Generator Blog

What can you do if you are out of power and need to charge your cell phone?  There are battery boosters, and fuel cell rechargers and now a new device that cranks energy with a yo-yo-like string.

The YoGen handheld charger for portable electronics was launched at CES and received recognition as a “Best of CES 2010″ item by Gadget-Gurus.

The 100 percent green, fully-sustainable device that creates levels of charge sufficient to ensure sustained use when a battery runs down. YoGen Sells for $39.95 and could come in handy in cases of a disaster or just when you forget to charge you phone. It works with most cell phones including iPhones, USB devices and Bluetooth headsets.

YoGen can echarge any small-to-mid-sized personal electronics device by offering the industry’s leading ratio of energy output to input.

Through repeated pulls on an attached ripcord, similar to the motion of a Yo-Yo, YoGen’s internal alternator generates power in to charge everything from cell phones, iPods, PDAs and MP3s to Gameboys, GPS units, cameras and other devices. The alternator interfaces with an energy-efficient electronic stabilizer and transmission to transfer linear kinetic energy through a patch cord from the compact, ergonomically-designed unit to the electronic device.

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies developed a new product which was presented at CES Las Vegas, Nevada (Consumer Electronics Show).

The Singapore based Horizon fuel cell technologies is showing off the Hydrofill, a fuel cell system
designed for charging electronic gadgets at CES 2010.

The product will be released later this year and allows users to charge up their favourite mobile or small electronics with a hydrogen fuel cell.

The device extracts the hydrogen from water and stores it in special cartridges, which fit into the pocket size minipak. the minipak uses a USB port to charge everything from ipods and cameras to rechargeable batteries and GPS devices.

The process of turning water into hydrogen is very clean too, since its only produces water vapour as a result.

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies, which first became known to the general public with an exclusive Gizmag story in 2006 about the company’s educational toy solar hydrogen car.
The Horizon toy cars quickly became the world’s largest volume-produced commercial fuel cell products and it is quite an irony that less than half a decade later, the company which launched with a toy car appears set to introduce genuinely disruptive technology into the home, finally enabling the long-touted futuristic vision of a hydrogen station in every home.

Whether you own an RV, or intend to buy one soon, you will need a reliable source of power for your travels. Portable generators provide an economical and effective solution to your electric power needs, on the road or at the campsite.

For many people though, purchasing a power generator can be an intimidating and confusing process. Here’s how to choose the right one for your power needs.

First, you need to determine the size of the generator for your RV by knowing how much power you will use. This will narrow down the choices you have when selecting a portable generator.

Start by surveying your RV for appliances that run on 120 volts. The TV, microwave and other kitchen appliances generally require the most power but smaller appliances can add up. Most RV lights are 12 volt but some may be 120 volt. Your RV air conditioner is the biggest power user.

Next, add up the power requirements, in watts, for all the devices that you are likely to operate at the same time. Wattage ratings are printed on light bulbs; other devices like hair dryers and electric heaters are also described by their wattage requirements. If the device doesn’t provide a wattage requirement, you can determine watts by multiplying volts times amps.

Be aware that some electrical devices have starting wattage requirements that are larger than the running watts, like the air conditioner. If so, use the starting wattage requirement for the largest of the devices you want to run and the running watts for all other devices. This is the minimum wattage you will need from a generator.

Now that you have determined your power needs, it’s time to look at the type of generator that will fit the bill.

There are two types of portable generators: contractor and RV. Contractor generators are generally inexpensive, very noisy, and not suitable for an otherwise quiet campground. RV generators are purpose-built, providing quiet, reliable power that your camping neighbors will thank you for. They are expensive but are well worth it in the long run.

There are a wide range of portable RV-type generators, with each manufacturer having a wide range of noise levels. Honda, Yamaha, and Kipor (see Resources section below) all make super-quiet portable generators. Match up your power requirements with the model that has the lowest decibel (a measure of how loud we hear noise) level.

