HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO RISK? YOUR HOME IS ON THE LINE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.

Rain comes. If you do not have a generator you are in danger.

In Italy, in September, October and November every year is the same story: The rain expected for an entire season falls in a few hours. The consequences can be devastating and vary depending on how much you are prepared for the extreme event.

How frustrating it is when you lose valuable goods and sometimes a lifetime of memories.

Being prepared for such an event means to be equipped with systems and facilities capable of preventing the accumulation of rainwater. A common example is water lift pumps, usually placed in basements and underground rooms, with the purpose of preventing flooding from rainwater or worse, of sewage seepage infiltrations. Being mainly submerged pumps, their functionning is closely related to the presence of electricity from the grid or from auxiliary sources such as generating sets.

Owning an emergency drainage system for rainwater and not having a generator set is as useless as preparing for a long and important car trip without taking care to fill the fuel before leaving. What a feeling will it be when everything does not work? Anger and frustration will be double.

What is the relevance of a flood or flood and the lack of electricity? It is simple: when there are atmospheric events that interest entire cities or regions, it concern all the infrastructures, including the electrical ones. In exceptional cases it may be the same network operator to establish the disconnection of an entire area from the rest of the network.

The moral is that without electricity electric pumps will not work and you are in danger.

Recently a Hurricane has devastated the Caribbean Sea and then crashed against Miami, USA, leaving millions of people in the dark for many days.

Only those with proper generating sets and high quality fuel loading facilities could face the emergency. By looking at the Social Network images of those who "thanked" their generating sets for the great work done during the emergency, I noticed that everyone set up images of professional generators. In other words, the most striking success stories were possible with really good generators and not the ones that you can get for 149,00 Euros at the mall.

In the picture below, just to give an idea of he difference, you can see  on the left a true generator suitable for emergency use while on the right a toy  where nothing is funny about it.

Beware, they both have the same power !!

In one of the next articles, we will explore the issue of the best generating set for housing, thus we will explain the technical characteristics of a generator set for the safety of your loved ones and your properties.

Meanwhile, let's try to understand schematically the difference between a generator suitable for operation in emergency conditions and one not suitable for this purpose.

Dimensioning the generator set in accordance with the electric pump or vice versa?

Anything to do with sizing would deserve a separate article, however, a guideline can be outlined to approximately define a power.

First, it is useful to determine which loads to supply, thus, to decide whether to connect the generator to the electric pump or to the entire building including the rainwater lift system.

Choosing to supply an entire building will determine the nature of the loads, the priority and the timing.

Nature of loads : Single-phase or three-phase electrical loads.

Priority: A priority electrical load is such when it comes to an important device. Example: A refrigerator, video surveillance, water drainage.

 Timing  : Not all electrical loads work at the same time, so the required electrical power may not match the sum of all detected loads.

Regarding power, there are no great deals unless the attention to   not dimension the generator at 100% of the load. (A 5 kW electric load should not be powered with a 5 kW generator.

"Sizing" is not just the experimental calculation of the power involved, but it is also the choice of fuel tank capacity that affects the amount of hours the generator can remain in operation.

Placement of the generator:

you need to find the best position of the generator set. If you plan to mount your home-based generator in the basement, or hidden in the sight so that noise cannot disturb, you're starting off on the wrong foot.

If you do not want to hear the noise during the generator motion, you have to install a soundproofing unit (see previous article). Also, choose a generator that is aesthetically up to the environment in which it will be positioned.

Get advice from a professional about where and how to place your home-saving generator.

You'll do a safe and  productive job and you'llthank yourself for being far-sighted.

EMERGENCY GENERATOR AT THE HOTEL: WHY YOU SHOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE IT.

"We stayed in this residence a few days ago for new year's day, a bleckout from 9.30pm up to 04.00AM without any informations from the Hotel Stuff. Obviously, no way about a refound...”

[The Hotel response]

"Dear. Mr Matteo, we are sorry for the discomfort caused by the lack of electricity during the hours you mentioned but, as communicated to all customers, the problem was caused by a failure in the electric cabin of Enel and our staff Maintenance, always present until restoration, was not authorized to intervene. "

If you don't want to justify yourself to your customersas a kid with your customers for something you don't even have to be blamed for, you absolutely should  read this article ...

In the modern era, where even the most complex operation is carried out using a smartphone, telling a customer that the fault comes from your network operator sounds ridiculous.

How  would you like it if the restaurant owner told you that your Carbonara Spaghetti will never come to your table because "those of the gas" did not bring a loaded gas cylinder?

You can not bounce on the Customer a problem that is exclusively yours.

Emergency Generator at the Hotel: Why you shouldn't  underestimate it.

Have you ever tried to keep your eyes closed for a few minutes? Just to test your other senses and maybe orient yourself in a room or a premise. Some of us  wake up at night, get out of bed and drink a glass of water without opening the eyes not even for a minute.

My grandfather, though he missed sight as a child, used to remember by heart most of the electrical wires of an electric motor, and was even able to tell others how to connect. Even today, talking to him, I wonder how he did it! I hardly remember what I ate yesterday.

One thing is for sure, though: staying in the dark without seeing anything is difficult. Every operation becomes complicated and you feel a very intense sense of insecurity , so that reopening the eyes, makes you feel like a great relief.

