Have you ever considered having a generator at your home or for your office? If yes then you may have had some experience of how it works, what it does and which type of understanding is needed to get a new generator that fulfills all your needs.
Frankly speaking- no one gets the perfectly suited well-maintained generator at their first attempt. It is because it is not as easy as eating a piece of cake to invest in a few hundred or sometimes a thousand bucks for buying a generator new.
Putting in some effort to find a suitable, reliable and a power generator with lasting performance is always a must.
To help our readers know more about power generators, their kinds, their power values, and maintenance needs, we have tried our best to compile a comprehensive guide to make sure they will know every bit of details regarding the various kinds of generators available on the market.
So don’t wait and lest start exploring right here…
Table of Contents
Different types of generators, what they do, how do they work and their power capacities
While exploring your options among the different kinds of power generators, you will be able to find that there are categories based on the different types of fuels used in them and also the power capacity the generator offers to support the power needs of the user.
We’ll be discussing the different kinds of generators in a brief yet comprehensive way so that you have a better understanding of which type and capacity are good for your use.
So guys here is the most technical part of this guide article that you will need to absorb before you try and get a perfect generator for your use:
Different kinds of generators to compare:
The basic types based on the fuel used in them are :
- Diesel Generators
- Hydrogen Generators
- Whole House Generator
- Solar Generator
- Propane Generators
- Gasoline Generators
- Inverter Generator
Diesel Generators
Pros:
- Quick to start
- Easy fuel availability
- Easy on maintenance and last long
Cons:
- They can be a little noisy
- Fuel cost makes operating expense a lot
The Diesel generators are preferred as emergency, standby, standalone and peak shaving equipment due to their reliability and quick response features. The portable units are easy to carry to campsites and RVs and can ensure powerful support for electricity needs. The high operating cost and generate electricity on demand, which makes them somehow affordable to use.
How A Diesel Generator Works -animation
Hydrogen Generators
Hydrogen generators are an effective and safe mechanism for producing electricity. They offer low pressure as compared to the propane generators, which makes the former safer for use. The energy produced through hydrogen is clean and much cheaper than any of the fossil fuel types. This is all possible with the ideal synergy between the chemical and physical processes. The fuel tank is powered with hydrogen and can produce affordable electricity for limited use.
- Cheaper energy source than any of the fossil-fueled generators
- A clean source of energy
- Easy and cost-effective maintenance.
- Not much portable as needs fixed mounting
- Highly inflammable nature raises safety concerns
The hydrogen generators can be used everywhere. They are typically preferred for powering houses, offices and also to power different modes of transportations, including cars, buses, ships, and trains, etc.
Hydrogen Generators: Safer Solutions for Power Plants
Whole House Generator
- Auto-backup for electricity in emergency needs
- Can get generators offering 17,000 watts or above
- Versatile
- Fixed installation
- Noise issues
The whole house generators are ideally installed at home to switch on automatically when there is a power outage. The power outage issues are usually seen in case of storms and other extreme weather conditions. These large units are installed permanently and could work on any possible source of fuel. They are suitable for emergency needs and have got the power to run all sorts of electronics at home.
- Clean and natural source of energy
- Cost-effective
- The quiet operation usually as compared to other products
- No fuel-burning smell issue
- Lesser portable and difficult to move around due to the size and associated components
- Not for large-scale needs in producing electricity
Solar generators are good for limited use and not too far from your house. You can use it for the electricity needs in your backyard for BBQ and other similar needs. It is reliable for powering TV, refrigerators, mobile phones, and other power-sensitive electronics. However, if you shop well to buy a compact size generator and panel then it could be easily carried to remote areas for campsites as well.
Portable Generators
- Compact and lightweight
- Alternative fuel option
- Several safety features including low-oil auto-shutoff
- Can be noisy
- Foul-smelling fumes
The portable generators just as the name implies are most suitable for remote needs. It is an ideal option for campsites and RVs and even for tailgates. They are easier to carry and can be decently fuel-efficient depending on what source it is employing for operation. This could be wisely chosen as compared to your needs.
Propane Generators
- Cleaner source of power
- Runs well in colder weather conditions
- Spill-free usage with safety valves as compared to diesel and gasoline fuels
- The shorter life expectancy of propane engines
- Fast fuel burn
The propane gas generators make a good choice for the camping, RVs and tailgating needs. They are ideally suited for longer needs. The generators running on propane are fuel-efficient and some of the high-end models could offer a running time of 500 hours. Such generators are frequently found along with the fuel, so that makes it applicable for diverse usage in different types of scenarios.