Starting options for portable generators are either pull start, like your lawn mower, or electric start using a key. Generally speaking, electric start generators are available in the 3000 watt range and larger. If you have a bad back or just want the convenience, shop for the larger wattage generators.

There is even a wireless remote option that can be retrofitted to most electric start generators. It’s costly but can be very convenient if you don’t want to get out of bed, go outside, and turn off the generator.

Consider how long you will run your generator. Some portable generators have small fuel tanks, less than 1 gallon, while others have much larger ones, up to 5 gallons. Generally speaking, the larger the power output from the generator, the larger the fuel tank capacity. There are options though to add additional fuel capacity.

Think about how you will transport your generator. Larger generators weigh a lot, up to 175 lbs. with fuel. You can transport it in the back of your truck so be ensure to get the optional wheel kit for the generator and use ramps to make it easier to roll the generator in to the back of the truck.

If you have an SUV tow vehicle, you can have a platform built on the back of your RV to carry the generator. Never transport your generator in the back of your SUV. Gas fumes are explosive and in the event of a fender bender, you don’t want a 100 lb. chunk of metal flying in to the passenger area.

Getting a generator that can handle all your power generation needs is one of the most critical aspects of the purchasing decision.  Whether you are interested in prime or standby power, if your new generator can’t meet your specific requirements then it simply won’t be doing anyone any good because it can put undue stress on the unit and even damage some of the devices connected to it.  Unfortunately, determining exactly what size of generator to get is often very difficult and involves a number of factors and considerations. 

Making a choice amongst single phase, three phase, kW, KVA, welder, standby or motor starting generators can be mind-boggling. To prevent such confusion, this article was developed to help you get a better idea of how the sizing process works and some key things to keep in mind.  This is not a substitute for a certified electrician, which we always suggest talking to before buying, but it should provide you with enough information to get a solid understanding of some of the key things that are involved.

Generator Size Variations:  With the latest advancements in the field of electrical engineering, generators are now available in a wide range of sizes. Generators with power supply capacities of 5kW to 50kW are readily available in the personal and home use markets, while industrial generators are anywhere from 50kW to over 3 Megawatts.  Handy and portable gensets are available for homes, RV’s and small offices, but larger businesses, data centers, buildings, plants, and industrial applications need to use the much larger sized industrial generators to meet their higher power requirements.

Generator Sizing - How Much Power?:  Many people believe smaller generators can be used for standby electric power because they are not running all the time. This is not only a myth but can actually be very detrimental. Unfortunately, generator under sizing is one of the most common mistakes committed by buyers.  Not only does it involve the risks of damaging your new asset (the generator), but it can also damage other assets connected to it, create hazardous situations, and even limit overall productivity of the unit and/or the business relying on it.  If nothing else, the key thing to remember here is that more is always better than less.  

How to Determine the Right Size Engine or Generator: While there is no substitute for having a certified electrician perform an inspection and calculate everything for you, the guidelines below do offer some great starting points and should at least get you started in the right direction:

- Make a list of the items that need to be powered by the generator

- Make a note of the starting and running wattage of the respective items

- Calculate the total power requirements in KVA or KW

How to Find the Starting and Running Wattage: Getting the right starting and running wattage of the devices you intend to power is crucial for calculating the accurate power requirements. Normally, you will find these in the identification plate or the owner’s manual in the buyer’s kit of each respective device, tool, appliance, or other electrical equipment.

Ampere - Watt Conversion:  You may often find power requirements of tools stated in amperes. In order to convert the power requirement of a tool from ampere to watts, follow these calculations, or you can also use our handy conversion tool on our power calculator web page.

For resistive load: Wattage = amperes x volts

For reactive load: Wattage = (amperes x volts) x load factor

Power Requirement Charting: It often happens that you lose the owner’s manual or for some reason can’t find the power requirement specification of the tools and/or other electrical devices you’re running. Here is a sample power consumption chart that demonstrates some of the typical wattages used for common appliances and tools.  The chart is simply provided as an example to demonstrate how starting and running wattages differ, and how each device has specific consumption needs.  If you have questions over any particular items you can contact the manufacturer, consult an electrician, or contact us for a free consultation.