Now, however, we try to make the situation more complicated by the fact that more people inside the same room close their eyes and have to get inside it without hurting themselves.

I think it's definitely complicated, do not you find it?

If you turned off the light, were you? In this case you have no reasons for staresereno.

Should any of those who are in the dark get harmed? No one would want to be in your place.

Maybe you will not believe it but this is what can happen in a hotel when electricity is lost and everything goes out: lights, elevators, hoists, computers, telephone switchboards, video surveillance, home automation, etc etc A large number of people (including you) find themselves closed-minded to have to move hoping they will not do harm and above all not hurt someone.

Maybe you're thinking I'm just pulling water out of my mill, and here you live blackouts and emergency generators during blackout, but you're wrong.

In fact, the solution to the situation I have imagined before is not to have an Emergency Generator in the Hotel, but something more: " Possessing an emergency generator that is really efficient ".

Between having an emergency generator and having one working there is a big difference, like that between launching an airplane with a parachute or throwing a rucksack.

Most of the hotels with a couple of stars and a quality-oriented property feature an emergency generator, but only 3 accommodation on 10 has one that actually works.

Why? It's simple: they do not do the proper maintenance!

When a computer does not work, or when an air conditioner is failing, the facilities quickly resolve the problem, and when it comes to emergency generator sets it seems there is always time available.

If you are a maintainer and you are wiping your nose, I can assure you that you are misunderstood what I have written. I know you are maintenance to the generator, but we both know that you sometimes have some sometimes structural and / or temporal limits for which you certainly have no fault. (You probably often find yourself doing more than you would have to do).

We can say, if I were a top-of-the-line generator, the generator would be the most efficient machine in the facility and it would not be in the least economic and image loss.

I remember the matches of Soccer where the goalkeeper who missed the last minute and missed in turn came to the door. It happens then that at the end of the game there is always the "phenomenon" that pulls the sums with other comrades on how many goals the team lost my fault while I was in the door.

Now I say, but in my opinion if I was a "good goalkeeper", would I ever play soccer with you ?!

That is why it must be objective: The regular maintainer, though good and prepared, can make some nice parade, but to save a penalty it will take a real Goalkeeper!

 Security: Protect yourself

Bullets, burnt, crushed, suffocated, mutilated: Generating sets may die.

Being aware of those who are at risk while starting a generating set could make the difference between a live and a deadman maintainer.

Speaking of security at the hotel or in any accommodation facility, restaurant, bar, etc, we refer mainly to two figures, that of the client is that of the employee in the structure.

Both figures must be protected in the same way but with different systems and instruments since it is clear that the level of information you can give to the customer is not comparable to what you have to give to your staff.

In order to protect you, you have to protect it, so in practice you have to give evidence of how you have provided specific training on the generation of the generator and how this has been maintained efficiently through regular maintenance activities.

Costs: how to handle them

Specific strategies can be adopted to optimize the costs of managing a generator.

The first thing to avoid is that you do not handle the maintenance regularly. Statistically, a maintenance-free generator does not work right at the moment it has to work.

An intelligent way of managing costs is also to plan the most important maintenance interventions during low attendance periods, allowing scheduled rematches and functional tests, avoiding having to require night or week breaks at higher rates.

Safely manage a generator failure at the Hotel

For your safety and that of your collaborators, I ask you to avoid improvised and precarious solutions that may turn away from you. It's better a blackout than a serious accident.

As soon as you notice a blackout that is not readily contained by the emergency generator, you can proceed by following these three simple steps:

1. Find out the magnitude of the blackout. You have to determine whether this is a fault in your facility or a failure affecting a wider area served by the electric operator.

2. Make sure there are no Guests inside any elevators, and then put them out of service.

3. Only after you have made the previous steps you can collect the ignition information and contact the service center. When contacting the service center, keep the generator, engine and alternator nameplate data available.

If I read this article is a Hotel Manager or a maintainer, I can prophesize with certainty that in the event of blackout and failure of the generator, both will rush in front of the generator to try to figure out what is happening.

I know very well what happens in these cases, so I thought about giving you a gift: "A cover for the main breakdowns of the generator". It is a poster we provide to all Hotels that enter into a maintenance contract with us. It is very useful in case of failure because it allows you to understand how to operate and contact us aware of what is the information we need.

Our "hotels" usually expose them outside the technical premises, or they keep a copy in the office at hand. Often they have solved many problems autonomously without cost of intervention.

HOW TO CHOOSE A USED GENERATOR. TIPS TO BUY A USED GENERATOR THAT WORKS PROPERLY.

How much  a used generator is worth? What are the most important checks to do? Find out how to choose a  used generator   even if you do not have special skills in the mechanical or electrical sector!

(Video at the bottom of the page)

If to buy a generator we have to avoid only 6 mistakes  ( so to speak), when  buying a used generator, the situation gets complicated and it is crucial to be able to select a generator without ending up on something that can reveal a bad purchase.

The main concern is not the fact that someone before us used the generator, but rather is it the fact of not knowing if he used it with scrupulous and careful attention.

