty, the London Eye, to the football stadiums, to the firefighters and commercial vehicles, Cummins Power Generation has established itself as the first choice for energy solutions when it come to providing reliable, efficient and quietest performance for business, commercial, residential, marine, coogeneration and industrial applications. Cummins Power Generation is the only manufacturer to feature PowerCommand® integrated commercial power systems. Our power systems are not just integrated, but pre–integrated — because all of the components are designed and built to work together. The result? Smaller equipment footprints, reduced installation time and higher system reliability. That’s The Power of One™.
Cummins Onan is introducing prospective dealers and other resellers to the RS20A residential generator in style — with a special road show. A semitrailer that has been fitted for demonstrations and presentations is making stops at distributors across the country.
There is also a side-by-side, or decibel-by-decibel, live comparison with a competing generator, to measure sound attenuation. The live demo proves that the RS20A is far quieter than the competition; in fact, it’s the quietest unit in its class. Dealers attending the road show also get to see and test the new plug-and-play harnesses and check out the generator’s other features and advantages, including:
Internet remote monitoring and email notification
Automatic load management
Powerful motor-starting capability
Electronic governor
U.S. EPA and CARB certification
Here’s the schedule for the remaining road show stops:
A home standby generator may fail to start during extreme winters if generators are not properly prepared for lower temperature. The backup generator may fail due to thick oil and resistance to movement of internal moving parts during extreme winters.
The RS20AC version of Cummins Onan residential generator now comes pre-installed with co ld-weat her kit that includes an oil heater with built-in thermostat and alternator dryer. When temperatures fall below 20F, the thermostat autom atically activates the oil warmer maintaining optimum oil temperature for the best generator start-up. Further, the alternator dryer prevents condensation and frost from forming on the alternator to eliminate corrosion and reduce resistance.
The pre-installed cold weather kit not only guarantees an efficient and instant start of generator, but also eliminates the cost of an installing aftermarket kits that other generator providers offer saving time, money and labor expense using a reliable in-built kit.
Additionally, the contoured over-hang top prevents any snow and water from entering the enclosure to allow the generator to function normally even in the harshest conditions. As mentioned before in another post, the air louvers located along the bottom edge of generator top provide an efficient inflow and outflow of air, key to an efficient generator operation.
So, prepare yourself today for a worry free winter season with the power backup of a Cummins Onan RS20AC residential generator.
Besides being the most aesthetically appealing in its class, the design of Cummins Onan Home Standby generator provides significant operational and performance advantages over its competitors. While designing this product, Cummins Onan engineers considered every aspect of a generator - seamless and efficient operation, lowest noise levels, minimal vibrations, all-weather function, simple installation, and easy maintenance. Not surprisingly, they came up with the quietest and most efficient standby generator in its class.
The RS20A residential generator uses Cummins Onan patented double-walled sound dampening technology. The double-walled generator design utilizes long air-flow paths and acoustic chambers to provide the lowest sound level ever offered in its class - all with the end user and neighbors in mind. Other manufacturers rely on a single wall design that does little to curtail unwanted noise and ultimately result in harsher tones and higher noise levels.
The air louvers located along the bottom edge of the circular roof provide an efficient inflow and outflow of air even in harsh weather. The height of the air louvers helps to ensures that the air is not cut-off in case of heavy snow and the horizontal air louver design reduces water ingestion in heavy rain– to ensure you can enjoy uninterrupted power supply even in the harshest conditions.
A secure built-in base not only reduces annoying vibrations, but it also eliminates the need and cost of pouring a concrete slab – for you to save time and money. Further, a single door lift-off design allows effortless installation and maintenance. Plug and play harnesses also make the installation much quicker and easy to understand.
Cummins Onan dealer Academy Electric, N.J. eliminates the stress and coordination efforts of purchasing a residential generator by supplying all aspects of generator ownership into a one-stop shop. From the minute customers walk in the door, they interact with the professionals on the sales, installation and service of a home standby generator. It starts with the understanding the customer’s needs, and sizing of generator, transfer switch and emergency circuits. Once the project starts, Academy employees do it all and customers don’t have to wait for any other contractor.
Quality is of the utmost importance for Dan O’Brien who own and operates Academy Electric.“People who want to spend good dollars for a quality product will always come out ahead in the long run.Quality is the most economical in the long run. For this reason, we use Cummins Onan as generators of our choice” says Dan. In the recent storm, Academy Electric received over 25 calls from customers with starting and running issues. Only one was a Cummins Onan unit.
Academy Electric also prides itself in providing the best customer experience. “It’s not about installing the generator. Follow-through is the main focus for customer success at Academy” says Dan. Academy Electric makes sure that a customer is being taken care at the every step and that is why they make great partners to Cummins Onan.