Different ways of Calculating:  Depending upon the type and number of devices, and the way the generator is scheduled to be used, there are a few different ways of calculating power requirements:

-  Single motor running 
-  Multiple motors running simultaneously
-  No electric motors.

Advantages of choosing the right size generator: Now that you have an idea on how to choose the appropriate size of generator to suit your needs, here’s just a few of the benefits obtained by going through that process:

- No unexpected system failures
- No shutdowns due to capacity overload
- Increased longevity of the generator
- Guaranteed performance
- Smoother hassle-free maintenance
- Increased system life span
- Assured personal safety
- Much smaller chance of asset damage

Where to Buy & Role of Dealers and/or Service Providers:  Since you are not only purchasing a substantial company asset, but most likely an item you will need to rely on for prime or emergency electrical power at some point, probably in a crisis, deciding where to buy is also a key consideration not to be overlooked.  The seller’s years of experience, whether they are a full service dealer or small commissioned broker, and so forth, all play a role. 

Having been in the business for nearly a quarter of a century, here’s just a few of the reasons why you should always consider Diesel Service & Supply, Inc. as your first stop for all your industrial power generation and diesel engine needs:

- 23+ years of industrial experience
- Full service multi-port garage
- Highly qualified mechanics and the industry’s top diesel technicians
- High-end testing equipment and de-installation tools
- Helpful support desk and knowledgeable office staff
- We test all our products
- Always a competitive price!

As this article demonstrates, there are obviously numerous considerations to account for when selecting the appropriate generator for the job.  If you are having a difficult time with it or would like more specific suggestions and recommendations for your situation, contact us today and one of our knowledgeable sales and support staff will be more than happy to assist.

Cardiff-based Tidal Energy Ltd is hoping to stage a year-long trial of its DeltaStream device off Pembrokeshire

A renewable energy company plans to test a new underwater generator just off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Cardiff-based Tidal Energy Ltd has planning permission for onshore works and is now seeking consent to place its DeltaStream device on the seabed.

A year-long trial is due to be held at Ramsey Sound, near St Davids.

The company said its tidal generator, capable of producing enough electricity to light around 1,000 homes, was at the cutting edge of green technology.

Invented by Pembrokeshire engineer Richard Ayre, each unit features three generators that sit on a triangular frame.

It is designed to be easily lowered onto and recovered from the seabed using a floating crane.

The company said its distinctive blade design enabled the turbine automatically to shed excess power, permitting consistently high energy conversion.

Planning approval has been granted by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for the onshore works.

The company has now applied to both the UK and Welsh assembly governments for consent for the offshore works which include laying a cable and positioning one DeltaStream device on the seabed.

Chris Williams, development director of tidal energy, said a “comprehensive” environmental impact assessment had been undertaken.

A public exhibition of the plans is due to be held later this month.

The company is hoping to start the trial in autumn next year.

Mr Williams said: “The next public exhibition is to update the local community on the project, and particularly to discuss and explain the findings of the environmental assessments.

“Areas that have been assessed are far-reaching, ranging from bird life, to mammals, tourism and ecology.

“We invite anyone with an interest in the project to come along and talk with us about the details of the proposed 12-month test.”

The exhibition will be held from 1400 to 1700 GMT on Friday, 20 November and 1000 to 1300 GMT on Saturday, 21 November at Curtis House on Bryn Road in St Davids.

Hydro power generators have become a major source of energy for millions of people around the world and can be found in both industrial as well as residential forms. These generators are responsible for providing massive amounts of electricity, simply by utilizing the natural water flows that are created through rivers, streams or other water sources.

The most common form of hydro power generation around the world today is an industrial application of the concept in the form of hydroelectric energy generating dams. These dams channel natural flows of water from rivers into power generating turbines that forced the water into propellers that generate electricity. These generators are normally quite large scale and require large amounts of water to generate power on a regular basis, and as such are mostly found along major rivers. The largest hydroelectric producing water dam in the world currently under construction is the Three Gorges Dam located in China that is set to be completed in the near future. Once finished it will join the world’s currently operating hydroelectric generation sources and help contribute to what is already roughly 20% of the world’s energy consumption at this time.

