Installing Generator Annunciator, mounting options.

[cowboyjosh]

At my home in Arizona Im replacing my Generac Standby Generator with a spanking new KOHLER. The installer wants to install me a RSA II ANNUNCIATOR so that I can see the status of the generator. Im thinking of putting it in the mudroom near the alarm keypad which is close to the door between the garage and house. One thing I cannot wrap my head around is how they are going to "remodel" in a 8x8x2 enclosure to sit flush in the wall. Im thinking they are going to have to add some wood backing between the studs and then use the 4 mounting holes at the back of the Kohler supplied box to screw too. Is there any such thing as a 8x8 remodel box?

Heres the link to the annunciator.
http://www.kohlerpower.com/industri...mber=12161&sectionNumber=13261&prodnum=261161
http://www.kohlerpower.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/g6095.pdf
Kohler also says the unit can be surface mounted, which would look like hell cause it sticks off the wall 2 inches. One neat thing about this unit is it only requires a RS485 wire and operates on that protocol!

What do you all think?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Cummins has a similar annunciator panel, I've seen them on a number of commercial installations. They're just a small rectangular enclosure, with a serial cable that connects to the generator. They don't need a separate box, they're self contained. I believe there's a lip on the front to fit against the sheetrock and to cover the edges of the hole.

Assuming your house is regular wood frame construction with studs 16 inches on center, they'll cut an 8x8 hole in the sheetrock in between two studs and then they'll have to fish a couple crossmembers in through the hole to span the studs. Or, they could just cut out a bigger hole to start with to make it easier to nail in the crossmembers, it will just take some patching and painting afterwards. They'll have to insulate behind it if it's going in an outside wall, I'd think a piece of foam insulation would be best since you won't have a full depth wall in that area.

 

[cowboyjosh]

yeah there is a trim ring for flush installs. Thats what I was thinking is that some sort of bracing behind the unit. You're right the KOHLER is also a self contained unit. Fortunately the wall in question is not insulated, as its a interior wall. I'd put the thing in the garage or somewhere else out of the way, but the idea is to be able to see if there is a fault and hear the horn, which you wouldn't be able if it were placed in the garage.

 

[cruzn57]

replacing the generac...........

I have a 16kw Generac standby, seldom use it, but works when I need it,
why the replacement? did it have problems?
I'm just wondering.
thanks

also in AZ

 

[cowboyjosh]

replacing the generac...........

I have a 16kw Generac standby, seldom use it, but works when I need it,
why the replacement? did it have problems?
I'm just wondering.
thanks

also in AZ

The short answer to your question is, more power. I wanted to be able to use anything in the house when the power is out. Not have to "manage" what I used like I did with the Generac. I sold the Generac to a fella who is putting in the 16 circuit transfer switch; which is more appropriate then me having a whole house transfer. See when the 5 ton AC kicked on it brought everything else to a near brownout state.

It seems and I could be wrong outages in Arizona occur from equipment failure, at my home in Colorado its usually weather related outages. In Arizona I don't want to be without my pool pump, AC, etc. In Colorado I don't want to be without the furnace.

Also with the KOHLER unit, Im able to wire them into my network and monitor the statuses remotely which is handy.

 

[cowboyjosh]

generator at my house here in Colorado got used this morning, power out for about 2 hours. I reckon it was weather related, it SNOWED. Radio said most of the county I live in and beyond were affected by the outage. Gotta love the standby generator.