Gasoline Generators
Gasoline generators employ a spark-ignition engine powered by gasoline for producing electricity. They make a sharp comparison with the diesel generators that uses the technique of compression ignition along with diesel as fuel. The gasoline generators are far more reliable, durable and versatile. A 10,000 watts generator offers plenty of power for domestic needs. The top models come with a sufficient size fuel tank and can offer long hours of nonstop operation. They are generally good with low oil consumption.
- Easy maintenance
- Environment friendly
- Common fuel source
- Extremely explosive for a fire hazard
- More operational cost
The gasoline generators are useful for situations where the electricity backup is required for a shorter period. It is because the operational cost of the fuel is high and it intakes much more fuel to run. You may expect a gasoline generator of 5000 watts to run for 24 hours using 18 gallons of fuel. This is a lot if you are planning to use it for a longer time. Therefore, you can carry it to remote areas within reasonable access along with the required fuel to run. An inverter generator for a longer duration is the best cost-effective solution.
Inverter Generator
- Lightweight and compact
- Low noise levels
- More fuel-efficient as compared to regular generators
- Lower power output
- Associated cost
The inverter generators world over are marketed for the campers, fishermen, and hunters staying in the wilderness. They help in carrying the comfort of home to such remote places. They are quieter and far less cumbersome as compared to other such generators. It is a great means to serve for your electricity needs and also to charge your cell phone.
Generators as per wattage capacity and their applications
By this, we mean that the generator should be big or powerful enough to meet your household needs. Every electrical equipment, gadget or device comes with a wattage tag. Watt is the amount of electricity that a particular electrical appliance would need to consume to power it.
Understanding wattage:
You will need to power a few other things, such as lights, fans, refrigerators, laptops or mobile phones as well, which have their individual wattage needs. Therefore, a larger generator is needed to suffice these needs.
Generators as per their wattage capacity and applications:
Best 1,000 and 2,000 watts generators
With all this equipment, it will be hard to support an A/C in this capacity, especially when a basic refrigerator on its own consumes 700 watts. You can find portable generators running on natural gas or diesel in this range. The portable generators in this range are also good for outdoor camping sites, tailgating, and RVs, etc.
Best 3,000 to 5,000 watts generators
This is a level ahead and could give you much variety in terms of hooking up a lot more electrical equipment with the generator. 1 or sometimes 2 A/Cs can work with such a unit along with several other low-wattage items including lights bulbs, fans, laptops, and even a refrigerator. Portable and inverters generators make a smart choice here. This is also a range that people consider for camping sites and RVs etc.
6,000 – 10,000 watts generators
For frequent power outages, you should also vary about providing consistent power especially to power sensitive electronics, such as laptops, smartphones or TVs. N such a situation, an inverter generator in the range would make a great choice.
11,000 – 50,000 watts generators Multiple appliances can run on them
The mentioned appliances require excessive wattage capacity in powering them. In the case of a standard washing machine, which has a wattage rating of 750 watts, but it requires 250 watts only to start. This requires you to have a generator with higher wattage capacity. Such generators can be noisy but that is what you require for your needs. Large inverters or home standby generators can give the best deal for the users in this category.
Generators offered with 51,000 – 100,000 watts power -Suitable for offices building units
Moreover, multiple low power appliances in bulk such as light bulbs, fans, and laptops can be easily accommodated, which mimics an office environment. You may find natural gas or diesel generators satisfying such diverse wattage needs.
Above 100,000 watts generators- Good for offices and larger building units to serve
Such generators can power multiple AC units, including an extensive central A/C system as well apart from multiple other appliances in huge numbers. They could be very noisy and needs strategic installment in the vicinity. Moreover, the natural gas generators are ideal for the situation as they are not only found to be economical but environment friendly as well.
Maintenance needs of Power generators
- A general inspection is needed for larger generators regularly and for smaller units, it is a must to keep an eye on noises and fuel consumption so that any fault may be caught before it gets worse.
- Always look for cleaning and servicing options as well as lubrication service for keeping the engine in its perfect working condition. Keep an eye on the dipstick to know if the engine oil is enough to allow smoother running of the machine.
- Make sure you have enough coolant to avoid heating up of larger generators that have to run for hours for power support.
- Check batteries and keep checking the performance and make sure you maintain and clean terminals as frequently as needed.
- Keep filters clean for avoiding any blockage or function disruptions.
- Keep the fuel tanks full and ready for assured power backup when needed.
Portable, invertor, or home standby generators are best for such domestic or limited size office or commercial use. Further, for offices, commercial or industrial use, the large size generators in different upper wattage ranges make the only choice. Natural gas generators for large-scale use are best for their environment-friendly and economical operation.
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