Knowing Generators: Different Types of Generators and Maintenance

Most individuals look forward to the summer season mainly because of the many great things that come with the hot weather, including colourful flowers, blazing sunshine, and sweet summer fruits.

However, as we plan to enjoy our summer, we must also be aware of the many power outages happening around this time. During summer, the usage of air conditioners in homes increases, overloading the power grid. In turn, this leads to power outages.

Power outages during summer could be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and even dangerous, mainly for the elderly and children. Luckily for us, EP-Power provides the best generators for power outages.

What are Generators and what do they do?

Generators are simply the lifesavers during power outages. A generator is a device that produces power by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Usually, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, and water turbines are the primary sources of mechanical energy sources for the conversion.

There are several types of generators, each designed to meet certain user needs.

Types of Generators

If you’re planning to get a generator, you might be wondering what different types of generators are out there. Choosing the right generator to match your needs could be daunting, given the array of options you have to choose from.

Generators can either be classified depending on their energy source or based on their application.

Classification based on Energy Source

Based on the energy source, we have several types of generators, including;

·         Gasoline generators

·         Diesel fuel generators

·         Biodiesel generators

·         Emulsified generators

·         Propane gas generators

·         Solar generators, and

·         Hydrogen generators

Classification based on Application

Based on their application, generators can be classified into three main categories, namely: portable, standby, and inverter generators.

1. Portable generators

Usually powered by diesel or gas fuel, portable generators use the combustion engine to produce electricity. They are the go-to generators for constructions sites for lighting or when you need temporal electrical energy. They can be used for residential use, including to power TVs, refrigerators and lighting in homes.

Portable generators come in varying power configurations to be used for different needs. They come in handy during power grid outages or in times of natural disasters. You may find these generators in electrical and electronic appliances shops, including EP-Power.

The drawback of these generators is that you cannot operate them inside a garage or a home. Besides, they demand a lot of protection from the weather.

2. Standby generators

Also known as backup generators, standby generators are among the most popular types of generators. These generators use either diesel or gas as their energy sources and are considered the best for emergency power backup.

During power outages, standby generators work for up to 48 hours, mainly because of the large external tank. Also, they operate automatically and provide their users with a permanent power solution.

Some disadvantages of standby generators include; they are costly and require regular maintenance.

3. Inverter generators

These are the types of generators that produce AC power using an engine connected to the alternator. Inverter generators are useful for appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and recreational vehicles.

They are compact and light in weight, making them suitable for such applications. However, they are expensive and are not powerful enough to power heavy-duty appliances.

Generator Maintenance

Just like all engine-based appliances, generators demand regular maintenance to remain operational. Each of the above-mentioned types of generators comes with a unique maintenance schedule, which users should follow.

Common maintenance practices for generators include;

·         Checking for leakages

·         Checking oil levels

·         Inspection of the cooling system. Always ensure there’s enough coolant

·         Cleaning and filtering of the generator

·         Regular checks of the battery power, especially for standby generators. Make sure the battery is charged

EP-Power is committed to ensuring the best quality and our well-known philosophy of “Customer First”. We strive to provide our customers with first-class products and services and expand our presents in the market. 

As partners with Advanced Energy, we are dedicated to providing products for a wide range of industries including semiconductor equipment, industrial, manufacturing, telecommunications, data centre computing, and medical.

For orders and enquiries about our products, you may send us an email to: sales@edac.com.sg