Generator FAQ

The generator starts about 7 seconds after utility power is lost, and the ATS switches your home to generator power roughly 3 seconds after that. In practice you have power again about 10 seconds after an outage begins. Many other systems leave you in the dark for up to 30 seconds.

Standby units run on natural gas or liquid propane. They connect directly to your fuel source, so there is no filling up to keep them running. For clients with special fuel needs, we can also provide diesel-powered units.

No. Our generators are digitally controlled for safe, reliable power. The electronic governor holds frequency to a tolerance of +/- 0.5%, cleaner than the power from many utilities. By comparison, some manufacturers run to +/- 3.0Hz, a range about nine times larger, which can be hard on sensitive equipment.

Kohler residential generators are controlled by the ADC 2100 (Advanced Digital Controller), which provides a digital electronic governor for precise frequency regulation (+/- 0.5%), a digital voltage regulator (1.5% no load to full load), and an LED diagnostic display with an hour meter.

Please note: a generator is not a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). Computers and other electronics will briefly lose power during the switchover, so a UPS is recommended to protect that equipment and keep it running without interruption.

Yes. The Digital Spark Advance Module (DSAM) optimizes timing for both liquid propane and natural gas, giving the unit greater power and stronger motor-starting capability, which is exactly what an air conditioner compressor needs to start. Kohler heavy-duty engines respond quickly to changing power demands.

It depends on the size of your generator and how many amps you use during the outage. On average, a generator running a full load (every circuit in use) burns about 4 gallons of propane per hour, so a 100-gallon tank at full load runs roughly 25 hours. In practice a full load rarely runs for more than a few hours, if at all, so real-world run times are usually much longer.

The Kohler 20kW runs at 69dB and the 30kW at 61dB, both very quiet. Many other generators run above 70dB, which is noticeably louder. Sound levels for each unit are listed on the residential generator spec sheets.

The Kohler 20kW is about 31.6 inches tall, 28.8 inches wide, and 47.9 inches long, roughly the size of an average air conditioning compressor. The 30kW is about 46 inches tall, 32.9 inches wide, and 74 inches long, and still fits conveniently near most HVAC equipment.

Yes, with room to work. A minimum of three feet of clearance is required on all sides for maintenance, and the exhaust end needs eight feet of clearance for proper ventilation.

Yes. We offer maintenance contracts for both residential and commercial customers, plus 24-hour service. Every client receives an emergency number to reach us in the unlikely event of a breakdown.

Yes, two separate permits are required for every installation: an electrical permit and a gas permit. Our sales packages are turnkey, so we handle all of the permit paperwork as well as the paperwork for the gas company.

Units up to and including 60kW carry a 5-year / 3,000-hour warranty that covers all labor and materials to repair or replace defective parts. Units 80kW and larger carry a 1-year / 2,000-hour warranty.

Yes. Elite can provide temporary power for events of almost any size. Give us the day, time, and generator size you need, and we will deliver the unit, set it up with the right power supplies, then tear it down and remove it afterward. We can quote a rental only, or the rental plus setup, depending on your needs.

Yes. Kohler Power Systems generators are built by the same family-owned company in Kohler, Wisconsin that has made quality products for over 100 years. Kohler produced the first modern generator in 1920 and has been a leader in reliable, innovative backup power ever since.

Elite sells Kohler, Cummins, and Briggs & Stratton generators, and we perform maintenance and service on all types, including Caterpillar, Katolite, Coleman, Generac / Guardian, and many others.

If you are comparing Kohler to a big-box brand like Generac, you will find Kohler costs a little more. It is worth asking what kind of generator a store relies on to back up its own critical power. More often than not, the answer is a Kohler, which tells you something about long-term reliability.