The ideal thing is to get along with an expert, a professional who knows what to look at and can distinguish a deal from a mass of problems

It's natural though that if you're reading this article you probably do not want or cannot get a hand lended from anyone, so let's go straight away with the information you need to not fall into a wrong choice.

Identifying the Generating Set: Is It Really It? Has it been tampered with?

A key step before proceeding with any test is to identify the generator unit by verifying that the data on the plate conforms to the documents submitted by the vendor.

Verify the identity of the generator, verify that no tampering has been occurred.

We are talking about changes that compromise its operation. Let's take some examples:

The emergency stop was inhibited; The shutdown system has been changed; the EC caps have been removed from the engine; the switch has been replaced with one having different characteristics, the operating logic has been changed, changes have been made to the chassis or bonnet, etc etc.

Without documents it's never a deal.

We will often make similarities with cars. An Unlocked Generator Set and like a car without a circulation card.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that a generator can later be equipped with the documents needed for its use, but this can never be taken for granted.                      

Issuing documents, especially when it comes to products from other manufacturers, is an expensive operation that many  tend to underestimate.                       

Actually issuing documents for a machine we did not design and we did not build is a great responsibility towards the user and to those who designed i considering the main risks and residual risks.                      

It is crucial when you look at a used generator  to ask the owner to show you the generator's documents.                       

These documents are the certificate of conformity, user manual, maintenance manual. Sometimes the user manual and the maintenance manual are in the same brochure. If you want to deepen the topic, we have dealt with this topic in another article dedicated to generic set documents.                     

Drawings, technical sheets, and other material are useful and very important elements but are not indispensable, and above all they are not mandatory for doing business with a generator set.

Reissuing the documents due to the loss of the originals may be required through the intervention of the original manufacturer.                       

Reconfirming the compliance of a generating set binds the certifier to produce a complete technical file and a residual risk analysis.                       

In addition to being compliant with the regulations in force, the documents must comply with the identification plate on the generator set. The plate must bear the CE marking, the power of the generator, the generator model, reference standard, and other  technical data to identify the machine and its operation.                       

A generator set without documents could not be sold, and in any case could not be installed and used.                       

A generator with a certificate of conformity can be installed, but cannot be used if the user manual  is not present on site.                       

The recertification of a generating set provides for the availability of documents useful for issuing a new certificate. They are the documents relating to the main components of the generator, for example the diesel or gasoline engine, the alternator and other components of the electric board.                       

Hours to work, year of production, but not only.

Working hours are important but must be evaluated taking into account the context in which they worked.

Let's take an example to understand the concept: Would you prefer a used car that has 100.000 km mostly on the highway or one that has  run 100.000 km on a mixed path?

Is it better having a generator that worked a few meters from the sea , a generator that worked in a sand quarry, or a generator that was in emergency service at the mall? Salt, sand, or the quietness of a technical room in the underground of a building?

In the case of the generator, we must first evaluate whether the operating hours have been totalled in a continuous or emergency mode, then try to understand in which environment it has worked.

The engine, this is what you must never neglect.

Take a look at the engine .

There should not be excuting fluids. Check the belt that is usually well visible.

Smokiness

During a cold start a black smoke or a white smoke may be normal.

Black smoke: In the case of  black smoke  during operation, there is probably an excessive consumption of oil , from the dirty oil filter, or the presence of exhausted engine oil.

White Smoke : The emission of white smoke during operation requires deeper checks because it can mean a lot of things. It could be caused by a low amount of coolant, by the presence of water in the diesel, an injection delay, a cracked piston, the head gasket, etc.

Please note that during operation at load, the smoke increases considerably.

Dampers

Check the status of the anti-vibration pads: with the engine off and cold push the coupled alternator motor to one side. The engine must move and return to position without residual oscillations.

Do not neglect this detail, it is a matter that only experts control. A generator that is proposed as "equal to the new" will have all the kit of anti-vibration in excellent condition.

Cooling Radiator

Open the coolant cap: there must be no oily residue,  which indicates a possible fall in the head seal.

You could repeat the control before starting and after the test run. Be careful during these checks, the liquid temperature is burning.

Noise Frequency and Voltage under load

Consider when the load is switched on, if the motor reacts promptly by returningvoltage and frequency to nominal ones.

Quality and Pressure of Lubricating Oil.

When the engine is cold, check the oil level, and with a cloth score if there is a possible presence of solid residues, a symptom of engine wear.

When th engine is hot, open the oil filler cap, there may be a natural outbreak of hot vapors but there must not be an oil spill.

Connections and wiring

Check that the system is in order and that there are no traces of burnt or rigid or deteriorated conductors.

Security systems

The generator must automatically switch off for low oil pressure, high coolant temperature.

Try also the emergency stop button. (Required). Shutting down should take place within seconds.

Operating test .

If you are purchasing an automatic generator, simulate the lack of network by selecting "Automatic" mode from the control panel. The generator must start the engine in 5 few seconds.

It may not be enough to start the engine and check that the voltage is at the nominal level. The best test is the load, at least 50% of the load that the generator can withstand. A charge test could be paid as it involves a technician and there is a natural fuel consumption.

The Alternator, fundamental but never verified.                  

The alternator is one of the most neglected components in the generator, although it is also one of the most expensive after the first engine.                       

More than half the problems experienced by a user who has a used generator is to find surprises on the alternator.                     

