Gas or Diesel Generators, what should you buy?

Diesel powered portable generators remain the number-one choice for standby and emergency power systems worldwide.

You rely on many appliances and systems in your home or business for your health, comfort and security. Most depend completely on utility supplied electricity. It makes sense to have a backup diesel generator system that will keep your family comfortable and your home safe in a power failure. You should pick a unit Our diesel generator sets are rugged dependable and reliable with excellent mechanical and electrical performance.

Careful preparation is essential to select, buy and install a backup system. Don't leave it to the last minute. You should have time to learn how to use the system in advance. During a power failure, you may not be able to find suitable, reasonably priced equipment, fuel, and/or installation. Keep the system simple, so you and your family can operate and maintain it. Your emergency system must work reliably when needed.

A backup power system should power most efficient appliances. We carry a wide range of products perfect for home, construction and emergency standby power. Simple operation with wireless remote starting and warranties that help protect you in the future. We remain a leader in the Industry and are a proud member of the Better Business Bureau.

Portable Generators:

Picking a generator that is right for you will depend on your power needs. Portable generators are the most popular because of their ease of use. Portable generators are often kept protected in a shed or garage until needed and then wheeling them outdoors.  You have the ability to move them from one location to another. Portable generators cost less to operate and maintain then larger fixed type.

Permanent Installations:

These require professional installation and permits. Some jurisdictions require that the fuel tank be barred underground and with the special hookups required. The extra work involved is often not worth the costs associated with it. You can purchase two smaller generators at the fraction of the cost and get the same amount of power.

How much power do you need?

The silent type diesels are one of the largest you can get for residential use. Consequently this is more then enough power for the average homeowner. You can run a a fridge, freezer, pumps, television, microwave and lights. It is the most popular unit for home owners.

Often large heating and air conditioning units require a lot more power then a portable generator can provide so in order to remain cost effective and not over spend on a larger more expensive unit most will use a spare window air conditioner that uses far less power then a whole home air is far less expensive to purchase then a second generator. You can also save power by switching your light bulbs to energy efficient florescent fixtures.  Install one or two ceiling fans.

Noise Levels:

There are two type of portable generators. Open frame and closed frame. The closed frame are also known as "silent generators" The larger closed frame units have much larger mufflers and sound insulation to make them no louder then the level of two people taking to each other at 7 meters away.

Diesel or Gas Generators:

Why diesel-power instead of gasoline? Unlike gas engines, diesels have no spark plugs to replace, or carburetors to rebuild and service. Diesels generally burn less than half the fuel that gas engines do to do the same amount of work. Diesels regularly outlast gas engines ten-to-one.

For example, the average gas engine powering a generator will run for around 1000 hours before needing replacement or a complete overhaul. And that’s an average. Many don’t make it past a few hundred hours. The average diesel engine will run 20,000 hours before needing any service beyond routine maintenance, but many make it to 50,000 hours, and some a lot longer than that. At four hours a day, even 20,000 hours works out to nearly fourteen years.

Fuel Savings:

The fuel-efficiency alone is a good reason to buy diesel, plus off-road diesel fuel is cheaper than gasoline. It’s also a lot safer to store. It’s flammable, but not explosive like gasoline. And although diesels sometimes produce more visible exhaust, it is less toxic than the emissions from a gasoline engine. A well-tuned diesel, by the way, produces no visible exhaust except briefly, under severe load-changes.

Diesels sound scary to some people who are unfamiliar with them, but they are actually simpler in design and construction than gas engines. If you can service a gas engine, you can service a diesel. And it requires less service.

The only maintenance generally required is changing the oil, and changing the fuel, air, and oil filters. This much is the same as on a gas engine. What you won’t have to deal with is tune-ups. No carburetor adjustments, no distributor or magneto to burn out, and no spark plugs to need periodic cleaning and replacement.

Oil changes done on schedule are critical and make the difference between an engine that wears out prematurely and one that runs nearly forever.