Appendix A Abbreviations35................................................................
TP-6516 4/09Table of Contents 3
Notes
TP-6516 4/094
Safety Precautions and Instructions
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.
Electromechanicalequipment,
including generatorsets, transfer
switches, switchgear, and accessories,
can cause bodily harm and pose
life-threateningdangerwhen
improperly installed, operated, or
maintained. To prevent accidents be
aware of potential dangers and act
safely.Read and follow all safety
precautions and instructions. SAVE
THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
This manual has several types of safety
precautions and instructions: Danger,
Warning, Caution, and Notice.
DANGER
Danger indicates the presence of a
hazardthatwillcausesevere
Caution indicates the presence of a
hazard that will or can cause minorpersonal injury or property damage.
NOTICE
Noticecommunicatesinstallation,
operation, or maintenance information
that is safety related but not hazard
related.
Safety decals affixed to the equipment
in prominent places alert the operator
or service technician to potential
hazards and explain how to act safely.
The decals are shown throughout this
publicationtoimproveoperator
recognition.Replace missing or
damaged decals.
Accidental Starting
WARNING
Accidental starting.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Disconnect the battery cables before
working on the generatorset.
Remove the negative (--) lead first
when disconnecting the battery.
Reconnect the negative (--) lead last
when reconnecting the battery.
Disablingthegeneratorset.
Accidentalstartingcancause
severe injury or death.Before
working on the generator set or
connected equipment, disable the
generator set as follows: (1) Move the
generator set master switch to the OFF
position. (2) Disconnect the power to
the battery charger. (3) Remove the
battery cables, negative (--) lead first.
Reconnect the negative (--) lead last
when reconnecting the battery. Follow
these precautions to prevent starting of
the generator set by an automatic
transfer switch, remote start/stop
switch, or engine start command from a
remote computer.
Battery
WARNING
Sulfuric acid in batteries.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Wearprotectivegogglesand
clothing. Battery acid may cause
blindness and burn skin.
WARNING
Explosion.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Relays in the battery charger
cause arcs or sparks.
Locate the battery in a well-ventilated
area. Isolate the battery charger from
explosive fumes.
Battery electrolyte is a diluted
sulfuric acid. Battery acid can cause
severe injury or death. Battery acid
can cause blindness and burn skin.
Alwayswearsplashproofsafety
goggles, rubber gloves, and boots
when servicing the battery. Do not
open a sealed battery or mutilate the
battery case. If battery acid splashes in
the eyes or on the skin, immediately
flush the affected area for 15 minutes
with large quantities of clean water.
Seek immediate medical aid in the case
of eye contact. Never add acid to a
battery after placing the battery in
service, as this may result in hazardous
spattering of battery acid.
Battery acid cleanup. Battery acid
can cause severe injury or death.
Battery acid is electrically conductive
and corrosive. Add 500 g (1 lb.) of
bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to a
containerwith4L(1gal.)ofwaterand
mix the neutralizing solution. Pour the
neutralizing solution on the spilled
battery acid and continue to add the
neutralizing solution to the spilled
battery acid until all evidence of a
chemicalreaction(foaming) has
ceased. Flush the resulting liquid with
water and dry the area.
TP-6516 4/095Safety Precautions and Instructions
Battery gases. Explosion can cause
severe injury or death. Battery gases
can cause an explosion. Do not smoke
or permit flames or sparks to occur near
a battery at any time, particularly when
it is charging. Do not dispose of a
battery in a fire. To prevent burns and
sparks that could cause an explosion,
avoid touching the battery terminals
with tools or other metal objects.
Remove all jewelry before servicing the
equipment. Discharge static electricity
from your body before touching
batteries by first touching a grounded
metal surface away from the battery. To
avoid sparks, do not disturb the battery
charger connections while the battery
is charging. Always turn the battery
charger off before disconnecting the
battery connections.Ventilate the
compartments containing batteries to
prevent accumulation of explosive
gases.
Battery short circuits.Explosion
can cause severe injury or death.
Short circuits can cause bodily injury
and/orequipmentdamage.