In fact, on the 90% of the generating sets only engine maintenance is often performed and often not complete, reducing the replacement of filters and lubricating oils.                        

A regularly maintained and revised alternator by a qualified and experienced personnel has relatively high life expectancy.                       

One of the reasons why the alternator is never verified by the user who intends to buy a generator set is the general lack of expertise in understanding the aspects to be verified in the alternator                      

It is important not to ignore the fact that the alternator is made up of rotating parts that are subject to vibration and mechanical stress which over time can create wear and then fail to adequately repair them.                       

Few people know that the mono-support alternator, equipped with a single headset bearing, has a well defined maintenance plan that provides for replacing or lubricating the stand regularly.

The control panel.

The control panel is essentially an electronic component. Make sure it is the original one assembled by the manufacturer of the generator, if it's not the case, ask for information on the kind of intervention performed.

Remember that if the control panel is replaced on a generator set without the necessary adjustments, the operating hours start from zero.

Clear signals but almost (all) ignore it.

It's not all. There are signs that only a watchful eye can notice. In fact all that we have explained in this article is 50% of what you should know, a share of all respect that will allow you to avoid throwing away your money.

From whom to buy a generator set used ?

Used generating sets can be found by private vendors who have ceased their activity, from specialized dealers and dealers.

The suggestion is always to turn to a builder first because he will not take the risk to put into service used machines  that could bother him and make him bad publicity.

Resellers and small craftsmen are an unknown, in our region, for example, there are companies that retrieve scrap of years 80 and restructure without a criterion and without producing really valid documents.

Manufacturers or their dealers, on the other hand, often take over generating units that have not accumulated a large number of hours and sell them at competitive prices.

Used yes

Watch the Video with Tips to Purchase a Used Generator That Works. What to check, what to ask, what are the most important things and all you need to be sure that the use you've identified is actually what you need.

Watch the video with tips for buying a used generator that works. What to check, what to ask, what are the most important things and everything you need to make sure that the used one you have identified is actually the one that is right for you.

HERE ARE 6 ERRORS TO AVOID WHEN BUYING A GENERATOR!

Get your money. Hand it to the generator seller, the "Generators Monger", and your new generator will be delivered to you.

Easy, isn't it?

For some people, buying a generator set was such an experience, so simple before but so hard afterwards, when you find that you bought the wrong one.

I could assure you that by buying a Generator Orefice Generators Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla ..., Customer orientation, bla bla bla, quality, etc etc, but I want to do something more to be out of the 6 mistakes that you should not Absolutely do when you buy a generator set. I would like to tell you that you are on the other side of the bench.

Whoever purchases a generator can be a final user, the one who will actually use the product, or a reseller who may install it or put it into service. For both figures we have important information, so do not give up and come to the end of the article.

If you really want to buy a piece of junk, well, at least you will do it fully aware and informed.

1.  You don't know why you need to buy a generator.

Trivial but so important.

You can not buy a generator without knowing what kind of application you intend to run. Before contacting a manufacturer or installer / retailer, get yourself together and collect these data:

· Do you want a generator that starts when the power supply is missing or do you want to start it manually?

· How many hours a day will you use the generator?

· What kind of equipment would you like to supply with the generator?

· Do you know the power and voltage of the equipment to connect?

To be clear,  even in the absence of the information above, many will be able to formulate a bid, but it will be an economic proposal and not the "solution." If you ask for an offer without providing these details, it will be like deciding on the place to go for a holiday by spinning a globe and picking a point: you have a huge chance to end up in the Pacific Ocean.

2. Thinking the only difference is the power.

The first mistake, which is also the most widespread, is to believe that generators are all equal and that the only difference lies in their power.

Well first  you have to completely reset this conviction which will lead you at best to spend more money, and at worse to buy something you do not need and you will not be able to use.

If I offer you a trip asking you to choose whether to travel driving a Lamborghini Aventador or on a dromedary hump, what would you choose?

Have you chosen Lamborghini?

Can I make you change idea if I tell you that the proposed trip must cross a desert of sand dunes? I  think so! Although you are probably not an expert on Lamborghini and Dromedaries, you will surely reevaluate your choice because you understand that there are important differences in the result, though both are very different means of transport. You also know that the most suitable product is related to nothing else but your need.

....

When choosing a generator for you or your customers, do not evaluate only the power.

If the generator is for you or your company, consider at least these three elements:

· Maintenance intervals and related costs.

· The presence of all the equipment that allows it to operate.

· The brand of the engine and the presence of a brand distributor in your country.

If the generator is for your customer, you may think that the previous points do not concern you, but always remember that the customer is yours! Whatever you propose, any product you install will remain your Customer, maybe you will not say "thank you" when you have provided a working product, but be sure it will make a nice registered letter when the product you provided will not be what you expected or Even will not conform to the specifications.

So pay close attention to what you bring to your Clients :

· Consider the application and the power you need.

· Consider installation costs carefully.

· Please note that you may have to provide some kind of assistance during the warranty period.

