Owners of country houses and cottages often face the problem of energy supply. Electricity is often turned off due to breaks, bad weather, maintenance, and repair work. Some summer residents prefer to wait through such periods, using the available tools: stoves, kerosene, lanterns.
The majority of people want to maintain the work of household appliances and not feel discomfort during a power outage. Generators easily and effectively solve this problem. And here we want to share some details on which you need to pay attention to while choosing a generator size.
The selection of the type of power plant according to the type of engine
By engine type, generators are divided into:
- petrol
- diesel.
The choice of a particular model depends on how the power plant will be used. The petrol power station produces less noise, is more compact, it starts up quickly even in sub-zero temperatures and costs less than diesel. However, if you plan to connect a large number of devices, it is better to buy a diesel generator, which saves fuel and is designed for a higher power.
How to determine generator size?
The main feature when choosing a power plant is its power. You need to accurately calculate the total power of all devices that you intend to connect to the power plant at the same time.
In order to calculate the total power of the devices you use, you must answer the question of how many watts are required for those ones you need in the first place and add their power consumption into one total number. For instance, when disconnecting electricity in a country house, you will need:
- Refrigerator — 250W
- Daylight lamp — 25W
- Electric kettle — 2300W
- TV — 250W
The total power of these devices is 2825W. Such modest needs may be well satisfied by a 3.5 – 4 kW petrol power station. Also, note that you do not use some devices all the time but turn them on only for a short period of time.
If you plan not to limit yourself, you should buy a diesel power plant with a capacity of 9 or more kW and above.
Whether you want to determine generator size, it should be remembered that the optimal installation load for long-term use should not exceed 75%. Only in this case, the diesel power plant will serve for a long time and efficiently, and the gasoline power plant will be able to work around the clock without interruption. Therefore, it is necessary to add another 15 – 20% to the calculated approximate sum of a load of all the devices essential for you and acquire a generator with a power approximately equal to the resulting total number.
My name is Brandon, and I’ve been interested in cars since I was a kid. I got a bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology and worked in a private car workshop. I have two cars that have been completely upgraded with my own hands. So I successfully put all my knowledge into practice.