Choosing A Generator - Which Is Best For Your Requirements?
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009There 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 very confusing to those who do not have the knowledge. What source of fuel do you prefer - diesel or petrol? Do you require a small “emergency” generator for the home, or one with a great amount of 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 generators work, you will find it difficult to choose.
What is the best way to choose? Firstly, you should make a decision as to what actual purpose you will need the generator, because with this knowledge you will be able to determine the capacity. If the generator is for home use, it would not make sense to choose a heavy duty industrial generator, as it would give out more power than you require. As well, if your requirement is to run machinery, a small generator will not be sufficient as it is bound to fail when you need it most.
Both diesel and petrol generators are similar in how they deliver power. Diesel electrical generators are usually found in agricultural environments, on construction sites and in factories and warehouses: in reality, just about any place there is a need for a portable and reliable source of energy. This can be due to the fact that 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 deciding upon your generator requirements, you need 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 more powerful generator has a greater output and speed. Most generators fall between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. The generators with lower KVAs are best for home use, whereas those with a higher KVA rating are more than adequate for most industrial applications.
Choosing the efficiency of the model is the number one step: however, it is also necessary to calculate the load you have to supply. To do this, you merely have to work 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 able to provide will tell you whether it is sufficient to meet the demands of your home or business: the capacity of the fuel tank only determines how long the generator will operate between refueling.It is always a good idea to opt for a generator that provides a slightly higher level of power than you require, thus reducing the possibility of overloading.
Something else you may need to give some thought to is the noise level of the diesel 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 much much reduced when compared to traditional diesel generators. It is also sensible to choose a silent diesel generator with a large fuel tank, to make sure that it runs overnight, thereby avoiding refueling in the middle of the night. The noise output is not such a problem if it is used in an industrial situation, or during the day.
For generators that will be used only occasionally, it makes sense to purchase a good quality used generator, as this will save you a good deal of money.
Having a generator at hand for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or perhaps those times when there is no electricity supply available (camping is one such example) is an excellent idea. However, you should do your homework and carefully choose a generator that best suits your individual requirements.
If you would like help comparing the ideal portable generator see our website and download our free report on generator selection.
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