3. Look but don't read.

We have to realize that 90% of people who want to buy a generator (this is not only for generators) do not know how to read a quote, especially when it contains a large amount of technical and operating specifications. With this we are not insinuating that 90% of people do not understand anything about generating sets, but reading an offer is often  misunderstood, and the part where equipements are mentioned is neglected

Magic tricks are not a rare thing, it's a widespread  vice, with offers for supplying generator sets without fuel tank, without main switch, no silencers, no starter batteries, no liquids Of the first plant, just to name a few.

There is nothing wrong with proposing a generator without one or more of the above elements, provided that this difference is technically considered first and then economically.

4. Go buy tomatoes back with the Onions

"The engineer told me that I need a 10 kW generator in continuous duty, three-phase with electronic xxxx engine 1500 rpm".

Then it happens that you meet the pitchman that does not distinguish a diesel engine from a gasoline engine and come home with a 10 kW single-phase generator withengine at 3000 rpm .

It is not an extreme example, it is a real case, a common story among many who are lost in the purchase of a generator, for inexperience, for the belief of making a deal, lack of competence, and so on and so forth .

Have you ever been to go shopping and buy onions just because you did not find the tomatoes?

I really do not think so! So why buying an "inappropriate" generator just because you did not find the generator you were looking for?

I propose you a logical patterns to follow in order to better evaluate your choice.

Gasoline engine generator - Only for "manual" applications, never for automatic applications.

Generator with Diesel Engine at 3000 rpm - Only for non-continuous applications, max 3 / 4 hours per day or with a break of at least 2 hours between each work cycle.

Generator with Diesel engine at 1500 rpm - All applications with continuous and intensive use.

Generator set with Diesel engine electronically controlled - For applications where you have sensitive devices.

5. Buy a "base" product  convinced that you can modify it.

The unsound idea usually arises for budget reasons when you can not afford anything but want it the same, so invent a project that allows you first to buy a basic product and then turn  into a McGiver trying to modify the generator.

I have to disappoint you: in the vast majority of cases you can not do it. You can not modify an EC marking machine without proceeding according to the standards.

Do you want to buy a generator with manual start and then turn it into automatic? You will spend more and you will have to certify it.

Would you like to buy a generic open cabinet without cabin and then build a "home" to fit it? You will spend more, also the "home" will be compared to a technical room, so it will have to comply with some specific features.

The advice is to make a measured but correct investment, buying everything you need and all the necessary options directly mounted at the factory.

6. I will never use it

"I will never use it." We often hear this phrase from many Customers. They are convinced that they will install the generator and that this will never come into operation, because "so much current is never missing".

You know the biker who did not put the Helmet because "It's okay, I don't fall that easy

This generator theory that will never come into operation has been carried on by some manufacturers who wanted to market products with low-cost Chinese engines and alternators. Commercially, it perhaps, makes sense, but to technically justify such a stupid choice they invented the story of the generator that will never turn on.

If you are convinced that the generator will never start, then do not buy it!

Here is the full video where we talk about the mistakes to avoid when purchasing a generator.

If you like Video, subscribe to our Youtube channel to stay up to date on all of the upcoming videos.

....

When you SHOULDN'T buy a generating set...

When you SHOULDN'T buy a generating set

When estimating "how many" … is important.

This is not a title made to draw your attention. In this article I intend to explain you from my perspective what are the cases in which you absolutely shouldn’t buy a generating even if this could work against my own interests.

The difference between an amateur and a professional is that the first will tell you anything to sell, the latter will tell you the truth even when it is inconvenient and could postpone the sale or even lose it.

If, within a scale of values, having a generating set features in a low position you probably found the first reason to not buy a diesel generator: You don’t need it!

Trivial as it may seem, it’s actually through such evaluation that the other reasons of why you don’t have to buy a generating set could be argued, first and foremost : possessing a toll you don’t need it.

Estimating how many … you will use it

There is one customer’s claim that I often face and it is linked to "how many time” will the customer use a generator? There is a spread like wildfire conviction that if you intend to use a generating set few times a year or not even once, then you can definitely buy a well painted metal box as a generator but it will be a lame machine. This way of reasoning is the exact opposite of what we do every day which is to buy valuable goods perfectly aware that once we will need them, they would be useful and appropriate.

Let’s make a simple example: If you are looking to buy a new computer, what will you do? I don’t think that you will walk into an electronic store and just ask for a computer!!

According your needs, you will probably start to look for the model that might be suitable for you keeping a very close eye on the features as well as on your investment, weighing the options, the performance, the warranty and the reviews . If you have a little bit of common sense you will not consider buying a computer (which is not nay one item) on the basis of how many times you will use it. Especially because in many cases, you don’t know .

The reasoning on how many time is more frequent in the case when you are under the obligation to have a generating set for emergency . in this case you can save money by buying the diesel generator that costs less so long as it complies with the requested characteristics . this is exactly the sort of thing that we can find in the public works where there’s all kinds of weird stuff, often on the fringes of legality.

Actually, I can guarantee you that in all the cases where you’re required to have an emergency generating set, it will be of real use and it’s in those moments that you should be sure to have chosen the best one.

Furthermore, the fact that it won’t be you who will use it if you think about it, is a double-edged sword.

In the last 10 years in Italy and elsewhere, are sold products prepared Italian with low quality components and sold for all standby applications where (you do not understand the basis of what criteria) it was determined that the generator will start once a year or maybe never.

