Generator Blog

All generators operate differently, so please consult the instructions that came with your model.
Powering Up Your Generator

* Check fuel level.
* If you must add fuel, be sure generator is cooled down.
* Do not over fill.
* Check oil level.
* Check filter.
* Check voltage selector to make sure it matches the type of application you are connecting to (CHOOSE BETWEEN ‘120-VOLTS AND ‘120-VOLT/240′).
* Move generator outside to well-ventilated area.
* Place on a firm, level surface.
* Connect a heavy duty, outdoor-rated power cord to generated, or connect appliances directly to generator to generator.
* Turn generator’s circuit breaker off.
* Turn power switch on.
* Pull cord.
* Let generator warm up before turning circuit breaker back on.

Gasoline
Some generators operate on unleaded gasoline. Others use diesel fuel. Five gallons of gas will power a 5,600 watt generator for about eight hours. One gallon of gas will power a 3,000 watt generator for about 3 1/2 hours.

Additional supplies
You will also need multi-gallon, vented containers for storing gasoline (fill before storm comes), engine oil, an outdoors-rated extension cord and a carbon-monoxide detector.

Caring for your generator

* Never over fill gas.
* Don’t use stale or contaminated gas.
* Avoid getting dirt or water in the fuel tank.
* Turn fuel valve off when transporting or storing generator. This keeps fuel from diluting engine oil and damaging engine.
* Run generator at least once a month. This lubricates the engine, recharges the battery and lets fresh gas through the carburetor.
* When storing a generator for more than two months, drain fuel and add fuel conditioner to top it off, following directions on the label.
* Change oil regularly, according to your model’s manual.
* Change filter regularly. according to your model’s manual.

Safety Tips

The risks (if you don’t do it right): carbon-monoxide poisoning, electrocution, fire and explosion.

* Never use wet hands to operate the generator. Never let water come in contact with the generator.
* Never run your generator in a garage because the carbon-moxide exhaust is toxic. Find a well-ventilated space with some cover, but be sure the generator isn’t positioned outside an open window. Use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. Always turn the engine off before refueling and let the generator cool.
* Don’t spill fuel. It can ignite.
* Store fuel and generator in a ventilated area and away from natural gas water heaters. Vapors can escape from closed cans and tanks, then travel to the pilot light and ignite.
* Never feed power from a portable generator into a wall outlet. This can kill linemen working to restore power. It also can damage your generator.
* Don’t use power cords that are frayed. This can cause a fire. Be sure all prongs are intact and that the cord is outdoor-rated. The cord’s wattage or amps must not be smaller than the sum of the connected appliance loads.

Shopping Tips

* Ask the dealer how many watts it will put out and for how long and how big a load it can handle.
* You could spend around $350 for a 2,400 watts model, $600 for an industrial-strength model. A television uses 300 watts; a freezer, 330; a water heater 3,000.
* Compare brands and models. Get manufacturer’s toll-free numbers for technical questions.
* Make sure you have the right cords and connectors or the generator will be useless. Consider an auxiliary fuel tank.
* Don’t fill fuel tanks until right before the storm. Stored fuel will grow stale and is unsafe in a hot garage.
* Most starters use rope pulls. If your use a battery, make sure it’s kept charged.
* Buy now, not after the storm. You’ll pay a lot less.

Most people know that diesel engines in automobiles provide higher mileage, making it an obvious choice for heavy-duty transportation and equipment. Diesel is priced heavily when compared to gas, because it has a higher energy density and more energy can be extracted from diesel when compared to the same volume of gas. Diesel fuel has heavier, oilier and has a higher boiling point when compared to gas. When you compare petrol, gas and other fuels, diesel is least flammable. When compared to gas generators, this generator requires less maintenance. Being rugged and reliable, it can work for long hours at a stretch. Modern diesel generators can overcome noise issues. Onsite fuel delivery is available. These generators are used in many industries like mining, telecommunications, marine and agriculture applications, hospitals, industrial plants and commercial buildings. Although they are built for large loads, modern diesel generator is designed to comfortably handle small loads without wet stacking. These are available in single phase and there phase power generators.

You can find different types of diesel generators in the market. Small portable diesel generators range from 1kva to 10kva, while larger industrial generators range from 8kva -30kva for homes, small shops & offices up to 2000kva used for large office complexes, factories and power stations.

The typical diesel generator is run at 1800RPM and is water cooled. This makes them great work horses as they are able to run for longer periods of time when compared to the gasoline generator and without much maintenance work required. They are also cheaper to operate due to the low fuels costs as compared to the other types of fuels such as gasoline and propane as well as the lowered maintenance costs due to there being no spark plugs and carburetors.

The diesel generator operation is similar to that of the diesel engine. There are two types of diesel engines. The 2-stroke and the 4-stroke operation are the two types. The 4-stroke operation is the one that is typically used in diesel generators. This process as the name implies uses four strokes.

The first stroke is the power stroke where a fine mist of diesel is sprayed on top of the piston in the hot compressed air space. The fuel is then ignited and the air on top of the piston expands. This pressure then causes the piston to move down and this motion is converted to a rotary motion by a rod that drives the crankshaft.

The next stroke is the exhaust stroke which is initiated by the momentum of the crankshaft turning and the piston then moves up. The next stroke is the suction stroke and this is when the piston reaches the top and the momentum continues so that the piston reverses in direction. The piston then moves down and the compression stroke is next where the direction of the piston is again changed after the lowest point. This cycle continues for the operation of the diesel generator.

Although the diesel generator is by far the cheaper generator overall it can cost a lot more to set up initially and this can be a deterrent to many generator users. The generators are also not as clean burning as the other fuel generators although this has improved much in recent times. The diesel generators may also require a larger store of fuel but this is much safer to store than gasoline. Another disadvantage of the diesel generator is that it can be a lot more noisy compared to their counterparts.

Many persons however believe that the savings that can be derived from an investment in the diesel generator are indeed well worth the disadvantages. The savings in fuel and maintenance are immense and the hassle free maintenance is a great plus. This is the reason many commercial generator users opt for the diesel generator. Diesel generators are available in mainly larger designs but can also be found on occasion in smaller units.