Disconnectthebatterybefore
generatorsetinstallationor
maintenance.Remove all jewelry
before servicing the equipment. Use
tools with insulated handles. Remove
the negative (--) lead first when
disconnecting the battery. Reconnect
the negative (--) lead last when
reconnecting the battery.Never
connect the negative (--) battery cable
to the positive (+) connection terminal
of the starter solenoid. Do not test the
battery condition by shorting the
terminals together.
Engine Backfire/Flash
Fire
WARNING
Fire.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Do not smoke or permit flames or
sparks near fuels or the fuel system.
Servicing the fuel system. A flash
fire can cause severe injury or death.
Do not smoke or permit flames or
sparks near the carburetor, fuel line,
fuel filter, fuel pump, or other potential
sources of spilled fuels or fuel vapors.
Catch fuels in an approved container
when removing the fuel line or
carburetor.
Combustible materials. A fire can
cause severe injury or death.
Generator set engine fuels and fuel
vapors are flammable and explosive.
Handle these materials carefully to
minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
Equip the compartment or nearby area
with a fully charged fire extinguisher.
Select a fire extinguisher rated ABC or
BCforelectricalfiresoras
recommended by the local fire code or
an authorized agency.Train all
personnelonfireextinguisher
operationandfireprevention
procedures.
Exhaust System
WARNING
Carbon monoxide.
Cancauseseverenausea,
fainting, or death.
The exhaustsystemmust be
leakproof and routinely inspected.
Generator set operation.Carbon
monoxide can cause severe nausea,
fainting, or death. Carbon monoxide
is an odorless, colorless, tasteless,
nonirritating gas that can cause death if
inhaled for even a short time. Avoid
breathing exhaust fumes when working
on or near the generator set. Never
operate the generator set inside a
building. Never operate the generator
set where exhaust gas could seep
inside or be drawn into a potentially
occupied building through windows, air
intake vents, or other openings.
Carbonmonoxidesymptoms.
Carbon monoxide can cause severe
nausea, fainting, or death. Carbon
monoxide is a poisonous gas present in
exhaust gases. Carbon monoxide is an
odorless,colorless,tasteless,
nonirritating gas that can cause death if
inhaled for even a short time. Carbon
monoxide poisoning symptoms include
but are not limited to the following:
D Light-headedness, dizziness
D Physical fatigue, weakness in
joints and muscles
D Sleepiness, mental fatigue,
inability to concentrate
or speak clearly, blurred vision
D Stomachache, vomiting, nausea
If experiencing any of these symptoms
and carbon monoxide poisoning is
possible, seek fresh air immediately
and remain active. Do not sit, lie down,
or fall asleep.Alert others to the
possibilityofcarbonmonoxide
poisoning. Seek medical attention if
the condition of affected persons does
not improve within minutes of breathing
fresh air.
Fuel System
WARNING
Explosive fuel vapors.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Use extreme care when handling,
storing, and using fuels.
Gas fuel leaks.Explosive fuel
vapors can cause severe injury or
death. Fuel leakage can cause an
explosion. Check the LP vapor gas or
natural gas fuel system for leakage by
using a soap and water solution with
the fuel system test pressurized to
6--8 ouncespersquareinch
(10--14 inches water column). Do not
use a soap solution containing either
ammonia or chlorine because both
prevent bubble formation. A successful
test depends on the ability of the
solution to bubble.
Servicing the air cleaner. A sudden
backfire can cause severe injury or
death. Do not operate the generator
set with the air cleaner removed.
TP-6516 4/096Safety Precautions and Instructions
Hazardous Noise
CAUTION
Hazardous noise.
Can cause hearing loss.
Never operate the generator set
without a muffler or with a faulty
exhaust system.
Engine noise. Hazardous noise can
cause hearing loss. Generator sets
not equipped with sound enclosures
can produce noise levels greater than
105 dBA. Prolonged exposure to noise
levels greater than 85 dBA can cause
permanent hearing loss. Wear hearing
protection when near an operating
generator set.
Hazardous Voltage/
Moving Parts
WARNING
Hazardous voltage.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Operate the generator set only when
all guards and electrical enclosures
areinplace.
WARNING
Hazardous voltage.
Backfeed to the utility system can
cause property damage, severe
injury, or death.
If the generator set is used for
standby power, install an automatic
transfer switch to prevent inadvertent
interconnection ofstandby and
normal sources of supply.
Moving parts.