The immoral reasoning from some houses and explained in no uncertain terms is this:The unethical argument directed and bluntly put by some manufacturers is the following:

"“Dear valued customer, considering you want to save money and you would probably use the generator once a year, I intend to offer you the perfect one that suits you. It’s just that it sucks and it’s got an engine that I’m not sure if it works properly, so I will give you the warranty of 250 hours running per year!”  ".

So in one fell swoop, he told you that:

1. To save money you have to give up something. (perhaps you didn’t even raised the budget issue but he anticipated it

2.  You don’t need a diesel generator

3.  I am selling you something that without any normal warranty

If we try to put the same reasoning into another field scale, the insurance sector for instance, they would sell you a policy that you won’t need and without the covers that you are expecting and with a relief that you won’t forget for the rest of your life.

This sale method, studied to make up numbers, found a breeding ground in many firms which provide turnkey plants installations in which, among other things, they must install a generating set for emergency application and in that case, the aim is to keep costs down playing on the customer’s lack of competence in the field of diesel generators.

I don’t want to say that quality lies only in the engines and alternators’ big brands, however, I’ve seen generators that rusted as soon as they were put into service and also generators that showed liquids leakage or power outages…

Last November, a retailer/installer told us his bad experience with a made in Europe diesel generator which at the moment of first starting up it dragged the alternator ripping it from the frame and spinning it on itself.  The result was:

• A lame move towards the customer.

• He was forced to replace the generator at his own expenses.

• He has been the subject to of a negative publicity in his sector.

....

The question is, what are the other cases where you shouldn’t buy a diesel generator?

1) If you think you will use the generator only for a few time, don’t buy it!

You could light romantic candles during the black out and if this black out is extended you could rent a diesel generator.

2) If you think that you will use the generator for few hours during the year but the security of people is linked to its good functioning so … buy a true one!

Is the process of your company based on electrical energy? Does people safety depend on a diesel generator for emergency application in a certain way? In that case, for which reason you should save few euros to have something that gives you less performances?

Everybody can spend less giving up something!

I saw application where to the diesel generator  functioning people safety is connected and where the generator is equipped with engine and alternator that even the manufacturers are ashamed to brand it, yet it is there running in an important facility.

What do you think of a second hand diesel generator?

If the budget forces you to look towards solutions other than buying a diesel generator why don’t you take into consideration having a second hand generator   ?

We can make a comparison between the pros and cons of the two possible situations:

....

When you know since the beginning that you won’t deal with it….

Having a generator or keep it in proper condition which would make it timely and safe use is totally useless.Having a diesel generator and not keeping it in good conditions is totally useless.

If you own something you , it’s vitally important to keep it in a good working order to avoid that it loses its value.

During our maintenance activities we often meet situations where the generators are almost new but completely abandoned because the proprietor doesn’t take care or the person in charge for the maintenance has forgotten to do its job. Well the classic stories that happen in several firms.

Solutions do exist:   maintenance contracts ,   Rentals  for short and long periods are solutions that avoid you to immobilize huge amounts that will lose their values with time.

To sum up the concept, I am inviting you to take into consideration the costs before taking any decision since one you have it you should look after it.

When there are more economical options

“I was thinking about cancelling my network provider contract and to install a diesel generator. Is it convenient?”

NO!

If your target is to save money by creating your own electricity burning fuels the answer is no and there is no need to mathematical calculations to prove it. Trust me, it’s not convenient. And that’s coming from someone who would gladly sell you one.

The alternatives to car-producing generator exist: they are renewable sources.Alternative solutions to diesel generators are the renewable sources.

Unfortunately, even in the case of an eco-friendly plant you should think about a backup power source. Guess what is it?

Andrea Orefice

The most compact and silent generator. The history of TP20K.

The market offers compact solutions, but  it is often about generating sets with two-cylinder engines at 3000 rpm, or  for other uses such as in construction or as a "hobby" where, in order to have compact dimensions, one must give up the comfort of quietness and convenience.

The element that often discourages the purchase of a professional generating set is the size - weight ratio compared to the electrical power.

There is a link between the size and noise of the generator which stems from the fact that a real silent generator  has several constructive requirements, that, for equal power, make it larger than other generating sets

To better understand this connection, we take into account that in a  real soundproof generator, the airflow is channeled in such a way that the noise can be better absorbed. In addition, the position and the type of materials constituting the silencer are very different from the great majority of generators that are improperly defined "soundproof" and are actually just containded in a canopy. In other words, they are placed in a frame or a cabin, with nothing that can absorb the sound other than the steel sheets .

Having clarified this issue, it becomes clear that it is not easy to reconcile noise and size without compromising performance. However, in recent years we have given much space in search of solutions to build silent compact generating sets without putting the customer in the position of having to give up something in terms of equipment and performance.

Building a generating set like the TP20K which has a length of only 140 cm and a width of 90 cm wouldn't be something outstanding except that the following equipment is provided as standard on it:

· It has 4 doors.

· It has a noise level of 65 dB (+/- 3)} at {2 meters.

· It has a  50 litres metal tank.

· A control panel mounted in the cabin.

· An internal silencer.

· An external fuel loading plug.

· It's totally automatic with AMF and battery charger.

