Power generator generator for home - which power generator to choose?

Generator set power

When choosing a generator, count on the fact that the higher the power, the more expensive the generator will be and the more fuel it will consume. The mid-range and mid-size generator will be a powerbank for our power tools when we need to use them away from a power source. They have two-stroke gasoline engines with 800-1000 watts of power. Contractor or renovation crews, but also more advanced do-it-yourselfers, may find a three-phase generator set (which produces a 400-volt take-home current - so-called power) useful. It can also operate devices on 230 V (it has plugs of both types). Such units should have a lot of power, especially if we are going to connect to them, for example, concrete mixers, but not as much as those described above. This is because they will not work with multiple equipment at once. The smallest are inverter units single-phase. Their power is 600-800 watts. It's worth keeping them on hand like a first aid kit. After all, you never know when it will come in handy. Such a "tourist" suitcase generator does not need to have a lot of power. What also counts is its compact design, light weight and ease of portability. It works well in camping conditions because it works the quietest of all. It is also useful on a yacht when the battery goes out and there is a supply of fuel for the engine.

Emergency power supply to the house - when the generator turns on

By generator acted as a real emergency power source, it should start up automatically when there is a power failure in the grid. Unfortunately, the cheapest generators do not have such a feature. They are equipped with manual starters (with a starter cord), which makes them not the best solution to the problem of sustaining power to equipment that needs to work continuously (pumps, alarm installations, computers, telecommunications equipment).

For this you need a fully automated unit with an electric starter permanently connected to the home electrical installation. And the prices of such devices start from several thousand zlotys.

A much cheaper way to maintain voltage after a power failure is to use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), called UPS for short. These types of devices are connected to the electrical grid so that, in the event of an interruption or disruption in the supply of power, they supply it from built-in batteries. They are used most often to power stationary computers used for work, but can also be combined with other devices, such as circulating pumps in heating systems.

Generator and UPS - power without interruption

A way to ensure uninterrupted and long-lasting operation of electrical equipment during a power failure is to use an assembly that is a combination of an uninterruptible power supply and a generator. Power supplies equipped with the so-called AG circuit, which ensures less sensitivity to unstable frequency and disturbances of the sinusoidal current waveform, can cooperate with the genset.

The most popular and at the same time the cheapest (a few hundred zlotys for a 1 kVA unit) are off-line uninterruptible power supplies. They consist of a simple inverter, a voltage booster transformer, batteries, their charger and a control system.

When power is supplied from the grid, the attached UPS supplies the loads directly from the grid (passive filters) and at the same time, if necessary, recharges its own batteries through a rectifier. In the event of a power outage or excessive change in voltage, the control system disconnects power from the grid and starts supplying power from the batteries, while the inverter changes DC voltage to AC voltage. An interruption in the supply of energy to the powered devices lasts only 2-10 ms, so it should not cause interference in their operation - the inverter is phase-synchronized with the power grid.

Off-line power supplies are sometimes also labeled Line-interactive and Line-interactive AVR (with an autotransformer instead of a classic transformer). In on-line power supplies, the voltage from the mains is converted to DC in a rectifier circuit and then changed again to AC by an inverter. Thanks to this, the voltage at the output is stable and not subject to disturbances, even in the event of a power outage (the inverter is constantly connected to the batteries, so there is no interruption in the supply of energy).

Online devices are more expensive than offline ones due to their more complex design. In addition, their operation involves noticeable energy losses. They are not likely to be used for domestic applications, but only for interfacing with interference-sensitive equipment, such as components of data communications systems with considerable power. They require effective cooling and are noisy. The power of the cheapest uninterruptible power supplies is 250 VA, and the largest reach several kVA. The biggest disadvantage of cheap devices of this type is the short battery life - only a few minutes. Using a larger battery of rechargeable batteries can extend it to several hours, but makes the device much more expensive.

How to choose the right power supply?

The most important thing is the power rating of the genset or power supply, which must be adapted to the actual load. During normal operation of the receiver, the load should not exceed 80% of the rated power of the power supply equipment. Some power consumers (for example power tools with electric motors) draw much more during startup than during normal operation, which also has to be taken into account. Good quality gensets and UPSs can be overloaded by several tens of percent for short periods of time - we should find this information on the nameplate.

Single-phase generators

Power: 1.8 kW (rated), 2.2 kW (maximum); voltage: 230 V/ 400 V; engine: gasoline; capacity: 121 cm3; starter: manual; fuel tank capacity: 3.6 l; operating time after one refueling: 3 h 50 min (in Economy Mode even 7-8 h); number of sockets: 2 x 230V 16 A, one 12V - 8,3A (DC); noise level: 90 dB; weight: 21.1 kg.Additional advantages include a direct current (DC) socket for charging car-type batteries. The following are located on the front panel: oil sensor indicator light, overload warning light, power control light, AC circuit fuses, DC circuit fuse, ECO mode switch, sockets for parallel connection of two generators, ground terminal. The EU 22i features a new solution - a fuel valve, which makes it easier for users to properly operate the unit by burning off the fuel completely. Options include: hour meter, battery charging cable, auto sync cable, protective case.

Basic principles of using generators

1. Correct selection of the genset and proper connection of loads - the basic rule is to determine the active power of the genset, which should be greater than the summed power of the loads that will be connected to it simultaneously and increased by the value of the power needed when starting the loads.
2. Familiarize yourself with the instruction manual for the model in question, which contains information m.in. on the operation of the device, maintenance and recommended frequency of technical inspections.
3. Checking the positioning of the genset before start-up - this mainly applies to portable gensets, used in different locations. In such cases, make sure that the device stands on a flat, level surface.
4. Checking the oil level - before each start of the unit. If necessary, refill the tank to the top of the filler neck.
5. Fuel level control - the amount of fuel must not be below the minimum level. Thoroughly tighten the fuel filler cap after each refill. It is also worth remembering not to leave the fuel in the tank, because if it is left for more than a month, it loses its properties, and a deposit is formed in the tank, which then goes to the carburetor and clogs its nozzles. Nozzles, on the other hand, are sensitive to the smallest particles of sediment and, clogged, prevent the engine from starting. If you suspect clogged carburetor nozzles, it is essential to bring the machine to an authorized service center.
6. Checking the air filter - it should be systematically cleaned and replaced at least once a year. Clogged, it restricts the supply of clean air that the engine needs for proper operation.

The consequences of not getting enough clean air into the engine are very serious. Generally speaking, this lowers its power, degrades performance and increases fuel consumption. Add here the above-normal emissions leaking into the environment, higher operating costs and much louder engine operation. I would also like to emphasize very strongly that an internal combustion engine cannot operate without a dedicated air filter, otherwise the engine will end up, sooner rather than later, in service. - explains Wojciech Zawada, Manager of the Spare Parts and Accessories Department at Aries Power Equipment, which is the General Distributor of Honda machinery and equipment in Poland. - A defective air filter lets dust and sludge contaminate the carburetor, leading to excessive and rapid wear of the engine's cylinders, pistons and rings. A worn or damaged air filter reduces engine power, degrades machine performance and increases fuel consumption. It also affects the environment, since the effect of its poor condition is above-normal emissions, check the condition of receivers - before connecting receivers to the genset, check that they are in working order.