Builder - September 2008 - (Page 87) PRODUCTS PRODUCTS AND TOOLS EVERY BUILDER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ■ E D I T E D B Y N I G E L F. M A Y N A R D AIR COOLED: The newest product in the company’s line of home generator systems, this 20-kilowatt unit boasts a 993cc Big Block air-cooled engine and 28,000 watts of starting power. It will supply enough automatic backup power to manage two 5-ton air-conditioning units as well as other power requirements. An optional high-efficiency upgrade is available for additional power. It operates at 68 decibels. ▪ Eaton Corp. 877-386-2273. www.eaton.com. Circle no. 109. GENERATION NOW: The redesigned RS12000 residential generator has a weather-resistant enclosure and can power a 4-ton air conditioner while operating at only 64 decibels—about the volume of a vacuum cleaner. Constructed with a polypropylene base, the system offers remote monitoring from inside the house or over the Web. ▪ Cummins Power Generation. 800-888-6626. www.cumminsonan.com. Circle no. 108. Off the Grid What will your buyers do when the power goes out? ome buyers generally filter options and upgrades through the same lens: Items are either needs or wants. They want the whirlpool tub, but they need a washer and dryer. Recently, manufacturers of backup generators have seen a surge in interest for their products based on this same concept: Homeowners see backup power as a need for when the utility is down. “The market [for backup generators] has been growing dramatically for the last five years,” says Clement Feng, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Waukesha, Wis.–based Generac Power Systems. “The product became better H known after the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 and after the blackout of 2003.” SYSTEMS GO STAND AND DELIVER: This redesigned 20 kilowatt generator is smaller and more powerful than standard units. The aircooled unit can handle all circuits, including central air conditioning, without shutting off others and features automotive-style enhancements that result in extended oil change intervals. It has an LCD digital control panel and optional remote monitoring. ▪ Guardian by Generac Power Systems. 888-436-3722. www. generac.com. Circle no. 110. Simply put, a backup generator supplies emergency power when the grid goes down. A system consists of a gas- or propanepowered unit that is connected to an automatic transfer switch and to the home’s main distribution panel. Constantly monitoring the incoming voltage, the generator senses a power loss and activates automatically. At the same time, the transfer switch closes the utility line and opens the line to the generator. Once the power returns, the transfer switch reverts to the utility line. Used mainly by farmers, (see page 88) FOR MORE PRODUCT INFORMATION, VISIT EBUILD, HANLEY WOOD’S INTERACTIVE PRODUCT CATALOG, AT WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS OR EBUILD.COM. W W W.BUILDERONLINE.COM sep t e m ber 2 0 08 B U I LD E R ■ 87 http://www.eaton.com http://www.cumminsonan.com http://www.generac.com http://www.generac.com http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM/PRODUCTS http://EBUILD.COM http://WWW.BUILDERONLINE.COM
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