CAUTION
Welding the generator set.
Cancausesevereelectrical
equipment damage.
Never weld components of the
generatorsetwithoutfirst
disconnecting the battery, controller
wiring harness, and engine electronic
control module (ECM).
Grounding electrical equipment.
Hazardousvoltagecancause
severe injury or death. Electrocution
is possible whenever electricity is
present. Ensure you comply with all
applicable codesandstandards.
Electrically ground the generator set,
transfer switch, and related equipment
and electrical circuits. Turnoff the main
circuit breakers of all power sources
before servicing the equipment. Never
contact electrical leads or appliances
when standing in water or on wet
ground because these conditions
increase the risk of electrocution.
Welding on the generator set. Can
cause severe electrical equipment
damage.Before welding on the
generator set perform the following
steps: (1) Remove the battery cables,
negative (--) lead first. (2) Disconnect
all engine electronic control module
(ECM) connectors. (3) Disconnect all
generator set controller and voltage
regulator circuit board connectors.
(4) Disconnect the engine batteryÂchargingalternatorconnections.
(5) Attach the weld ground connection
close to the weld location.
Connecting the battery and the
battery charger. Hazardous voltage
can cause severe injury or death.
Reconnectthebatterycorrectly,
positive to positive and negative to
negative, to avoid electrical shock and
damage to the battery charger and
battery(ies).Haveaqualified
electrician install the battery(ies).
Shortcircuits.Hazardous
voltage/current can cause severe
injury or death. Short circuits can
cause bodily injury and/or equipment
damage.Do not contact electrical
connections with tools or jewelry while
makingadjustmentsorrepairs.
Remove all jewelry before servicing the
equipment.
Electrical backfeed to the utility.
Hazardous backfeed voltage can
cause severe injury or death. Install
a transfer switch in standby power
installations to prevent the connection
of standby and other sources of power.
Electrical backfeed intoa utility
electrical system can cause severe
injury or death to utility personnel
working on power lines.
Wear protective goggles and clothing
when using power tools, hand tools,
or compressed air.
Heavy Equipment
WARNING
Unbalanced weight.
Improper lifting can cause severe
injury or death and equipment
damage.
Do not use lifting eyes.
Lift the generator set using lifting bars
inserted through the lifting holes on
the skid.
TP-6516 4/097Safety Precautions and Instructions
Hot Parts
WARNING
Hot engine and exhaust system.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Do not work on the generator set until
it cools.
Servicing the exhaust system. Hot
parts can cause severe injury or
death. Do not touch hot engine parts.
The engine and exhaust system
components become extremely hot
during operation.
Servicing the engine heater. Hot
parts can cause minor personal
injury or property damage. Install the
heater before connecting it to power.
Operating the heater before installation
can cause burns and component
damage.Disconnect power to the
heater and allow it to cool before
servicing the heater or nearby parts.
Notice
NOTICE
Canadian installations only.For
standby service connect the output of
the generator set to a suitably rated
transfer switch in accordance with
Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1.
TP-6516 4/098Safety Precautions and Instructions
Introduction
This manual provides installation instructions for 12, 17,
and 18 kW residential/commercial generator sets
equipped with the Kohlerr DC-RET Digital Control.
Refer to TP-6517, Operation Manual, for generator set
operation and maintenance instructions.
The generator set is approved for use in stationary
applications in locations served by a reliable utility
power source.
Have an authorized distributor/dealer install the
generator set outdoors according to the instructions in
this manual. The generator set installation must comply
with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local code
requirements. Do not install this generator set indoors.
Information in this publication represents data available
at the time of print. Kohler Co. reserves the right to
change this publication and the products represented
without notice and without any obligation or liability
whatsoever.
Read this manual and carefully follow all procedures
and safety precautions to ensure proper equipment
operation and to avoid bodily injury. Read and follow the
Safety Precautions and Instructions section at the
beginning of this manual.
See Figure 1 or Figure 2 for generator set component
locations.
19
18
75 61234
16
8
1720
See
Detail
21
22
15
1413
1. Muffler
2. Oil check
3. Oil fill
4. Air cleaner
5. Fuses
6. RS-232 connector (for application program updates)
7. Controller user interface
8. Generator set master switch (RUN-OFF/RESET-AUTO)