Which Generator Will Be Best For Your Needs?
Posted January 15th, 2010 by adminThere are quite a number of options for the home owner and business operator when you need 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? Is your requirement for a small “emergency” generator for the home, or one with sufficient power to act as a back up when the mains electricity fails in your business? If you don’t have much knowledge as to how diesel generators work, you will find it difficult to select one.
How then, do you make a choice? Firstly, you should investigate for what exact purpose you will require the generator, as this will help you to determine the capacity. If you require a generator for around the home, it would not make sense to choose a heavy duty industrial generator, as it would supply more power than you require. Similarly, if you need to run machinery, a small generator will not be enough as it is guaranteed to fail when you need it most.
Both diesel and petrol generators are similar in how they deliver power. Diesel electrical generators are quite often found in agricultural environments, on construction sites and in factories and warehouses: in fact, wherever you may need a portable and reliable source of energy. This can be because there is no mains power (for example construction sites) or the mains power cannot always be relied upon (agricultural areas and factories).
When you are deciding upon your generator requirements, you have to by necessity select the most efficient model. The size of the petrol generator is determined by the output and speed as given by the manufacturer: usually, a more powerful generator has a greater output and speed. The majority of generators range between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. The generators with lower KVAs can be used in the home, whereas the higher ones are more than ample for most industrial applications.
The model’s efficiency rating is the first step: however, you will also have to calculate the load you need to supply. To do this, you simply have to figure out the power demand, whether this be in the home or the business, during normal operating conditions. The degree of power that the generator is capable of providing will tell you whether it is adequate 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 need, thus minimising the possibility of overloading.
Something else you may need to think about is the noise output of the diesel generator. Does the generator need to be run during the night in the home? If this is the case, it is a good idea to select a silent diesel generator as the decibel level of these is considerably much reduced when compared to than traditional diesel generators. It is also sensible to opt for a silent diesel generator with a decent sized fuel tank, to make sure that it runs overnight, so you don’t have to be worried about refueling in the wee small hours. The noise level is not such a critical aspect if it is used in an industrial situation, or in daylight hours.
If you only need to use the generator occasionally, it makes sense to buy a good quality used generator, as this will save you a good deal of money.
Having a petrol generator available for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or perhaps those times 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 requirements.