Guide to Buying an Energy-Efficient Diesel Generator

In your search for the diesel generator, did numerous involved factors overwhelm you? You might be facing the dilemma of choosing the type of generator, choosing the perfect capacity, engine type, and many more. Be it any industry, the power requirement might change, but key decisive factors remain constant throughout. 

Hence, to help you find solace from the confusion, we have summarized the important points that can guide you in buying a diesel generator. 

Factors to Consider When Buying Energy-Efficient Diesel Generators

Buying a generator is a one-time investment that must be done with keen consideration. To help you ensure mindful and accurate decisions, here are the important factors to consider: 

Power Requirements and Generator Capacity 

This is the most important part to be performed before looking for the generator. Here are the key points to look for: 

  • You need to know the specific power requirements of all the equipment expected to run on the generator. It will help you shortlist the generators that will serve your power needs. 
  • You must also consider if all the equipment will be run individually or together. It will influence the initial surge required to power the equipment, thus influencing the choice of the generator. 
  • The duration of power requirements will further influence the choice of generators. Accordingly, you will choose between emergency, prime or continuous generators. 
  • An important point to note is that the generator capacity must be such that 80% of the maximum power must be consumed while operating. It ensures the generator’s long life while also offering good returns during asset recovery. 

Size of the Generator As Per Energy Output 

The common practice that consumes extra space and investment and can be easily disregarded with the advancements is choosing the generator size based on the initial surge. While the practice is undoubtedly necessary and is mentioned in power requirements, multiple effective options can control the size of the generator being chosen due to this fact. It will help find the generator that meets the exact energy requirements, ensuring it runs efficiently. The solutions for the practice are: 

  • Auxiliary winding and permanent magnet generators offer thrice the initial current for ten seconds, meeting the surge needs.
  • A digital automatic voltage regulator that minimizes the current inrush requirement. 
  • The ‘Close before excitation’ system allows gradual excitation of the device, thus offering comparatively lower inrush or initial load for the generator. 

While considering the size, the portability of the generator should also be kept in consideration. Further, shipping and transportation must be easily possible with minimal additional investments. 

Need of Generator 

Offering convenience to users, both portable and standby generators are available on the market. The choice between the two to find an efficient diesel generator depends on your needs. You can assess the suitable one by looking at the pros and cons of both. For instance, portable generators are cost-effective and do not require professional installation. But, they require manual fuel refilling and have limited capacity. The standby generators offer automatic switches and control and come with considerably higher power ratings. However, these can be expensive and require both professional installation and maintenance. 

Fuel Efficiency and Run Time 

The generators must also be selected by comparing the different options or interacting with the contact person for the generator brand. However, do note that both factors in fuel-efficient generators depend on the following aspects: 

  • Fuel tank capacity 
  • Generator brand and load 
  • Generator size 

Features of Generator 

With newer and more effective options, the generators now come loaded with advanced features. It includes the ability to operate the machine in remote settings, perform self-checks, provide warnings about the machine’s performance and health, indicate fuel levels, and provide other such information. Indication at the right time helps to ensure unhindered functionality with perfect efficiency. 

The presence of Power Management System (PMS) features allows optimization of fuel needs and maintaining effective performance in situations of load change. Additionally, the ease of configuration and setup should also be checked among the different options. 

Regulatory Compliance 

It is also important for the generator to meet regulatory compliance, which has been set up for generators to work perfectly in the long run. The inability to do so may cause legal issues and hefty fines. Further, it can also impact the health of workers, sustainability in the environment and other aspects. 

Cost 

The budget range has a great influence on making a choice. It is advisable to keep it practical and set it based on the features you expect from the generator. 

Find the Fuel-Efficient Generator at CS Diesel Generators 

Selecting the generator meets all your criteria and can be overwhelming if done single-handedly. Further, you also need to minimize the downtime by getting as quick delivery as possible. Offering you a helping hand with experts in our team, CS Diesel Generators are here to provide you with the solution. Connect with us now to get the best energy-efficient generator at accurate prices. 

Common Questions About Buy Diesel Generator

Q1. What steps should I take to ensure the generator’s longer life? 

The important steps to take are performing regular inspections of the generator with a focus on individual parts. Constant fuel system maintenance, cleaning and oil changes are also essential. 

Q2. How do you diagnose generators? 

There are several handy tools like megohmmeter and multimeter, as well as advanced options like robotic inspections, available to diagnose generators for the presence of any issues. 

Q3. How often should I get my generator serviced? 

The inspection and servicing are recommended to be performed every month for at least 30 minutes. 

Q4. What is the unit of generator rating? 

Generator ratings are provided in kW. 

Q5. How do we calculate generator size mathematically? 

The process involves some important formulas to consider to identify the right size. Here are they: 

  • Full load in kW will be the product of total amperage and supply voltage divided by 1000
  • Reserve capacity will be the product of full load in kW and 0.25 
  • Generator size for full capacity will be the sum of full load in kW and research capacity

Q6. What are the top brands offering generators? 

Brands like Cummins, Caterpillar, Generac and others are highly preferred among customers. 

Q7. Should I buy a new or used generator? 

The choice depends on one’s needs. The new generators are made after order and hence require more time for delivery. On the contrary, you can get the history of the generators used and accordingly make decisions. Further, they are also cost-effective and ready to install. 

Q8. What is the lifespan of generators? 

The answer varies depending on the conditions they are kept in, the duration for which they are used, maintenance routine, and other factors. Yet, generally, the generators can last between 5 and 10 years.