Onan Vs Northern Lights 20KW

[Hat52MY]

Looking to replace the Original Onan 20KW 2-stroke Diesel generator with Sound Shield. Have the choice of a new 4-stroke Onan or Northern Lights both w/sound shields. What are the pro’s and con’s of each? Maintenance concerns/consideration? Any specific options that are a must have? Etc, etc...

 

[Pascal]

Unless things have changed in the last few years, ind go NL

Between 2009 and 2016 I put a combined 13000 hours on a pair of 2003 NL20 with nothing more than routine maintenance. The worst being one injection pump rebuilt and one circulation water pump

Simple and rugged. Not sure if that a still The case though

Onan... we have two 2009 27.5 om the boat i run these days. Since I ve been on board over the last 4 1/2 years I ve had more issues than with the NLs. Failing sensors, one injection pump (half the hours than the NL) and raw water pumps last half the hours. I m dreading a control board failure which I was told needs to be programmed in place by a tech. The Ohnos are also louder than the NLs, having less water flow to muffle the noise.

 

[Hat52MY]

Good feedback Pascal. I’m a full believer in the KISS theory. We love our current Onan, it has been very good to us and it has run like a champ. We know parts are getting scarce and unfortunately, its not worth rebuilding.

 

[whoover]

My Onan is impossible to get parts for and it is a pain in my neck. I was just looking at NL's genset online and see that most of the engines operations and controls are like the Onans, its even layed out and put together like the Onan that made it look attractive for a rerplacement.

Walt Hoover

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

My NL 20 kw has been bulletproof. 1,500 hours, routine maintenance.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Don't get an Onan; get a NL set. Best around. Service anywhere, which is seldom if they are maintained well.

There is a NL 6kW set on a fishing boat in the Gulf of Alaska, on deck in a little enclosure, which at last count had 20K hours on it. Runs all the time, only shut down for filter and oil changes. That's what you want.