There are many options for the home owner and business operator when the time comes to choose a generator: so many, in fact, that it can be quite confusing to the uninitiated. What type of fuel do you prefer - diesel or petrol? Do you require a small 'emergency' generator for the home, or one with plenty of power to act as a back up when the mains electricity is not available to your business? If you don't have much knowledge as to how generators work, you will find it difficult to choose.
How then, do you make a choice? As a first step, you should decide for what actual reason you will need the generator, as this is a good method of determining the capacity. If you need a generator to use in the home environment, it would not make sense to choose a heavy duty industrial generator, as it would produce more power than you require. Similarly, if you need to operate machinery, a small generator will not be sufficient as it is likely to fail when you need it most.
Both diesel and petrol generators are similar in how they deliver power. Diesel electrical generators are most often found in agricultural environments, on building sites and in factories and warehouses: in fact, just about any place there is a need for a portable and reliable source of energy. This can be because there is no existing mains power (as with building sites) or the mains power cannot be relied upon (agricultural areas and factories).
When you are figuring out your generator requirements, it is important to choose the most efficient model. The size of the portable generator is indicated by the output and speed provided by the manufacturer: generally speaking, a generator with more power has a higher output and speed. The majority of generators fall between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. Those generators with a lower KVA rating are suitable for home use, whereas the higher ones are more than ample for most industrial applications.
The efficiency of the model is the initial step: however, it is also necessary to calculate the load you have to supply. To do this, you simply have to work out the power demand, whether this is in the home or the business, during normal operating conditions. The level of power that the generator can output will tell you whether it is powerful enough to meet the needs of your home or business: the amount of fuel the tank carries only determines how long the generator will operate between refueling.You should always choose a generator that can supply a little more power than you really need, thus reducing the eventuality of overloading.
It may also be necessary to consider the noise level of the petrol generator. Will you need the generator to be run during the night in the home? If so, you should choose a silent diesel generator as the decibel level of these is much lower than traditional diesel generators. It is also wise to purchase a silent diesel generator with a large fuel tank, to ensure that it runs through the night, thereby avoiding refueling in the middle of the night. The noise level is not such important point if it is used in an industrial situation, or during the day.
If the generator is to be used only occasionally, it makes sense to purchase a good quality second hand generator, as this will cost far less.
Having a generator available for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or even when there is no existing mains electricity (camping is one such example) is an excellent idea. However, it pays to do your homework and carefully choose a generator that best suits your individual needs.
If you would like more help comparing the new diesel generator visit our website and download our free guide on generator selection.
Read More From Cristofer Boldrick
|
