Head to head
Cummins QuietConnect RS17A vs Kohler 14kW RCA
Cummins · Home Standby Generator
Cummins QuietConnect RS17A
~$5,327
17,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Kohler · Home Standby Generator
Kohler 14kW RCA
~$5,449
14,000 W · up to well pump or a small central AC
Quick takeThe Cummins QuietConnect RS17A lists about $122 lower; the Cummins QuietConnect RS17A puts out more sustained power (17,000 W); the Cummins QuietConnect RS17A is quieter at 65 dB.
| Spec | Cummins QuietConnect RS17A | Kohler 14kW RCA |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$5,327 | ~$5,449 |
| Type | Home Standby Generator | Home Standby Generator |
| Fuel | NG/LP | NG/LP |
| Running / output watts | 17,000 W | 14,000 W |
| Starting / surge watts | 17,000 W | 14,000 W |
| Battery capacity | — | — |
| Expandable to | — | — |
| Noise | 65 dB | 67 dB |
| Runtime | Continuous (runs on home NG/LP supply); 17kW on both fuels (single fuel, field-selectable) | Continuous (runs on home NG/LP supply); 14kW on LP, 12kW on NG |
| Outlets | None — hardwired via automatic transfer switch (sold separately) | None — hardwired via automatic transfer switch (sold separately) |
| Fuel tank | — | — |
| Weight | 531 lbs | 440 lbs |
| Transfer-switch ready | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 5-year / 2,000-hour limited | 5-year/2,000-hour limited |
Highlighted cell is the better figure for that row.
Owner pros and cons
Cummins QuietConnect RS17A
- +Full 17kW on natural gas with no derate against propane
- +Rated to start a 5-ton AC under full pre-load
- +Built-in load management controls up to four loads
- +Allowed 18 inches from a building under NFPA 37
- +Crank-only exercise mode reduces wear and weekly noise
- +Remote monitoring is built in at no extra cost
- −Single fuel at a time, not a dual-fuel changeover unit
- −Transfer switch not included
- −531 lbs and a fairly large 34 x 36 in footprint
- −Smaller dealer network than Generac
Kohler 14kW RCA
- +Hydraulic lifters mean no valve adjustments for life
- +Aluminum enclosure genuinely resists coastal corrosion
- +33kVA surge starts large AC units other 14kW units can't
- +5-year/2,000-hour warranty is stronger than Generac's hours-unlimited-but-vaguer terms
- +Long track record: owners report earlier Kohler 14kW units still running after nearly two decades
- −12kW on natural gas is a bigger derate than Generac's 14kW
- −67 dB at full speed (63 dB during the weekly exercise) — loud beside a patio
- −No built-in Wi-Fi; the OnCue Plus app needs an ethernet run or a wireless bridge
- −Fewer dealers means longer waits for service in some regions
- −Costs more than the equivalent Generac before install