In the process of choosing a generator for emergency power supply, I learned a lot about them.
We are talking about inexpensive gasoline generators "up to 25,000 rubles."
A gasoline generator generates electricity suitable for powering household appliances. It has one or two 230V outlets, some have a 12V outlet as well.
All generators in this price category are manually started by pulling the cable, but there is nothing wrong with that.
engine's type.
Globally, generators differ in the type of engine: two-stroke or four-stroke.
The two-stroke engine runs on a mixture of 92-octane gasoline and a special two-stroke oil, it is noisier and has a very short resource. (usually less than 1000 hours, that is, with continuous use, the generator will fully exhaust its resource in a month, or even faster).
The four-stroke engine runs on pure 92 gasoline and 4-stroke oil is poured into it separately (the oil must be changed at least once a year and drained for the winter). It is quieter, easier to start, less stinks of exhaust gases, it has a longer resource.
The cheapest generators are equipped with two-stroke engines and they usually look something like this. The photo shows the cheapest generator that can now be found, it costs about 6,000 rubles.
Prices for generators with four-stroke engines start at 11,000 rubles, they are significantly heavier (from 25 kg, more often about 40 kg) and are almost always equipped with a frame.
Power.
With power, manufacturers themselves are lying, but you can navigate according to the data provided (look at the nominal, not the maximum power). The smallest generator with a two-stroke motor has a claimed rated power of 500 watts, with a 4-stroke 700 watts. The most powerful generators in the price category "up to 25,000 rubles" produce up to 3000 watts.
A generator with a rated power of 1000 W is enough to power LED lighting, consumer electronics (laptop, router, TV), pumps, and not very powerful power tools. There may be problems with the power supply of the refrigerator (although the power of its compressor is only 150 W, at the time of start it can consume much more and the generator will stall). Such power is not enough to power microwaves, electric stoves, heating appliances and powerful power tools.
A generator with a rated power of 2000 W should be enough for any household applications (of course, given that the mode power supply from the emergency generator and only the most necessary will work and of course without powerful electric heaters). In many cases, even 1500 watts will be enough.
Generator type.
Gasoline power plants are equipped with different types of generators.
The synchronous alternator immediately produces a "mains" alternating voltage of 230 V sinusoidal.
In inverter power plants, the generator generates alternating or direct current (voltage and frequency can be different), which is converted to 230 V using an electronic inverter.
Power quality.
Not all generators can be connected to any electrical appliances without damage to them.
For cheap two-stroke generators, the voltage can "jump" over a very wide range, and electrical appliances connected to such a generator can simply burn out.
In inverter generators, the inverter can be either with a pure sine wave (in expensive models), or with a modified one. sinusoid (in this case, microwaves and some electric motors will not work, including in pumps and instruments).
Gasoline consumption, tank volume.
Small two-stroke generators have a tank volume of 1.5 - 4.2 liters, while they can be very "gluttonous", burning up to 1.5 liters of gasoline-oil mixture per hour.
For four-stroke generators, the tank has a volume of 6-25 liters, the minimum consumption depends on the engine power, the consumption as a whole depends on the load. Typically, such generators consume from 0.5 to 1.5 liters of gasoline per hour.
Is it possible to buy cheap generators.
In order to make the price lower, manufacturers are trying to save. If the characteristics of the generator indicate that the coil is wound with aluminum wire, this is a clear sign that they saved on everything. It is very likely that such a generator will not work much longer than the warranty period. By the way, most generators have a 1 year warranty, some have 2 years, very rarely 3-4.
The main danger of a cheap generator, when bought as a backup, is that when you need it, it may simply not start.
So what to take as a result?
I decided for myself that the backup generator for giving should be equipped with a 4-stroke engine, it should have a rated power of 2 kW, the guarantee should be at least 2 years. Such a generator now costs a little more than 20,000 rubles.
P.S. I hope I didn't miss anything important. If there is something to add, I will be grateful.
Peace for everyone!
© 2022, Alexey Nadezhin
For twelve years I have been writing about technology, discounts, interesting places and events. Read my blog site ammo1.ru, in Learn, Zen, Mirtesen, Telegram.
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