How to Buy the Right Generator: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Purchasing a generator may sound straightforward, but anyone who has tried will tell you it’s no less than solving a complex puzzle. The process involves numerous considerations, from the type of generator to its application and capacity. Making the right decision requires careful planning and knowledge to ensure you’re not only buying what suits your needs but also avoiding potential problems like under-sizing or operational inefficiency.
Why Buying a Generator Can Be a Challenge
When you decide to buy a generator, you’re faced with a plethora of options and technical jargon. Do you need a single-phase or three-phase generator? Petrol or diesel-powered? Should it cater to home use, office backup, or industrial plants? How do you calculate your power requirements to make the right choice without wasting money on excessive capacity or risking damage due to under-sizing?
To answer these questions, a thorough understanding of your specific needs and a consultation with a certified electrician is essential. With proper planning, you can avoid overspending and ensure your generator meets your power demands without operational hiccups.
Key Considerations When Buying a Generator
1. Identify the Purpose
The first step is to determine how and where the generator will be used:
- Prime Power Supply: For continuous use in major installations or industrial units.
- Standby Power: As a backup during power outages at home, offices, or small businesses.
- Special Applications: For camping, hiring purposes, or powering events.
2. Technical Specifications
Once you’ve established the purpose, focus on the technical details:
- Power Type: Single-phase for homes and small businesses; three-phase for industrial use.
- Fuel Type: Petrol for smaller and less frequent use; diesel for larger and long-term needs.
- Frame Type: Open-frame for well-ventilated areas; silent models for noise-sensitive locations.
- Control Features: Options include Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), recoil or electric start, and features like AMF (Automatic Mains Failure) or MMF (Manual Mains Failure).
3. Capacity and Load Calculation
Calculate your power requirements by adding the wattage of all the appliances and equipment the generator will power. Add an extra margin (around 20-30%) to ensure the generator isn’t operating at maximum capacity continuously, which can reduce its lifespan. Undersizing a generator can lead to hazardous situations, equipment damage, and reduced output.
Generator Types Based on Application
Home Use
- Capacity: 5 kW to 50 kW
- Ideal for powering essential appliances like refrigerators, lighting, fans, and small devices during outages.
Industrial Use
- Capacity: 50 kW to 3 MW
- Suitable for factories, large-scale manufacturing, and commercial buildings. These generators can handle heavy machinery and industrial loads.
Portable Generators
- Easy to transport and use for camping, small-scale construction projects, or outdoor events.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Under-Sizing the Generator
- Many assume small generators can be used as standby units since they are not running continuously. However, an undersized generator is prone to overheating, reduced efficiency, and potential damage.
- Always opt for a generator with a slightly higher capacity than your calculated needs.
- Neglecting Runtime Requirements
- Standby generators need to run for extended periods during outages. Ensure the generator you choose can handle the load and runtime without overheating or excessive wear.
- Overlooking Noise Levels
- For residential or office use, consider silent or soundproof generators to avoid disturbance.
- Ignoring Fuel Availability
- Diesel generators are more efficient for long-term use, while petrol generators are ideal for short-term or portable applications.
Conclusion
Buying a generator isn’t just about selecting the first option that fits your budget. It’s about understanding your needs, calculating power requirements, and choosing a model that ensures reliability and efficiency. A well-thought-out purchase can save you from costly repairs, operational inefficiencies, and safety risks.
In Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into selecting the right generator for specific applications and provide detailed examples to help you make an informed decision. Stay tuned, and let’s power through this journey together!
We calculated out how much each row of servers in our datacenter uses per hour, and estimated that we would need to generate enough power to run them for 12 hours. In case of emergency, that should give us plenty of time to work out a solution and warn critical customers. Last time we had a major outage, we actually ran out of gas and had to borrow generators from the warehouse next door while we sent someone for gas.