Brand guide
Kohler / Rehlko standby generators
Kohler Energy became the independent company Rehlko in 2024, but residential generators continue to be sold under the familiar KOHLER generator name. If your unit says KOHLER, you are still in the same home-generator product and dealer ecosystem. This page explains the current names, model families and features before sending you to the exact model or dealer.
Research & editorial responsibility: Standby Generator Resource. Technical claims are checked against the primary sources that actually support the model, product family, location or rule being discussed.
How we research →Plain English
What the Kohler / Rehlko terms actually mean
Rehlko
The company formerly called Kohler Energy. It became a stand-alone business in May 2024 and rebranded as Rehlko in September 2024. Residential products still use the KOHLER generator name, so both names can appear in current support and search results.
Read the official explanation ↗RCA vs. RCAL
RCA is the generator model family with the automatic transfer switch sold separately. RCAL is a bundled configuration that includes a transfer switch. The generator itself may be closely related, but the package and installation scope are different.
Read the official explanation ↗PowerBoost
KOHLER's motor-starting feature. The company says it helps start large loads, such as central air conditioning, without dropping power to other appliances already running on the generator.
Read the official explanation ↗KOHLER Energy Management app
The current remote-monitoring app for supported KOHLER home generators. It gives owners remote visibility into generator status rather than requiring every check at the generator itself.
Read the official explanation ↗Eco-exercise
A quieter scheduled self-test option on supported KOHLER models. For example, the current 26RCA page publishes a 90-second eco-exercise option; that timing should not be assumed for every KOHLER model.
Read the official explanation ↗Common generator terms
Five terms you should not have to decode
kW (kilowatts)
A measure of generator power. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. A bigger kW number means more electrical capacity, but it does not automatically mean the generator can run every appliance in every home.
ATS (automatic transfer switch)
The electrical switch that detects a utility outage, disconnects the home from the grid and connects it to generator power. When utility power returns, it switches the home back automatically.
Air-cooled vs. liquid-cooled
Two different ways the engine removes heat. Air-cooled units are common in smaller residential standby systems; liquid-cooled systems are generally used as capacity and engine size increase. Maintenance and installation rules differ.
Exercise / self-test cycle
A scheduled automatic test the generator performs when there is no outage. It is simply checking that the system can start and report faults; it has nothing to do with a workout program.
Load management
A control strategy that delays or prioritizes selected large appliances so they do not all demand power at the same time. It can sometimes let a smaller generator support more of the home without overloading.
What stands out
- KOHLER publishes current model pricing, fuel-specific kW ratings, sound levels, motor-starting data and downloadable manuals directly on many product pages.
- PowerBoost gives homeowners a concrete motor-starting feature to compare when central air or other large loads matter.
- The current residential lineup clearly separates compact air-cooled models from much larger liquid-cooled systems such as the 38RCLC.
What to verify
- • Kohler, Kohler Energy and Rehlko can all appear in search results; use the current KOHLER Home Energy/Rehlko site for residential information.
- • RCA and RCAL labels change whether a transfer switch is included, so compare package scope rather than only the kW number.
- • Do not generalize sound, exercise-cycle or battery data from one model to another.
- • We do not claim KOHLER produces universally 'cleaner power than competitors' without a like-for-like published comparison; use each model's actual electrical specifications.
Model families in our research
These cards open current manufacturer information until we have enough verified depth to justify a dedicated model page of our own.
12 kW compact family
Compact residential models serve essential-load and smaller-home use cases. Package and transfer-switch configurations vary, so verify the exact model suffix.
View official model information ↗20RCA
20 kW LP / 18 kW NG current air-cooled residential model with the transfer switch sold separately and model-specific manuals on the product page.
View official model information ↗26RCA
Current high-capacity air-cooled residential model with published fuel ratings, sound levels, remote monitoring and eco-exercise information.
View official model information ↗38RCLC
Liquid-cooled residential/light-commercial system. Its engine, coolant, battery and maintenance requirements belong in a separate model-specific path from the air-cooled RCA family.
View official model information ↗What should you do next?
Use the brand guide as a starting point—not a dead end.
Rehlko / KOHLER generator repair & service
Use the Rehlko-specific repair path to separate KOHLER home standby service from industrial Rehlko Power Systems support, preserve controller faults and find the correct official service network.
Open guide →KOHLER maintenance planning
Use the general maintenance framework, then confirm oil, filters and intervals in the exact KOHLER operation manual.
Open guide →Generac vs KOHLER
Compare current model output, fuel ratings, transfer-switch packaging, monitoring, warranty language and dealer support.
Open guide →Get a KOHLER installation quote
Use KOHLER's official quote path to be matched with a certified local dealer for home-specific pricing and installation scope.
Open manufacturer site ↗Primary sources
Open the manufacturer material behind the claims on this page.