Oct 16
2009Choosing A Generator – Which Will Suit Your Needs?
Filed Under (business) by Thor Sundstrom on 16-10-2009
Tagged Under : business, commerce, electric, electricity, generators, home, Industry, power
When the time comes to choose a generator, there are quite a number of possibilities for both the home owner and the business operator: so many, in fact, that it can be quite confusing to those who do not possess the necessary information. What source of fuel do you prefer – diesel or petrol? Is your requirement for a small “emergency” generator for 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 generators work, it could be very hard for you to choose the best one for your needs.
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. Similarly, 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 have similar power delivery. Diesel electrical generators are usually found in agricultural environments, on construction sites and in factories and warehouses: in fact, anywhere there is a need for a portable and reliable source of energy. This can be due to the absence of mains power (as with construction sites) or the mains power cannot be relied upon (such as with agricultural areas and factories).
In determining your generator requirements, you should choose the most efficient model. The size of the new portable generators is indicated by the output and speed provided by the manufacturer: usually, a more powerful generator has a higher output and speed. Most generators fall between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. The lower KVA generators are suitable for home use, whereas the more powerful ones are more than ample for most industrial applications.
Choosing the efficiency of the model is the number one step: however, you will also have to calculate the load you need to supply. To do this, you simply 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 can provide will tell you whether it is powerful enough to meet the needs of your home or business: the amount of fuel in the tank just determines the length of time the generator will operate between refueling.It is always sensible to opt for a generator that provides a slightly higher level of power than you require, thus reducing the chancepossibility of overloading.
Something else you may need to give some thought to is the decibel level of the new portable generators. Will you be required to run the generator during the night in the home? If so, it is a good idea to choose a silent diesel generator as the noise output of these is much lower than traditional diesel generators. It is also sensible to choose a silent diesel generator with a decent sized fuel tank, to make sure that it runs overnight, thereby avoiding refueling in the middle of the night. The noise level is not such a problem 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 opt for a good quality used generator, as this will save you a good deal of money.
Ensuring that you have a generator at hand for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or perhaps those times when there is no electricity supply avaialble (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.
If you would like help comparing the right diesel generator visit our site and download our free guide on generator selection.