With improvements in our hydro power generation technology a number of smaller scale power energy generators have also become more popular amongst homeowners worldwide that live near natural water flows they can utilize effectively. This has allowed homeowners to use their natural surroundings to a greater efficiency while realizing a reduction in energy costs and provide energy for their homes and surrounding areas each year. While of course this is not a viable option for all homeowners as a reliable regular flow of water is required to power a hydroelectric generator for those lucky homeowners who have source readily available it is an excellent alternative to other alternative power generation sources as solar and wind turbine energy.

The primary benefits of hydro power generators are that they produce virtually no waste at all during the course of the operation (aside from potential leakage of lubricants into water, which is minimal at best) and have significantly limited carbon dioxide emissions compared to other conventional energy generation processes. Further, they rely upon a naturally occurring and virtually limitless source of fuel to power them, making them an ideal alternative to most conventional power sources. The only major drawbacks revolve around the fact that for the establishment of most hydro power generation facilities natural habitats and ecosystems must initially be disturbed or rendered unusable due to flooding and other issues in the creation of either industrial hydro power dam or smaller scale installations, and the initial cost of constructing such a structure may be unfeasible in certain areas. Further, for larger scale energy production a significant amount of water flow is required on a regular basis, therefore this further limits the application of hydro power to only a select few rivers or streams may be capable of supporting the needs of the power plant regularly.

Regardless, hydro power has played an ongoing major role in supplying for the energy consumption needs of the world’s population and will continue to do so in the future. As technology continues to progress we may also be able to see additional applications of hydro power generation sources to smaller tributaries or streams that may have been unfeasible for power generation in the past that will therefore lead to greater usage worldwide in the coming years as generators can become smaller and more efficient in their power generation process.

If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes, it’s a good idea to buy a backup power generator. Sometimes it doesn’t even take a disaster to knock out your power. In Los Angeles a 2006 heat wave caused power failures across the region. One hundred and forty deaths were blamed on the heat.

To choose a backup power generator, take these steps.

Trident Energy’s plans to create power from sea waves suffered a setback after an 80-tonne floating generator capsized off the coast of Suffolk.

Trident Energy’s experimental device was being towed out to sea to begin a year-long offshore trial when the accident happened on Monday, 21 September near Southwold, Suffolk, eastern England.

The technology was being tested in the sea to gather detailed information on how the machine performed.

The generator was to have been placed 8km off Southwold for the year-long evaluation that may lead to new wave farms being developed that are capable of powering 60,000 homes.

Coastguards alerted local shipping as the 18-metre-tall machine drifted with the tide until tugs could secure lines and take it to nearby Dunwich Bay.

Trident Energy confirms that the generator has been grounded and made secure, about 5km east of Southwold harbour.

A spokeswoman for Trident Energy said that the company is in the process of making arrangements to move the platform to a suitable location where any damage can be fully assessed before determining next steps.

The spokeswoman added: “Trident Energy can confirm that the incident was in no way related to its patented technology to convert sea wave energy into electricity.”

The technology, developed by Trident, is designed to stand on giant legs that sit on floating pontoons anchored to the seabed. This enables special floats between the legs to move up and down with the waves and drive a turbine, which generates electricity.

It is not known at this stage whether the machine was badly damaged.

 MHD (magneto hydrodynamic) power plants offer the potential for large-scale electrical power generation with reduced impact on the environment. Since 1970, several countries have undertaken MHD research programs with a particular emphasis on the use of coal as a fuel. MHD generators are also attractive for the production of large electrical power pulses.

