Customer Reviews

Guardian QuietSource Aluminum 16,000 Watt Standby Generator 5244

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This newest Generac 16,000 W generator (16LP/15NG) with aluminum case works as advertised, handling the full load of starting a 3.5 ton A/C, hot water heater (while heating), electric range top (2 burners on high) , electric oven (on at 350 degrees), microwave and all lights in a good sized home, when fully broken in. It's improved capacity can start up a 5-ton a/c unit or two (2) 4-ton a/c units.

This is more load than I need it to do, in actual usage, and it handles it just fine.

This is for light home/small business generating work, perhaps running 10-14 hours a day with full load for several weeks a year, longer hours with 1/2 load, and changing oil and filter more often than yearly to be real safe...Obviously your mileage will vary, and ask the dealer if another larger one is for you if you need more steady high loads. It's rated to last 3,000 hours.

It isn't a heavy duty commercial grade water cooled car engine type or diesel one made to run 24/7 with full load for months...and nor is it that price!

May you and I never need it, however I and others recommend this brand highly.

Pour a roughly 5 x 3 foot slab and or or a 5 x 5.5 foot cleared pea gravel bed on high ground >3 feet from your home, near the power distribution box and not too far from your gas source. Hope your bedroom wall isn't there, cuz even this "quiet" one is moderately noisy when running at it's full load mode when it's right next to you!

Be aware that it does need a ~$60 battery, 8 foot grounding rod, two quarts of synthetic oil, and a replacement generac oil filter to get you started and through the 4 hour break in period. Changing the oil is easy-just remove two bolts, the front panel comes off, and the filter and a draining hose for the oil are easy to get to. The maximum ambient temperature is 104 degrees...do not operate it in temperatures higher than this!

The generator cost is only the start of your entire costs..definitely shop for electricians, propane tank/NG gas installation and hookup, cost of pouring a slab,etc. There can be a 2x difference in quoted prices. Make sure someone gets you through the break in stage if you are not electrically/mechanically minded, and someone can adjust the valve clearance of the engine after 6 months of use.

If you are concerned about locking the top, this will not put your mind at ease...a 10 year old can pop off the unit's top quickly, as only one handle has this chintzy plastic "lock" (and two keys). This "lock" had the silly plastic cylinder pull out, stuck to the key! Perhaps a locksmith can find a replacement and put in a serious metal, not toy-like plastic lock!

If you are looking to use it for home use after a hurricane, flood, snowstorm or similar long power outage, this is good for you. The aluminum housing is going to last longer than steel in wet/salt air regions. My neighbors had the earlier 15,000 watt versions running during the weeks without regular power after hurricanes in Florida, and the generators performed without problems. (A year later, one steel enclosure is starting to rust a bit). The top of my generator is slightly concave, so water pools on top...perhaps they will in the future make the tops slightly convex in the future, to shed water and dirt.

There are some significant improvements in the whole set up for the 16,000 over the prior 15,000 watt (besides getting a somewhat quieter engine, ability to run more air conditioning capacity,and add a few more circuits). Two separate electricians who have installed many units, said that this newer 16,000 Watt generator was WELL worth the extra money.

I just installed this machine but a few things really, really bothered me about the process.

First: the Transfer Switch is for INDOORS ONLY. I had to buy and outside box that cost 285.00 in which I could put the INDOOR transfer switch.

Second: The unit REQUIRES a natural gas REGULATOR. It cost another 112.00.

Third (and probably most important) it is very, very noisy. The information from Generac says the unit sounds like a car at idle and has a decibel rating of 59 at 50% use. Not true. The car they used for the test must have been a muscle car!

Getting the parts was a hassle as well as expensive. The fact it didn't have a regulator is just WRONG. My furnace came with one, my water heater came with one and my gas range came with one. What's with that Generac????

Otherwise the machine does start my 4 and 1/2 ton AC, 2 fridges and all other appliances with no problem.

Bill Tell

UPDATE: Amazon will not let me change the rating from 1 star in this update, and I did not want to delete this and start over because some may find this update/info useful. I would give it 4 stars now. Our electrician contacted us recently and informed us that he has installed a few more of these where people had the same problem. He had a particularly diligent customer that got his HVAC guy to come out and diagnose the situation. Turns out that some AC compressors have a built in "hard start" kit, which is basically a big capacitor. Some, including mine, do not. For about $200, I had one added to my 5 Ton AC Compressor and this generator now starts the AC with ease... much easier than it was working to start my smaller 3 Ton downstairs AC. So now I am very pleased. The unit works as advertised but I thankfully had not had to use it since the past two hurricane seasons have mercifully passed us by. Original review follows:

Original 1 star review:

This unit will NOT start our 5 ton A/C compressor if there is any other load on the system. Even when it does start the 5 ton compressor, the voltage drop is significant (~25-30%) and potentially damaging to other appliances (refrigerator, microwave, electronics) that are connected to it. Since having air conditioning at our home in South Florida after a hurricane is the primary reason we bought it, I must say that we are less than satisfied with this result, especially because all the sales literature states that this unit WILL run a 5 ton A/C.

Note that we have the generator running on natural gas and not propane.

I live in Kansas where we have extended power outages 5-6 times a year, some lasting days at a time. I finally decided to get an automatic generator to work whether I'm home or away on business, and I could not be more happy. Since I purchased this Guardian unit, my sump pump keeps working during and after a storm (so my basement doesn't flood), my food stays cold and fresh, and most importantly, My Life Goes On Without Interuption. That's the key! I looked at Briggs, Kohler and Guardian before purchasing the Guardian 16kw, and all I can say is It's Great! Why pay 30-60% more for the other brands, when I get more coverage, at least as good quality if not better, and at a better value than the Briggs and Kohler models (Kohler's similar model was double the price of the Guardian!). I checked on getting the unit installed before I purchased the generator, so when the generator arrived, I had it installed through a local Guardian installer within 3 days of the unit arriving. Not only did I get the unit quickly, but the total install price was around $1500. Less than I expected it to be and the unit was installed in less than 1 day.

Did I mention the system has run flawlessly. It's worked twice in the last 3 months, and I've become everyone's favorite neighbor since I got this installed. I'd give this unit a 10 for performance, a 9.5 for value, and an A+ to Amazon as well. It's nice to get a product this good delivered right to my home with the click of my mouse. The info on Amazon's site was very helpful in helping me select the right unit as well. Thanks Amazon, and thanks Guardian for making a Great Generator!! You made a believer out of a skeptic! I'll recommend your product to everyone I know!

Before buying I did my reserch on the Webb. First choice was this generator. Then came the question where to buy. After going to many sites and checking, Amazon came out on top. Amazon did everything they claimed they would do. Generator arrived at my front door without any problem. Since I had n/gas the set was hooked up at cost of about 244 including a rebate . Next because of codes in Brevard cty Fl had a Guardian dealer to install per code. cost about 1,800. Set has ran its test cyle now for several weeks and performed a electric failure test at installation. Everything worked well on the 16 circuits I picked to operate. I am very pleased and just hope I never have to use it. If you plan to purchase a set , this is the one!. .. Last thing the gas contractor who is very busy installing the gas hook up said this generator is running about 5 to 1 of all gen sets they are hooking up.

GUARDIAN QuietSource Aluminum 16,000 Watt Standby Generator

Very happy with this product. Works as expected without a glitch.