38 kVA Cummins Generator for Off-Grid Log Cabin Solar Backup

Global Generators supplied a Cummins C38D5Q 38 kVA silent diesel generator to keep off-grid solar batteries charged for remote log cabins in Stoke-on-Trent.

A Cummins C38D5Q 38kVA 3 phase silent canopied diesel generator loaded on a customer’s trailer ready for transport to off-grid solar-powered log cabins in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK

1st Oct 2026|Written by Sam Dexter

Off-grid power for remote countryside log cabins

A remote set of log cabins in the English countryside around Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK sits well away from the mains grid. Its power comes from solar panels, which charge a bank of batteries during the day. The batteries then supply the cabins whenever the panels are not producing.

That works well through spring and summer. But as winter approaches, the days get shorter, the sun sits lower and the weather turns grey. Solar output drops sharply, and the batteries can run down faster than the panels can refill them.

The owners needed a reliable way to keep the batteries charged through the darker months. We supplied a 38 kVA silent genset straight from our range of generators in stock, and the customer elected to collect it from our Doncaster yard on their own trailer.

The equipment supplied

We supplied a Cummins C38D5Q diesel generator, a compact 3 phase set housed in a weatherproof acoustic canopy.

Specification:

  • Model: Cummins C38D5Q
  • Standby rating: 38 kVA / 30 kW
  • Prime rating: 35 kVA / 28 kW
  • Output: 50Hz, 3 phase, 400V
  • Engine: Cummins X3.3-G1 - 3.3 litre, 4 cylinder, 1500rpm
  • Alternator: Stamford S1L2J1
  • Controller: Cummins PowerStart 0600, featuring remote start/stop
  • Fuel tank: 55 litres, enabling up to 6.1 hours runtime at 100% prime-rated load
  • Build type: silent (canopied) - 78 dB(A) at 1m / 68 dB(A) at 7m
  • Application: automatic battery charging backup for an off-grid solar system

Why off-grid solar needs a generator in winter

Batteries store energy, but they do not make it. After a run of dull, short winter days, even a large battery bank will empty if the panels cannot keep up. Adding more panels or batteries helps, but that option is costly and still relies on the sun.

A diesel generator closes that gap. It runs only when the batteries need charging, then stops once they reach the desired charge level. Battery charging typically gives the engine a steady, healthy load, which suits a diesel engine far better than long hours running on a light load if it was instead used as prime power for the cabins directly.

Automatic charging with nobody on site

The cabins' battery controller signals the generator's PowerStart 0600 controller to start whenever the batteries require charging. Once at the desired level, it signals the set to shut down. Nobody needs to be on hand to manually start or stop the generator, day or night.

With no mains supply to fall back on, the prime rating is the figure that matters. The C38D5Q delivers 35 kVA (28 kW) of prime power, rated for unlimited running hours under a variable load, and is backed by Cummins' 1 year, unlimited hours prime application warranty. Its acoustic canopy keeps noise down in a quiet rural setting, and the controller logs faults and flags when servicing is due.

Why customers choose Global Generators

  • Authorised Cummins CPG dealer - the UK's best pricing on Cummins diesel generators, backed by our Best UK Cummins Diesel Generator Prices guarantee
  • A leading stockist - a wide range of generators held in our own physical inventory, so your power solution is ready immediately, before the dark months arrive
  • Over 50 years of combined experience - we're here to help any off-grid sites match a generator to their solar and battery system
  • Fast UK-wide delivery and efficient global export - or free, immediate collection from our Doncaster headquarters, as this customer opted for

Need all-weather backup for an off-grid solar system?

Log cabins, holiday parks, glamping sites, farms or remote homes: if your solar and battery system struggles to maintain a safe reserve charge level through winter, our team can help you choose the right generator to keep it charged. We supply tried and trusted diesel generators and related equipment such as ATS panels and additional fuel tanks, with fast nationwide delivery or collection from stock, and worldwide export available.

Talk to our power generation experts today. Call us, message us on WhatsApp, or send us an email, and we will help you keep your site powered all year round.

Headshot image of Sam Dexter - Digital Growth Engineer at Global Generators Ltd

About the author

Sam Dexter

Digital Growth Engineer

Sam is the Digital Growth Engineer at Global Generators, responsible for the company's digital presence and marketing strategy. He left college in 2017 for a digital marketing apprenticeship, learning the profession and the power generation industry side-by-side, and has spent the years since working across website development, SEO, paid advertising, content, analytics, automation and AI implementation. The years spent so close to the products has helped Sam build a genuine working knowledge of generator sets - ratings, applications, specifications and the questions customers actually need answering - which shapes everything he publishes. Since joining Global Generators in 2026 Sam now works at the intersection of technology, marketing and operations - improving online visibility and finding smarter ways to reach and support customers.