The MHD generator or dynamo transforms thermal energy or kinetic energy directly into electricity. MHD generators are different from traditional electric generators in that they can operate at high temperatures without moving parts. MHD was developed because the exhaust of a plasma MHD generator is a flame, still able to heat the boilers of a steam power plant. So high-temperature MHD was developed as a topping cycle to increase the efficiency of electric generation, especially when burning coal or natural gas. It has also been applied to pump liquid metals and for quiet submarine engines.

The basic concept underlying the mechanical and fluid dynamos is the same. The fluid dynamo, however, uses the motion of fluid or plasma to generate the currents which generate the electrical energy. The mechanical dynamo, in contrast, uses the motion of mechanical devices to accomplish this. The functional difference between an MHD generator and an MHD dynamo is the path the charged particles follow.

MHD generators are now practical for fossil fuels, but have been overtaken by other, less expensive technologies, such as combined cycles in which a gas turbine’s or molten carbonate fuel cell’s exhaust heats steam for steam turbine. The unique value of MHD is that it permits an older single-cycle fossil-fuel power plant to be upgraded to high efficiency.

Natural MHD dynamos are an active area of research in plasma physics and are of great interest to the geophysics and astrophysics communities. From their perspective the earth is a global MHD dynamo and with the aid of the particles on the solar wind produces the aurora borealis. The differently charged electromagnetic layers produced by the dynamo effect on the earth’s geomagnetic field enable the appearance of the aurora borealis. As power is extracted from the plasma of the solar wind, the particles slow and are drawn down along the field lines in a brilliant display over the poles.

In electricity generation, an electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, generally using electromagnetic induction.

The reverse conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done by a motor; motors and generators have many similarities. A generator forces electric charges to move through an external electrical circuit, but it does not create electricity or charge, which is already present in the wire of its windings. It is somewhat analogous to a water pump, which creates a flow of water but does not create the water inside. The source of mechanical energy may be a reciprocating or turbine steam engine, water falling through a turbine or waterwheel, an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, a hand crank, compressed air or any other source of mechanical energy.

Today, the technology of electrical generator is to come to maturity, but its historic developments are complicated.

Before the connection between magnetism and electricity was discovered, electrostatic generators were invented that used electrostatic principles. These generated very high voltages and low currents. They operated by using moving electrically charged belts, plates and disks to carry charge to a high potential electrode. The charge was generated using either of two mechanisms:

Electrostatic induction

The turboelectric effect, where the contact between two insulators leaves them charged.

Because of their inefficiency and the difficulty of insulating machines producing very high voltages, electrostatic generators had low power ratings and were never used for generation of commercially-significant quantities of electric power. The Wimshurst machine and Van de Graff generator are examples of these machines that have survived.

In 1827, Hungarian Anyos Jedlik started experimenting with electromagnetic rotating devices which he called electromagnetic self-rotors. In the prototype of the single-pole electric starter (finished between 1852 and 1854) both the stationary and the revolving parts were electromagnetic. He formulated the concept of the dynamo at least 6 years before Siemens and Wheatstone but didn’t patent it as he thought he wasn’t the first to realize this. In essence the concept is that instead of permanent magnets, two electromagnets opposite to each other induce the magnetic field around the rotor. Jedlik’s invention was decades ahead of its time.

In 1831-1832 Michael Faraday discovered the operating principle of electromagnetic generators. The principle, later called Faraday’s law, is that a potential difference is generated between the ends of an electrical conductor that moves perpendicular to a magnetic field. He also built the first electromagnetic generator, called the ‘Faraday disc’, a type of homopolar generator, using a copper disc rotating between the poles of a horseshoe magnet. It produced a small DC voltage, and large amounts of current.

The Dynamo was the first electrical generator capable of delivering power for industry. The dynamo uses electromagnetic principles to convert mechanical rotation into a pulsing direct electric current through the use of a commutator. The first dynamo was built by Hippolyte Pixii in 1832.

A dynamo machine consists of a stationary structure, which provides a constant magnetic field, and a set of rotating windings which turn within that field. On small machines the constant magnetic field may be provided by one or more permanent magnets; larger machines have the constant magnetic field provided by one or more electromagnets, which are usually called field coils.