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Running Watts product guide

Generac 7259 18kW Home Standby Generator with Cellular (G0072590)

Whole-home standby power where a matching transfer switch is sourced separately

Generac's 7259 is an 18 kW air-cooled standby generator, 17 kW on natural gas, with cellular Mobile Link and an 80-amp main breaker. This listing is the generator alone, without a transfer switch or battery, and the 5-year warranty covers labor only in years one and two.

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Published specifications

  • Spec sheet: 18 kW LP / 17 kW NG; 75/71 A at 240V; 80 A breaker
  • Listing: non-bundled; spec sheet pairs 200 A switch with G007324-0
  • Manual: 817cc G-Force 800; about 2.5 qt oil; 426 lb without battery
  • Spec sheet: 65 dB(A) at 23 ft normal load; 55 dB(A) Quiet-Test
  • Manual: battery not included (BTX30L 400 CCA minimum)
  • Warranty: 5 yr/2,000 h; labor yrs 1-2, parts yr 3, major parts yrs 4-5

Fit and limits

Strengths

  • 17 kW on natural gas, 18 kW on propane
  • Two-year or 200-hour service interval after break-in
  • Generac publishes spec sheet, manuals and warranty for this variant

Caveats

  • No transfer switch or battery in this non-bundled listing
  • Labor covered only in warranty years one and two
  • Product page names a different battery than the manual

What this is: the 18 kW generator on its own

Generac model 7259, variant G0072590, is its 18 kW air-cooled home standby generator with built-in cellular connectivity for the Mobile Link app. The spec sheet lists G007259-0 at 18 kW with UPC 696471103717, the same UPC as this listing. It runs on natural gas or propane and starts automatically on a utility outage.

This listing is labelled non-bundled, and Amazon's included components list only the owner's manual. The spec sheet pairs a 200-amp service-rated transfer switch with the separate bundled model G007324-0, so plan on buying a compatible transfer switch as well. The owner's manual says only qualified service personnel may install it, and the warranty covers permanently wired and mounted units only.

18 kW on propane, 17 kW on natural gas

Generac's spec sheet and product page rate the 18 kW model at 18 kW maximum on propane and 17 kW on natural gas, with 75 or 71 amps at 240V and an 80-amp main line breaker. Amazon's table lists 18 kW running and a starting figure of 180,000 watts, which no Generac document we read supports.

Full-load fuel use is 235 cubic feet per hour of natural gas or 2.87 gallons per hour of propane on the product page, and the spec sheet gives supply pressures of 3.5 to 7 inches of water column for natural gas or 10 to 12 inches for propane. The owner's manual recommends at least a 250-gallon propane tank when converting from natural gas.

Engine, weight and noise

The spec sheet and owner's manual list a two-cylinder 817cc G-Force 800 engine with about 2.5 quarts of oil. Weight is 426 pounds without battery in the owner's manual, matching Amazon and the product page, and Generac gives dimensions of 46.4 by 26.3 by 30.7 inches.

Noise is listed at 65 dB(A) at 23 feet under normal load and 55 dB(A) in Quiet-Test low-speed exercise, both measured from the front. The spec sheet lists total harmonic distortion under 5 percent and an enclosure rated for winds up to 150 mph.

The battery is not included, and the documents disagree on which one

The spec sheet and owner's manual say the starting battery is not included and must be a 12V AGM Powersport Group BTX30L with at least 400 CCA. The product page's specification list instead names a BTX20L with 310 CCA. Follow the owner's manual and spec sheet, and have the installer confirm before buying a battery.

The manual says external chargers should not be used. Cold-weather heaters are listed among the accessories on the spec sheet; ask the installer which apply to your climate.

Placement and maintenance

The spec sheet allows installation as close as 18 inches to a structure, away from doors, windows and fresh air intakes and per local codes. The owner's manual keeps mechanical air intakes at least 10 feet away and asks for 3 feet of clearance around the louvers.

Maintenance starts with an oil and filter change after 25 hours, then oil, filter and battery check every two years or 200 hours, adding the air filter and spark plugs every four years or 400 hours. Below 40°F or in continuous operation above 85°F, oil and filter move to every year or 100 hours.

Warranty: five years, narrowing after year two

Amazon and the product page describe a 5-year limited warranty. Generac's written statement covers five years or 2,000 hours, whichever comes first, from successful start-up or online activation. Years one and two include parts, labor and limited travel; year three is parts only; years four and five cover only the engine short block and alternator rotor and stator.

The unit must be registered with proof of purchase, and warranty work must be done by an Independent Authorized Service Dealer. Proof of required maintenance must be available, travel is capped at 100 miles and three hours, and maintenance, installation and start-up costs are excluded. The emissions warranty is a separate document we did not read.

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Check this model on Amazon

Confirm the model, included parts and availability before ordering.

Primary sources

  1. Generac product page, 18kW standby generator with cellular, variant G0072590
  2. Generac spec sheet, 10/14/18 kW air-cooled standby generators (A0005151081)
  3. Generac owner's manual, 60 Hz air-cooled generators 10-28 kW (A0004332577)
  4. Generac 5-year limited warranty for residential standby generators (10000039087)

Primary sources checked .

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