Cummins QuietConnect RS17A

~$5,327approx. list price

800 WLights, phones, router, a CPAP
2,200 WFridge, freezer and the essentials
4,000 WFurnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
7,500 WWell pump or a small central AC
18,000 WWhole home with central air

17,000 W running — sustains the well pump or a small central AC tier and everything below it.

Best forHomeowners who want a quiet, full-rated 17kW air-cooled unit on natural gas and do not want to pay for a liquid-cooled machine.

Cummins' 17kW air-cooled unit, positioned between the RS13A and RS20A. Its V-twin QSJ999G engine is rated 17kW on both natural gas and propane (70.8 amps at 240V), so there is no natural-gas penalty to budget around. Cummins says it will start and run a 5-ton AC under full pre-load, and it can control four loads through built-in load management. The 65 dB(A) rating, measured at 23 feet, and the 18-inch clearance from the house under NFPA 37 are what owners mention first. The caveats are practical. It runs on one fuel at a time, set to natural gas at the factory and switched in the field, so it is not a dual-fuel unit. Cummins does not publish a list price; $5,327 is a retailer list, and dealer quotes run lower. The dealer network is smaller than Generac's, and the transfer switch is a separate purchase.

From the spec sheet

Specifications

Running watts: 17,000 W
Starting watts: 17,000 W
On natural gas: 17,000 W
Runtime: Continuous (runs on home NG/LP supply); 17kW on both fuels (single fuel, field-selectable)

Type: Home Standby Generator
Fuel: NG/LP
Noise: 65 dB
Outlets: None — hardwired via automatic transfer switch (sold separately)
Transfer-switch ready: Yes
Weight: 531 lbs
Warranty: 5-year / 2,000-hour limited
Model: RS17A