Want to see it in operation? Here is a short video.

The idea of  the TP20K stemmed a year ago while we were developing a completely different product.

We were looking for the right solution for a customer who had really reduced installation space, where even a few centimeters would have made a difference. To do that we were willing to give up all the comforts that have distinguished us in these years. While we were testing all the possible solutions and modifications on the prototype, the "K" version came up thanks to a combination of ideas and technical arrangements.

Making Tesla K version was like packing a suitcase without giving up on your favourite clothes and shoes or being careful not to exceed the weight allowance.

The basic concept is that we wouldn't be giving up anything.

Do Stabilized Generators really exist?

What comes to mind when you think of the word "Stabilized?"

Surely, the solidity of a bridge or stability can be compared to the constancy of a relationship, or even the stability of a ship sailing between waves.

The concept of "stabilized" is exclusively linked to the generator's ability to maintain stable values.

The most common questions that make our customers our customers:

Can I connect a Personal Computer to the generator set?

Can I power my audio system with a generator set?

How can I feed a latest-generation Astronomical Observatory?

If you're reading this article, you probably don't have an oscilloscope. You have to give a party on the beach and you're interested in knowing if you can connect your 20,000 euro system to the 299.00 Euro generator set that your cousin will lend you.

We deliberately leave out technical aspects of how important the waveform and other important factors are, as addressing them will not answer your question. We would rather focus on the practical sense of the matter.

Before we talk about stability, it is necessary to make a premise about the load that we are going to feed. Load means the user, i.e. the one we connect to the generator set.

Each load has its own distinctive characteristics, which should be analyzed before each application. In this article, we are not talking about power factor, waveform, load-step, etc., simply because they are topics that deserve to be dealt with separately. However, we keep in mind that the greater the load variations, the greater our stability problems will be.

Do stabilized generator sets exist?

The answer is No. There is no official classification to distinguish between a stabilized and unstabilized generator set. There are performance classes, but not a distinction between stable and unstable. However, this term is commonly used to identify generator set groups that maintain stable nominal values and others that do not succeed in this.

Inverter? Yes, but not always

The most stable sets par excellence are the generators with Inverter technology. A generator set with inverter technology has a thermal motor that is not directly coupled to an alternator.

On inverter generator sets, there are some clarifications to be made:

An inverter generator set is not necessarily suitable for powering electronic equipment. Manufacturers often do not provide clear information about the waveform and its quality. So, be careful before setting up your photo set and powering your valuable equipment with an inverter generator without first verifying its suitability.

Inverter generator sets are commonly used for power ratings up to 6kW.

This last point, linked to the low power that a generator with inverter technology can provide, puts a limit to the scope of application and leads us to reconsider solutions that allow us to have stable, defined generator sets.

One might wonder, "Stable compared to what?" Stable with respect to the parameters set by the manufacturer, and above all, with respect to the characteristics of the users that we will feed, usually linked to the region of the world in which we find ourselves. (Voltages and frequencies are not the same worldwide.)

Voltage and Frequency.

A voltage is considered stable when it is 230V on a single-phase system and 400V in three-phase. We can consider a frequency stable when stopped at 50Hz. (With regard to the region of the world in which we find ourselves.)

The generator set may have at least two elements to stabilize the voltage and frequency values.

- The AVR

- The electronic speed controller.

AVR is the automatic voltage regulator. This is an electronic device mounted on the alternator whose main purpose is to manage the excitation and automatically adjust voltage and frequency according to the load. The voltage regulator is very important because it has a more precise response than old electromechanical systems and prevents problems, such as commuting.

The electronic speed controller is an electronic device mounted on the thermal motor, which regulates the motor speed according to the load. This device decisively influences the voltage and frequency value of the generator set, since the frequency is linked to the speed of the motor revolutions (1500 rpm = 50Hz).

Now you're wondering, but if a generator set has a rotation speed set at 1500 rpm, what sense does it make to have a speed regulator?

In this case, too, we do not want to go too far into the technical aspects of the subject we will be dealing with in the future. Rather, we prefer to respond with something as simple as possible.

The speed of rotation for the motor of a generator is set at 50Hz is 1500rpm, and this speed must be kept constant even when the generator goes under load, since the alternator exerts a torque resistant to the engine shaft according to the active power. Consequently, the speed regulator must act on the fuel flow rate to keep the speed constant.

The difference in stability that a motor equipped with an electronic regulator can give compared to a motor equipped with a mechanical rpm regulator is the response to load variations. The electronic speed controller provides a quick and precise response that cannot be compared to that of a mechanical regulator, and a quick response corresponds to smaller frequency and voltage variation.

Electronic adjustment of the engine revolutions.

For convenience, we can distinguish the two types of regulation in this way:

The mechanical rpm regulator tends to satisfy the load demand requested by the user. It may suffer, it loses its speed and then resumes regardless of the values that change suddenly.

The electronic speed regulator gives priority to the values that the generator set must respect, following them independently of the load that varies, because it loses the load, but does not deviate from the reference values that are considered stable.

Would you like to know what risks we run if we feed a sensitive load with a generator set without AVR and electronic speed regulator?

But above all, would you like to understand, in detail, how to correctly size a generator unit, taking into account the regulation class according to ISO standard?

