onan inverter generators

[cody]

Apparently onan is making inverter generators, has anyone checked into these as far as specs and price? I'm wondering how they compare to the honda's, maybe with some more competion the prices will come down a little.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Cody,

I was under the impression that they are very small, like 2000 watts, and gas...

Way too small for me!

Nick-

[TomC]

Their 7.5kw Quiet Diesel uses inverter technology.  They were a bit problematic at first, but seem to have worked out the bugs.  While it is advertised as "quiet", there is still alot of noise that comes out the bottom of the unit that could be silenced further by use of baffles (3 turns in the air usually quiets it).  The only bad aspect that I don't like is that it is variable speed according to load since frequency isn't present until the output from the inverter section.  This to me would be bothersome at night-everytime an A/C would kick on, the unit would speed up changing the feel of the vibrations coming from the gen-personally would wake me everytime.  I personally like the dirt like reliability of a conventional generator slugging along at a constant rpm.  Good Luck, TomC

[Sam 4106]

We have a 7.5 Onan Quiet Diesel generator. We have had no problems at all. It only has about 375 hours on it so that isn't a good test. We bought it used, with 224 hrs on it, for $3,000 plus shipping from California ($228). As Tom C points out, it is noiser than the "Quiet" implies but the changing speed, as the load changes, has never bothered us,even at night. However we were at a Midwest Bus Nuts rally last fall and it did bother others parked near us. The one thing I don't like is it's output is 120 volts only. Not a disadvantage for the bus. but I would have liked to be able to use it as a stand-by for the house, and I can, except our well takes 240 volts. Overall, I am very happy with it.
Thanks, Sam 4106, La Crescent, MN

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

We have a 7.5 Onan Quiet Diesel generator. We have had no problems at all. It only has about 375 hours on it so that isn't a good test. We bought it used, with 224 hrs on it, for $3,000 plus shipping from California ($228). As Tom C points out, it is noiser than the "Quiet" implies but the changing speed, as the load changes, has never bothered us,even at night. However we were at a Midwest Bus Nuts rally last fall and it did bother others parked near us. The one thing I don't like is it's output is 120 volts only. Not a disadvantage for the bus. but I would have liked to be able to use it as a stand-by for the house, and I can, except our well takes 240 volts. Overall, I am very happy with it.
Thanks, Sam 4106, La Crescent, MN

Hi Sam,
I have the 12.5 Onan Quiet Diesel. Compared to many, I think it is very quiet. 2700hrs and about 5 belts. But, now I have thr correct metric belt
on it. Seems to be holding up this time.
Nick-

[belfert]

I believe the original poster is talking about the new portable gasoline inverter generators branded as Cummins Onan.  These are not RV specific.

Not sure, but they looked like Chinese sourced generators to me. 

Brian Elfert