You might be thinking about backup generators, which are extremely useful in times of dire need. However, when you start to look for generators, you’ll be noticing various generators on the market.
Starting from their outlooks to their wattage capacity, they differ in various ways. Whether you plan to use it for professional or personal use and what machinery you want to run with your generator will vary.
Each generator serves a different purpose. Hence, to help you out with the necessary information you need to pick the best generator for yourself, we’ve presented this article for you.
Without further ado, keep reading to know more!
Points To Consider When Buying A Generator
When you start digging up the market for different types of generators, you’ll stumble upon many. Starting from a 2000 watt generator to 11,000-watt generators, you’ll find an array of options to choose from.
Hence, the question will naturally rise to your mind, “what to look for when buying a generator?” There are a few multiple points when looking for a generator. We’ve mentioned some of them below:
1. Wattage: The most important thing about your generator is its wattage capacity. The wattage itself speaks for the entire generator in terms of its running capacity. Whatever item you wish to run with your generator will absorb the wattage.
Hence, you need to make a list and predetermine your wattage. Or else, your generator might fall short of power when it’s needed.
One of the most common questions on the generator consumer’s mind is, “what size generator do I need?” To answer that question, we’ll need to go in-depth about the factors you need to consider before determining the answer to the question:
- Finding out the wattage requirements of your items: When you look for an item’s manual or the back of the equipment, you should be able to find a list of the required amount of wattage.
If you’re using heavy equipment such as a power drill, the wattage will be more than that of a dryer.
- Adding up the wattage requirements together: If you plan on using different equipment in a combined way, you’ll need to have a sum of the wattages.
In that way, you’ll increase work efficiency simultaneously, getting the maximum work from your generator.
- Starting wattage: If your equipment needs a starting wattage, you’ll need to opt for a generator with higher wattage compatibility.
Most of the time, equipment with a motor such as fridges, saws, and more will require a starting wattage. The starting wattage is usually three times the actual wattage of the equipment.
- Use the formula: When you’re planning on buying a generator after adding up your wattage requirements, make sure you give your generator some room to breathe. 20% of the wattage space should be left as a breathing area.
The perfect formula to finding out your required generator is the summation of your total equipment wattage needed and 20% of extra space. If your equipment has a motor in it, don’t forget to multiply the first part three times.
2. Usage: You can either be interested in having a domestic generator or a professional one. If you’re professionally a woodworker who requires heavy equipment used during work, you’ll need to choose workshop-based generators.
On the other hand, if you’re using your generator for leisure time, spending the options will be different.
3. Oil: What oil you require will depend on your generator. You can either opt for petrol or diesel generators. Cost efficiency is determined a lot by the kind of power your generator will consume.
Petrol and diesel are two of your options. It’s best to pick the one which aligns with your needs the most. If you look at petrol and diesel models, you might wonder which generator you can buy according to your needs.
We know that it might seem arbitrary to choose between a diesel or gasoline generator for home use or work, but there are actually key differences you need to know so that you can work out which ones are best for you.
First, you should think about each option’s immediate and long-term costs, as they vary considerably. Diesel generators are more expensive than gasoline alternatives. However, diesel will provide you with significant fuel savings over the long term, particularly if you have access to red diesel. Moreover, diesel generators are usually used regularly.
As a rule, you’re looking for a generator of less than ten kVA, and you’d buy a gasoline model. You’d look at diesel generators over ten kVa.
Petroleum generators offer high value for money and can either be used at home or professionally. They are typically available in models with between 1 and 10 kVA and 110 and 230V sockets so that a standard 3-pin plug is required with a fly lead.
4. Outdoor generators: Some people tend to use their generators when they’re out in nature, hiking, or camping. There are generators specially designed to build for the outdoors.
5. Standby generators: When you opt for standby generators, it’s best to go for the ones designed to be a backup generator.
6. Equipment generators: If you plan on using specific equipment like the TV, Radio, or make your generator a power outlet, you’ll need a generator that specializes in dealing with sensitive electronics.
If you purchase any equipment chipped in with a microprocessor, you’ll require a generator. That’s because these types of devices are considered to be electrical power sensitive. They should not be operated directly from a conventional generator.
For example, in this case, a generator for sensitive electronics will be required for items such as computers, phones, TVs, games consoles, printers, and even some kitchen appliances and power tools.
In order to avoid damaging them, one simple fix is to run them from an inverter generator.
Conclusion
Hence, when you go shopping for a generator, make sure to have your research in-depth first. Without proper research, you’ll be stuck wondering which generator to pick which might not be the best suited for you.
We hope by now you understand everything there is to know about picking out a generator.
