04 Mar Power plant in your home, choose a generator

An electric generator (power plant) is a device in which mechanical, thermal or chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.

There are different types of power generators, depending on the source of energy, such as solar energy or wind energy. They are used mainly as a backup source of electricity in the absence or damage to the mains, and in everyday life to connect various electrical appliances or lighting systems. This article will help you decide on the right choice of power generator. Even welding equipment can be powered from such a generator.

Electric generators differ in various characteristics of the generated current, it can be direct or alternating, and can also differ in the type of engine or in the energy conversion mechanism (chemical, thermoelectric, electromechanical, photo-converters).

Among such a variety of generators, the most part in industry use electromechanical, as they are used on almost all types of power plants.

For use at home, gasoline and diesel generators are more suitable.

Both type of electric generators have their advantages and disadvantages. They are represented by a list of models that are very different in different characteristics.

Diesel electric generator diesel sources of current are more powerful in comparison with an analogue of gasoline sources. Portable systems can operate in the range from 3 to 25 kW, and stationary – from 5 to 40 or more kW.

Diesel generators can withstand heavy loads, they work stably and are excellent for connecting a construction tool or as a backup power source. Particular attention must be paid to the low risk of fire in these devices.

Diesel generators are much more expensive than gasoline generators, heavier. Hand start is hard. A diesel generator makes a louder noise than a gasoline generator when running.

For diesel generators, the engine is cooled by liquid or air systems. With the help of air systems, as a rule, small portable units are cooled with a power of up to 10 kW, an engine speed of no more than 3000 rpm and a maximum resource of up to 4000 hours.

Stationary diesel electric generators are only cooled by liquid systems. They can work around the clock, as they have a resource of up to 40,000 hours. In fact, these are reliable and “low-speed” power plants with an engine speed of up to 1500 rpm.). The stability of the voltage produced by such a stationary diesel generator can be ± 1%, current frequency – ± 2.5%.

Diesel generators

Advantages: high power, making it possible to use for permanent power supply of a country house.

Disadvantages: the cost is high, specialist advice is required when choosing and installing.

Scope: diesel generators are used as a backup power source in the absence of a constant source of electricity.

Gasoline Electric Generator

Sources with a gasoline engine are offered only in portable models that have an air cooling system and a short resource from 500 to 2500 hours, as well as power up to 10 kW.

Basically, gasoline power plants produce current of not very good quality, and its voltage jumps with a difference of 10% and a frequency of about 4%.

Gasoline-powered power generators also have a number of advantages: they are much lighter, much cheaper, have an easy start and can work in frosty conditions.