As soon as you realize you need a power backup, the very first thing that comes to mind is a generator. However, when it comes to the actual purchase, you may feel anxious, for there are so many options available in the market. Apart from the variation in make and model, the piece of equipment varies widely depending upon the power, features, and of course, the type of fuel.
Through this article, we intend to help you understand what things you must consider and what you can ignore when buying a backup generator.
Fuel Type Is The Major Cost Factor
To begin with, the very first thing you need to decide is the type of fuel engine you wish in your generator. More than what you wish for, you must consider what fuel type should suit your needs because it is one of the major costing factors. For instance, if you consider the cost of diesel, you may find it cheaper than gasoline but costlier to natural gas. However, if you consider the specific energy of all the fuels you may be surprised to know that diesel excels all. In other words, a diesel generator may operate for longer as compared to other fuels, given that the fuel amount is the same for all.
Interestingly, you shall also consider the availability of fuel. For instance, diesel is far more easily available as compared to natural gas and gasoline. So, you can look for a diesel generator for sale, particularly, if you’re keen on saving in the long run. Besides, the cost of maintenance for diesel gen-sets is also lower as they consist of fewer parts than petrol or a natural gas gen-set.
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Then There’s The Size Of The Generator
After deciding the fuel that suits your needs, you should be concerned about the size of your generator. Typically, there are two types of generators available in the market- a portable type and a standby type. As the name suggests, portable generators are smaller in size facilitating easy mobility of the equipment. On the other hand, a standby generator is larger in size, therefore cannot be moved around and needs to be installed at one location.
That being said, the size also explains a lot about the loading capacity of the generator. In case, you are looking for a generator to take along on your camping trips, a portable generator might be the best buy for you. Moreover, they can produce up to 6kVA of power, which is ample to support your campsite. On the other hand, if you need a backup generator for your office or business, you might need more power. Consequently, a standby generator might just be the right choice for you.
The Cooling System Affects Endurance
When you’re operating a generator for say a few hours, you may notice that the engine starts to overheat. To counter this problem, manufacturers usually fit gen-sets with an additional cooling system. The system is perhaps similar to a radiator in automobiles. And it also uses a similar cooling liquid.
The point here is, if you believe you’d be needing your generator to work efficiently for several hours, you must consider an efficient cooling system as well. Perhaps the cooling system actually affects the endurance of your generator.
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Safety Features Can Mitigate Fatalities
Lastly, you cannot ignore safety features for the reason, a generator uses inflammable fuel and also produces electricity. In all possibilities, there can be instances when an accident may occur because of negligence in maintenance or handling.
Many generators come with automatic changeover switches, malfunction signals, and even fuel indicators. Such features can help mitigate any possible accidents before they actually happen. For instance, if the generator is overloaded, automatic kill switches and fuses may stop the gen-set to prevent any potential damage. Similarly, if the engine overheats, or if the coolant is low in the radiator, the system would either prevent it from starting at all or at least, would limit its efficiency. The idea is to prevent any possible damages that may occur either to the equipment or the loads it supports.
To sum it up, buying a generator is a lot easier said than done. You not only need a piece of equipment that fits into your budget but also solves your problem in the best possible way. And the only way to ensure that is to conduct extensive research before buying. After all, a well-informed decision is least likely to backfire.
