An emergency diesel generator is a very popular choice when looking for an alternative source of power. Whether it’s an interruption in service, hurricanes, natural disasters, or something else, home and business owners both agree that a standby generator is the best way to ensure that emergency power where it needs to go both efficiently and safely.
Standby diesel generators are stationary, unlike their portable counterparts, and are fairly straightforward to use. However, if this is the first time that you are looking at standby generators for sale, it can be difficult to know how to choose the best option.
So what exactly makes a diesel generator superior to gas generators? The following article will take a look at some characteristics of emergency diesel generator sets to help answer this question. To get professional help choosing a generator, contact MTS Power Products or call 305-634-1511 today.
Calculating Your Emergency Power Needs
A standby diesel generator can give you the power that you need at the moment that you need it, but only if you choose the right size and power capabilities. To know what size generator you might not, evaluate your expected energy use. Let’s use home generators as an example.
In order to determine energy usage, first calculate how many watts the appliances use that you need to be powered. Wattage is calculated by multiplying the amperage rating by the incoming voltage.
For instance, a refrigerator is rated at 20 amps and receives 120 volts. By multiplying these two numbers, we can see that a large refrigerator would require 2400 watts (2.4kW) to power on and stay powered.
For a typical house, 19,000 kW of energy use per hour is not uncommon. As such, it would be wise to invest in a 15,000 kW generator to handle the emergency power requirements, knowing that not all appliances will most likely be used at the same time.
Taking the time to calculate your power needs will help to ensure you invest in the best diesel generator for your needs.
Advantages of Emergency Diesel Generator Sets
What makes an emergency diesel generator superior to other fuel sources? Diesel generators are more fuel-efficient, using only one-third of the amount of fuel as other types. This fuel-efficiency adds up to significant savings over time.
In addition, diesel generators usually last around 10x longer than other generator types because diesel engines perform better under heavy energy loads and long durations of time.
In fact, when operating under loads that are too light, a common problem occurs called wet stacking. Wet stacking happens when too much fuel is pumped into the machine because power consumption is below the minimum rate.
Need help determining your power requirements? Call MTS Power Products to speak with an emergency power expert and make the most of your investment.