Download our mini tutorial for free! Click on the following link, enter your email and you will immediately receive the tutorial in your inbox.

....

Backup Generators for Homes: Discover the Best Generators for Home.

Backup Generators for Homes: Discover the Best Generators for Home

The Backup generators for homes are every day more needs cause our homes are invaded by electrical devices of various kinds, some of which are essential, such as refrigerators and freezers, others less but important as televisions, washing machines and air conditioners.

Although in every home there are a few thousand Euros of home appliances and electronic devices, many houses do not  take into consideration the purchase of an emergency generator.

If you are reading this article, you are certainly not among those evenif  generators for residential use, is not economically viable investement, I decided to give you some useful information on the ideal generator for a home.

First let's see why you  absolutely shouldn't make the mistake of buying an auto-start generator with GAS and Gasoline engine .

If you google "residential generator", you will find the generating sets you absolutely do not have to choose: generators with a gasoline engine, usually single-cylinder, similar to those installed on the gardening equipment.

They are the cheapest ones and tehy promise you perfect performances for your home. Unaware of the risk, you will buy and then you'll stay in the dark.

They have a problem: They do not start.  

If you are not a scrupulous of preventive maintenance, that generator will NOT start automatically.

Now i will explain why:

Have you ever started up a motorbike that was stationary in the garage for a while? Does it start from the first shot?

No.

The same thing happens with a gasoline engine generator turned off waiting to start automatically when power is out.

Failure to do so can be attributed to the engine's starting characteristics and the fuel that easily deteriorates over time.

The advice is to guide consumers in their choice to generators with a diesel engine.

Ok, seems clear, but why even the backup generators equipped with gas engines are not suitable to the home backup?

Think about a emergency situation like a Hurricane. What happen during a hurricane at the gas supply? Sometimes for safety reason the gas line must be closed.

When the gas line is closed your generator can't work.

Inverter, Voltage Regulator, Speed ontroller

In a previous article we have talked about generating sets with inverter technology and engine speed regulation, in other words of stabilized generating sets .

One of the specific features that distinguishes a home from other types of electrical utilities is the presence of numerous sensitive loads, just think of television, consoles, kitchen robots, etc etc, all are very sensitive to power surges.

Using an electric generator such as those that are at 149,00 euros at Brico's "Do It yourself" to power electrical and electronic devices that are worth maybe 30 times, is just like trusting the safety of an expensive Harley Davidson to a thin muddy nylon rope.

Inverter generators are a great solution in terms of current quality, engine speed varies, good fuel consumption, noise tolerable, but are equipped with gasoline engines, so I exclude them for the reasons shown at the beginning. relatively expensive when choosing something reliable.

I generators with diesel engine at 3000 rpm , (if you do not know the difference have a look at the article we're talking about, click on the link) are ideal if you have little space available but these engines can not be electronically adjustable, except for special exceptions, so they are not ideal for powering directly sensitive loads.

The generator with diesel engine at 1500 turns , would be the perfect solution, that's why:

1. It can remain in operation for days without any problems.

2. It is more silent than the engine power generator with 3000 rpm  .

3. It can be equipped with an electronic speed controller.

4.      Ha cilindrate superiori e pertanto risponde meglio alle prese di carico. (questo non lo dice mai nessuno

5. It usually spends more but worth it much more.

6. The professionals sell it, so you are sure to have a superior after sale service .

The power

All the materials I've found online that talk about the generator to supply a home, focus a lot on the "power" part. But I think it's important but not too much.

What you need to know about power is that you can never compare the household electric utility supplied by the operator with the power supplied by the generator.

Trivial example: Take a bill where it is written that the electric power is powered by 4 kW, You will deduce that you need a 4 kW generator.

False . The power grid does not behave as a generator. The network does not notice the load variations of a house.

Now let's upset the engineers

If you are not a technician but want to have an idea of hat electrical power is needed for your home without too many calculations and formulas, take paper and pen and record all the electrical appliances you have at home, writing for each of them the electrical power indicated on the identification plate. (we only talk about single-phase systems).

Sum all values nd you will get a result that can be approximately 70% of the active power of the generator you need. Example: You have calculated 7000 W of electrical loads in your home, then you can consider a power generator of not less than 12 kVA.

(if you want to know the difference between kW and kVA go to from kw to kva the power of a generator is as easy as drinking a beer )

It is absolutely indicative, just to give you an idea of hat electric power to engage with a generator, however, it is desirable to make a more precise sizing in the selection and choice phase.

How much noise do generating sets make.

The nightmare of installing a home generator is the noise it produces when it is running. Some give up the generator for fear of not sleeping at night due to noise, or not to quarrel with neighbors disturbed by the generator.

There is a solution to this problem: the soundproof generator set.

Warning: we are not talking about those generators that have the "super-silenced" adhesive, improperly used by all those who put a motor inside a pair of plates, but really sound-generating units, with quieter engines and soundproofing cabins at high performance.

To not hear a generator in operation, this must have a noise less than 50 db measured at 7 meters away.

Value of things

Choosing a generator for your home is a pretty delicate decision as it is about giving value to the things you own. Just so: the greater the value of your home and the things in it, and the more attention will be paid to choosing a high quality, reliable and robust product.