Key Aspects to help you Decide Which Generator to Buy

For all your power generation needs, you need a generator. But, which one is going to serve the purpose? It is difficult to decide because there are so many factors that we have to consider. The first thing is whether you want it to give you prime or standby power. And, if it does not meet your power needs, then it simply is of no use. If the power is not adequate, you might even damage some of the components attached to it.

 Many things to consider –

You have to see whether you want single phase or three phase along with things like KVA, kW, motor starting generator, welder, or standby. All this can make the choice difficult. The first thing to do is to consult generator sales dealers or a certified electrician so you will get the real decision from him. But, let us see some key information that will help you get started.

 Size variation among generators –

Due to the advancement in the field of electrical engineering, we have a huge selection of sizes available among generators. For your personal and home use, we see a range of generators from 5kW to 50kW that we may choose from. The industrial generators range from 50 kW to over 3 Megawatts. Then, we have small gensets that one may use for small businesses, small offices, RVs, homes, industrial application, plants, buildings, and data centres.

Better to choose bigger –

One consideration that sways the judgment is this size. People think they do not need a large one because they are not running all the time. Buying a smaller generator can actually harm you rather than help you. You will damage the generator and the appliances attached to it. It can also lead to dangerous situations. So, remember buying more is better always. The best way is to do an actual inspection with a certified engineer and finding out which size will suit the bill.

Make an assessment first –

Also, remember going to a dealer and getting the cheapest brand available is not going to solve anything. The way around this is to make a deep assessment of your power requirements and then making the choice. Here are some steps that will help you start.

• Make a list of the items you will want to power using your generator.
• List out the starting and running wattage of the appliances.
• Calculate the total power need in KVA or kW.

Assessing the starting and running wattage: Use the owner’s manual or identification plate in each appliance, tool, or device to get this value. It is important to choose the right wattage as only when you have an accurate assessment of the power needs, you will be able to get the right generator.