Power generators or gensets: a guide to choosing
The guide to choosing a generator depends on many factors since there are many possible uses that this tool can satisfy. The guide to choosing a generator, as well as other Buying Guides Emmeti Insulating, was written to answer the many questions that come to us from our customers or those interested in this tool. This guide to buying a generator will gradually be enriched with useful information to choose the best generator on the market. We will also try to answer your questions in an increasingly precise and professional manner so as to satisfy your curiosity.
What is a generator or electric generator?
The decision to purchase a generator, or otherwise called a power generator, can depend on various motivations. As with other tools, such as compressors or the electric pumps, generators satisfy the need to carry out work in isolated areas or construction sites not equipped with stable electrical sources, the love of camping, life in places without electrical services or simply the provision of itinerant services.
Whether you do one of these jobs or the other, the only need is to have an independent source of electricity.
There are many generator models on the market and this often creates more confusion in the consumer than clarity and information. For this reason, we at Emmeti Insulating, we decided to write this guide to choosing and purchasing a generator.
Basically, a generator is a two-pole, or a complex electrical network accessible externally only by a pair of terminals, which maintains a certain electrical current between its ends or terminals. This description belongs in principle to all current generators. The characteristic that distinguishes them from each other is the type of power source and the power that is delivered. Let's see in more detail below what these two characteristics mean.
Whether you do one of these jobs or the other, the only need is to have an independent source of electricity.
There are many generator models on the market and this often creates more confusion in the consumer than clarity and information. For this reason, we at Emmeti Insulating, we decided to write this guide to choosing and purchasing a generator.
Basically, a generator is a two-pole, or a complex electrical network accessible externally only by a pair of terminals, which maintains a certain electrical current between its ends or terminals. This description belongs in principle to all current generators. The characteristic that distinguishes them from each other is the type of power source and the power that is delivered. Let's see in more detail below what these two characteristics mean.
Types of power supply of a current generator
As with many other tools used daily or almost daily, read for example the guide to compressors or alternatively the guide to choosing a motor pump, the choice of a generator depends on the knowledge of a few but fundamental characteristics that distinguish one model from another. The first characteristic of a generator that we will analyze is the type of power supply it is equipped with. There are basically 3 models of electric generator on the market: generators powered by petrol, generators powered by diesel oil or diesel and gas generators.
Each of these typologies has advantages and disadvantages that we will try to explain here as clearly as possible.
Petrol-powered models are suitable for those who use the generator only occasionally but they are the cheapest models to buy also considering the fluctuation of the price of oil. Petrol engines work at higher revolutions than diesel engines and are more complex, a factor that makes them delicate and sensitive instruments. The advice is to store the instrument in safe places protected from external agents and to carry out periodic maintenance. In addition, it is always better, given the danger and flammability of petrol, to empty the tank every time you put your generator in a warehouse or in any other closed place.
Diesel fueled models are designed for those who use them intensively, this is due to the high cost of the raw material. The high cost also depends in large part on the excellent quality of diesel engines, which run at lower speeds, and on the great reliability they guarantee, and on the lower need for maintenance they require. Unfortunately, diesel is also flammable, so we reiterate the same safety advice that applies to petrol engines.
The latest model is that of gas generators, which are not very widespread but whose use ensures many advantages including a lower power cost and lower consumption, they are more ecological than oil models and have zero dangerous emissions.
The advice is to carefully evaluate your need for using the generator to best orient yourself on the model that best suits you.
Each of these typologies has advantages and disadvantages that we will try to explain here as clearly as possible.
Petrol-powered models are suitable for those who use the generator only occasionally but they are the cheapest models to buy also considering the fluctuation of the price of oil. Petrol engines work at higher revolutions than diesel engines and are more complex, a factor that makes them delicate and sensitive instruments. The advice is to store the instrument in safe places protected from external agents and to carry out periodic maintenance. In addition, it is always better, given the danger and flammability of petrol, to empty the tank every time you put your generator in a warehouse or in any other closed place.
Diesel fueled models are designed for those who use them intensively, this is due to the high cost of the raw material. The high cost also depends in large part on the excellent quality of diesel engines, which run at lower speeds, and on the great reliability they guarantee, and on the lower need for maintenance they require. Unfortunately, diesel is also flammable, so we reiterate the same safety advice that applies to petrol engines.
The latest model is that of gas generators, which are not very widespread but whose use ensures many advantages including a lower power cost and lower consumption, they are more ecological than oil models and have zero dangerous emissions.
The advice is to carefully evaluate your need for using the generator to best orient yourself on the model that best suits you.
The power of a generator
What has been said for the type of power supply is also valid for the power supplied by a generator: the starting point is to choose the model that best suits the use you will make of it. Having said this, the best criterion is to identify the instruments that we want to power with the generator and then carry out a very simple calculation to identify the power that the generator must be able to supply: the power needed to power each instrument coincides with the product of the consumption of that instrument and its starting coefficient. This last data is characteristic of each electrical instrument and indicates how much the consumption of the instrument increases during the starting phase and in other words how many Watts are needed for its start-up. In short, you need to choose the generator that has a power, expressed in Watts, equal to or greater than the result obtained. To check the consumption of your instrument, just read its instruction booklet or on the plate that each instrument should have.
Expert advice: safety and maintenance
The advice is to store the instrument in safe places protected from external agents and to carry out periodic maintenance. In addition, it is always better, given the danger and flammability of petrol, to empty the tank every time you put your generator in a warehouse or in any other closed place.
Furthermore, given the high noise level of engines, especially diesel engines, we recommend that you equip yourself with special noise cancelling headphones while working near power generators. Due to the presence of exhaust fumes, the use of protective masks It is especially recommended if the generator is used in closed or poorly ventilated places. In this sense, gas generators are the most advantageous, as they emit gas in a very small and non-dangerous way for the user.
We feel we must warn you about the use of electric generators if you want to power electrical components equipped with an electronic board, such as computers, televisions and other household appliances; to power these instruments you will have to choose a generator equipped with an inverter, which stabilizes the current supplied and avoids the danger of current peaks that could damage the household appliance.
Furthermore, given the high noise level of engines, especially diesel engines, we recommend that you equip yourself with special noise cancelling headphones while working near power generators. Due to the presence of exhaust fumes, the use of protective masks It is especially recommended if the generator is used in closed or poorly ventilated places. In this sense, gas generators are the most advantageous, as they emit gas in a very small and non-dangerous way for the user.
We feel we must warn you about the use of electric generators if you want to power electrical components equipped with an electronic board, such as computers, televisions and other household appliances; to power these instruments you will have to choose a generator equipped with an inverter, which stabilizes the current supplied and avoids the danger of current peaks that could damage the household appliance.