A quick google news search for power outage tells us that we had at least seven instances of power outage in US over the last weekend of June 20th, ranging from a serious disruption that blackened out an entire county and affected 200,000 customers in Chicago to a moderate one that affected few areas in Michiana (64,000 customers) and Milan (3,500 customers). The most common cause of a power outage is severe weather with thunderstorms and tornados leading this category. Power interruptions have also been reported after a small scale accident.
Needless to say, power disruption is an inconvenience. As per WNDU news, many families are already struggling with spoiled food and mounting frustrations as they wait for the power to return after June 20th weekend. The stakes are even higher for families with health concerns or families with kids. For the elderly, or for people who have specialized medical equipment such as electronic respirators, power outages can be life threatening. Extended power outages during extreme winter storms can leave families dangerously stranded within their own homes and even cause the water lines to be jammed. Power outage may also force businesses to lose significant revenues. It is clear from recent outage news that the power disruption can occur anywhere and everywhere and it is advisable that one installs a home standby generator (Residential Generator) to prepare for the same.
Power restoration may take few hours to several days depending upon the damage and evidently it disrupts the normal life. Extended periods of power loss are inconvenient and potentially dangerous. It is, thus, vital that you have an emergency power backup. This is where a generator comes into play. Most widely used generators for home usage are – portable gensets and standby residential generators. A residential generator has obvious advantages over a portable genset- automatic start, permanent fixture, more power, cleaner fuel (natural gas or propane), low running costs and cold weather-kit. Within moments of an electrical interruption, a home standby generator provides electricity to power essential items or whole house. It is easy to understand the complex but seamless operation of a home backup generator and transfer switch using this video.
It is important that the essential items in the house are always powered. For some this may mean a fridge, water pump, oven and a few lights. For others essential items may include medical equipment, TV for the kids, heating and air conditioning and so on. Perhaps you want to continue living normally as if no power failure ever occurred in the first place! In this case you would like to power your entire house. It is imperative that you select the right size for your standby generator. This automatic tool and this video can help you estimate your power needs and help you with your selection. You should also consider fuel type, noise, ease of operation and maintenance, configuration options, remote monitoring, aesthetic, last but not the least – performance, while making your selection. After a residential generator has been installed at your house, rest assured that everything around you may stop but you’ll never feel powerless!
After much planning and anticipation the RS20 is in production. This new product will strengthen the overall residential generator portfolio and fill a gap in the air cooled line. The RS20 will be available in both a warm weather and cold weather specification. Cummins Onan is the first company to offer a factory installed weather specification. This option will make it easier for consumers to understand features that need to be considered based on their geographic location and will eliminate the need for installers to take extra time to install extra accessories to ensure the generators operate to there full potential.
In addition to the new cold weather specification, major steps have been taken to make the installation easier. A new single door design makes accessing the generator for installation and maintenance a snap. Plug and play harnesses also make the installation much quicker and easy to understand
The RS20A generator is the quietest and most ascetically appealing product in its class continuing to deliver on Cummins Onan commitment to building premium products.
Due to the high power demands for lighting (water at night absorbs a lot of light) and cleaning, there was a need for generator output that far exceeded the capacity of marine MKY genset.
The RS20A residential generator uses Cummins Onan patented double-walled sound dampening technology. The double-walled generator design utilizes long air-flow paths and acoustic chambers to provide the lowest sound level ever offered in its class - all with the end user and neighbors in mind. Other manufacturers rely on a single wall design that does little to curtail unwanted noise and ultimately result in harsher tones and higher noise levels.
The air louvers located along the bottom edge of the circular roof provide an efficient inflow and outflow of air even in harsh weather. The height of the air louvers helps to ensures that the air is not cut-off in case of heavy snow and the horizontal air louver design reduces water ingestion in heavy rain– to ensure you can enjoy uninterrupted power supply even in the harshest conditions.
A secure built-in base not only reduces annoying vibrations, but it also eliminates the need and cost of pouring a concrete slab – for you to save time and money. Further, a single door lift-off design
allows effortless installation and maintenance. Plug and play harnesses also make the installation much quicker and easy to understand.
Quality is of the utmost importance for Dan O’Brien who own and operates Academy Electric.
A quick 
mage and evidently it disrupts the normal life. Extended periods of power loss are inconvenient and potentially dangerous. It is, thus, vital that you have an emergency power backup. This is where a generator comes into play. Most widely used generators for home usage are – portable gensets and standby residential generators. A residential generator has obvious advantages over a portable genset- automatic start, permanent fixture, more power, cleaner fuel (natural gas or propane), low running costs and cold weather-kit. Within moments of an electrical interruption, a home standby generator provides electricity to power essential items or whole house. It is easy to understand the complex but seamless operation of a home backup generator and transfer switch using this 
