How Long Do Standby Generators Last?

Today, generators are used everywhere not only in the field of industry or construction but also in the domestic field. These installations can be used as a backup or permanent power source.

It is intended to power the house, apartment at those moments when the central electricity is turned off. As a rule, the generators are used for the continuous supply of voltage when breakdowns or accidents at stations occur.

And the most important question for buyers is how long such a unit can provide connected loads with electricity, as well as how to extend this period without harming the generator or the equipment connected to it. But first, you need to find out what features distinguish different types of devices for generating electrical energy.

Petrol Generator

It is equipped with engines with cast iron or aluminum cylinders. The first ones are especially popular, as they can provide an engine life of 3-5 thousand hours. The second are more affordable, but their operating margin is only a few hundred hours. One of the pros of the best standby generator is the fuel and oil consumption, as well as reduced noise and environmental friendliness. These advantages are especially relevant, since gasoline has a higher cost, and they are used without a protective cover close to the home or the operator who carries out repairs connecting tools to the generator.

Gasoline power generation devices, as a rule, are used as a backup power source, as well as during camping and work in the field conditions. Inexpensive, lightweight and compact, they are perfect for periodic use. But such generators are not very profitable for a regular start-up as a main source of electricity and even for long periods of operation.

Models of gas generators, basically, have power consumption in the range of 2-15 kW, which is considered low and medium. The duration of continuous work is also low: from 2 to 15 hours. To increase the period of continuous operation, you can use reduced power consumption, although this indicator is not uniform. That is, it is possible to increase the duration of the generator by only a couple of hours with a rated power of 6 kW using actually only 3 kW.

Diesel Generators

Diesel generators are equipped with low-speed and high-speed drives. Most often, the design provides for a liquid cooling system, which lets the unit be used for a long time. An important difference between diesel generators is the increased cost, but on the other hand, they can have a larger power reserve, as well as the diesel fuel is significantly cheaper than gasoline.

High-speed generators on jons guide have a lower cost, but they have all the cons gasoline models have. First of all, it is a reduced motor resource. At the same time, diesel engines emit a high level of noise, and they are also less environmentally friendly. The term of continuous operation of such units may not exceed two days, which is significantly higher compared to gasoline units, but less than low-speed units.

Slow-speed generators are expensive, but they withstand the highest loads and can be used for forced service. The engines of such plants are more economical in fuel consumption, and the period of continuous operation is very long.