Connect Series Air-Cooled

Cummins RS17A

17kW air-cooled standby generator, Natural Gas / LP Vapor. The typical three-bedroom DFW home with a single AC system.

Representative manufacturer image of the range. Enclosure finish, color and dimensions vary by model and configuration — see the specifications below for this unit.

17 kW Natural Gas / LP Vapor Air-cooled Aluminum

The RS17A is an air-cooled unit in an aluminum enclosure, which is the right build for a residential yard: no radiator loop to service, a smaller pad, and a footprint of 34.1 x 36 x 27.3 inches at 531 lb.

It runs on natural gas or LP vapor. On natural gas there is no tank to fill and no runtime limit as long as the utility main holds pressure, which is why it is the default choice on almost every DFW home that already has gas service.

Equipment price

$5,167.05

Equipment only — installation quoted separately

Typical all-in installed cost in DFW
$12,500 - $15,500

Equipment above plus professional installation by our licensed electricians. Installation is quoted after a free on-site survey, because gas line runs, panel location and permits differ at every address. We don’t guess, and we don’t pad.

✓ Concrete or composite pad
✓ Gas line sizing and pressure test
✓ Transfer switch and electrical tie-in
✓ Permit and city inspection
✓ Startup, load test and walkthrough

The five items above are part of the installation quote, not the equipment price.

Reserve this unit — (214) 957-4307

Refundable deposit · locks this price 90 days · schedules your free survey · applies 100% to final invoice

Get a free quote first

Not ready to reserve? Have us call you.

Specifications

Model	Cummins RS17A
Rated output	17 kW
Fuel	Natural Gas / LP Vapor
Cooling	Air-cooled
Enclosure	Aluminum
Weight	531 lb
Dimensions (L×W×H)	34.1 x 36 x 27.3 in
Voltage configurations	120/240 1Ph
Extreme cold package	Available as an upgrade
Transfer switch	Sold separately, sized to your service
Application	residential
Output — natural gas	17 kW (70.8 A at 240 V)
Output — LP vapor	17 kW (70.8 A at 240 V)
Sound level	65 dB(A) 65 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m) at normal load
Cummins model	C17N6H
Engine	QSJ999G — Naturally aspirated, V-twin, air-cooled
Displacement	60.96 in³ (999 cc)
Cylinder block	Aluminum
Rated speed	3600 rpm
Motor starting	34 kVA at 30% voltage dip — starts a 5-ton A/C under full pre-load
Voltage regulation	±1.25% no load to full load
Frequency regulation	Isochronous, ±1.25% steady state (±1.5% at no load)
Harmonic distortion	Less than 5% total harmonic distortion
Main breaker	Single 100 A circuit breaker, UL certified
Battery required	Group 51R, 450 CCA at 32°F (0°C) — part A052Y816, bought locally
Clearance to structure	18 inches from a building (meets NFPA 37)
Gas supply pressure	NG 3.5 – 12.0 in H₂O (0.87 – 3.0 kPa) · LP 6.0 – 12.0 in H₂O (1.49 – 3.0 kPa)
Fuel use at full load	258 ft³/hr natural gas · 102 ft³/hr LP
Operating temperature	-40°F to 122°F (-40°C to 50°C)
Wind rating	Evaluated to withstand 180 MPH wind loads per ASCE 7-10
Derating	Full rated power to 77°F (25°C) and 1,000 ft (300 m). Derate 3.5% per 1,000 ft and 1% per 10°F above that.
Certifications	UL 2200, CSA 22.2 and B149.1, EPA emissions, NFPA 37
Warranty	5 year / 2,000 hour limited warranty. RA automatic transfer switches carry a separate 2 year warranty.

Available configurations

This model ships in a single factory configuration.

Part number	Voltage	Phase	Price
A071Z394	120/240	1Ph	$5,167.05

All prices are for the equipment only.

Built in

What the RS17A does that the spec table does not show

Intelligent Load Management

The generator can control up to 4 loads and continuously monitors how much power each one needs, then restores only the loads it has capacity to run. This is what makes a 20kW unit cover a house with two air conditioners.

Patented Crank-Only exercise mode

The weekly exercise cycle can crank the engine and run diagnostics without actually starting it, which reduces wear, fuel use and the noise of the exercise run.

Remote monitoring, built in

Remote monitoring is standard on every unit. From a computer, tablet or phone you can check status, change the exercise schedule and start the generator manually.

5-ton air conditioner start

Rated to start and run a 5-ton A/C under full pre-load — the load that decides generator sizing in Texas.

Accessories and maintenance parts for this unit →
Specifications on this page are taken from the Cummins published specification sheet for the air-cooled Connect range. Download it from Cummins →

Pairs with

Transfer switches for a 17kW set

The switch is sized to your electrical service, not to the generator. These are the families that typically apply at this output — we confirm the exact one at the survey.

RA 100A

Service-entrance rated options available. 4 configurations.

From

$763.42

RSS100 100A

1 configurations.

From

$1,279.58

Questions about the RS17A

How much does a Cummins RS17A cost installed in Dallas-Fort Worth?

The RS17A equipment price is $5,167.05. Installed in DFW, a typical 17kW job runs $12,500 - $15,500 all in. The spread comes from four things: how far the pad sits from your gas meter, whether the gas line carries the added load or has to be upsized, the run from the generator to your electrical panel, and what your city charges and requires for permits and inspection. We put the installation number in writing after a free site survey.

What will the RS17A actually run?

Most of a 2,000-2,500 sq ft home with load management on the larger AC. Final confirmation comes from a load calculation against your actual panel, which we do at the survey.

Do I need a transfer switch with the RS17A?

Yes. A standby generator cannot be code-compliantly connected without an automatic transfer switch - it is what keeps your generator from backfeeding the utility line and endangering line crews. The switch is sized to your electrical service, not to the generator, so we confirm your service size at the survey before specifying it.

Is the RS17A in stock?

Availability changes weekly. A refundable deposit reserves a specific unit and locks the equipment price for 90 days, which is the practical way to hold one while the survey and permit work happen. If we cannot source it in a reasonable window, you get the deposit back.

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