Which Generator Will Be Best For Your Needs?
February 6th, 2010
There are many options for the home owner and business operator when the time comes to choose a generator: so many, actually, that it can be very confusing to the uninitiated. What type of fuel do you prefer - diesel or petrol? Is your requirement for a small “emergency” generator for use in the home, or one with plenty of power to act as a back up when the mains electricity fails in your business? If you don’t have much of an understanding of how portable generator work, you will find it difficult to choose.
How then, do you make a choice? To begin with, you should investigate for what exact purpose you will require the generator, as this will help you to determine the capacity. If you need a generator for around the home, it would not be wise to choose a heavy duty industrial generator, as it would supply more power than you really need. Similarly, if your requirement is to run machinery, a generator with a low output of power will not be enough as it is bound to fail when you need it most.
Both diesel and petrol generators have similar power delivery. 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 due to the absence of mains power (for example construction sites) or the mains power cannot always be relied upon (such as with agricultural areas and factories).
When you are working out your generator requirements, you need to select the most efficient model. The size of the petrol generators is indicated by the output and speed given by the manufacturer: it is usually the case that, a more powerful generator has a higher output and speed. Most generators can be categorised between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. The generators with lower KVAs can be used in the home, whereas the the higher ones are more than ample for the majority of industrial applications.
The efficiency of the model is the initial step: however, it is also necessary to determine the load you need to supply. To do this, you simply have to calculate the power demand, whether this is in the home or the business, during normal operating conditions. The degree of power that the generator can output will tell you whether it is sufficient to meet the requirements of your home or business: the the amount of fuel the tank holds only determines how long the generator will operate between refueling.It is always wise to choose a generator that provides a little more power than you require, thus minimising the possibility of overloading.
Another factor you may have to consider is the decibel output of the new portable generators. Does the generator need to be run during the night in the home? If this is the case, it is a good idea to choose a silent diesel generator as the decibel level of these is considerably lower than traditional diesel generators. It is also a good idea to opt for a silent diesel generator with a large fuel tank, to make sure that it runs overnight, thereby avoiding refueling in the wee small hours. The noise level is not such a critical factor if it is used in an industrial situation, or during the day.
If you only need to use the generator occasionally, it makes sense to purchase a good quality used generator, as this will save you a good deal of money.
Ensuring that you have a silent generator at hand for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or perhaps those times when there is no mains electricity (camping is one such example) is a brilliant idea. However, it pays to do your homework and carefully choose a generator that best suits your individual needs.
Categories: General Interest |
