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How to Hide Your Generator

Here is some great ideas of how to hide your generator. Not only does it help protect it it also helps to reduce noise. Do you have a photo of your own you can share with us? Please feel free to post it here. Comment are welcome.

 

 

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High Altitude Diesel Generator Use.

Diesel engines work by compressing air with a piston to create heat necessary to ignite the fuel that is then directly injected into it. The hottest point is when the piston is at top dead center. Fuel injection happens at this point or slightly afterwards. The fuel bursts into flame exploding and pushing the cylinder down again. Most diesel engines are designed to work with the air density we have at 500 feet or less. For every 1000 feet in elevation the air density decreases 2.9 - 3% At 3000 feet there is up to 9% less air to compress so less heat is generated. The loss of heat results in incomplete combustion and loss of power. The incomplete combustion also damages exhaust systems and shortens engine life. Starting your generator is also harder. Turbo systems on larger engines are able to ram more air into the combustion chamber increasing the air density however, portable generators do not use turbo or super chargers. Since we start to notice a difference in performance at 3000 feet we suggest you do not buy a diesel generator. It is not considered normal operating conditions and any engine damage would not be covered. It is the same with all diesels however, most other sellers will not tell you this. For higher altitudes you need a super charger or turbo charger. That is only something you find on larger diesel engines. They are compressors that ram more air into the engine to create higher pressures and greater air density.

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In 1983 the world's smallest air-cooled diesel engine was developed by a company called Yanmar. Since the patent expired many companies now produce engines using the same design. It is used in virtually every portable diesel generator around the world.

All these diesel engines are made in countries where materials are very expensive and the labor is very cheap so you need to be aware of a few things before you buy.

First, nothing is made in North America. Other then the Lombardini brand from Italy, all the rest come from China. Companies take shortcuts, use cheap materials and workers who make peanuts. Quality control and parts supply is always an issue. No one ever seems to stand behind their products. They are often one time sales and they know that.

We are such a small market in North America compared to the rest of the world. Our standards are much higher. We have electrical safety codes and laws to protect our environment. China often builds generators that are not acceptable here but many buy them anyway and pass them for being quality products when they really are not. Those companies are only interested in profits and short term gains.

Aurora is a Canadian company with the majority of its operations in the USA. Unlike so many other companies Aurora buys its own parts. Every single part. The engine and alternator are assembled by Aurora and its partners. Overseeing assembly and controlling parts supply in China rather then buying the cheapest engine available assures a much higher quality product. You can check with electrical safety organizations and find that Aurora products often meet some very high electrical standards others don't even talk about.

If you visit any other diesel generator company website you will not find a parts page. It is because they just don't have them. Buyer Beware !

Starting Generators In Cold Weather

(The generators we sell are prepared for lower temperature use)

Starting diesel engines during cold weather can be frustrating if engines are not properly prepared for lower temperatures. Batteries that are weak may not crank the starter motor fast enough or long enough to start a cold engine. As the temperature goes down, so does battery capacity. A battery that has all of its power available at 80 degrees F will have only about 46% available power at 0 degrees F. Plus, the engine will be 2.5 times harder to start at 0 degrees due to thicker oil and resistance to movement of internal moving parts. In effect, an engine is about five times harder to start at 0 degrees F than at 80 degrees F. Test weak or suspicious batteries under load before cold weather to help eliminate potential problems during busy times. If batteries need replacement, always replace with a battery equal to or more powerful than the original battery.

Use glow plugs or block heaters on the engine for cold weather starts. Glow plugs heat the internal combustion chamber area to suitable temperatures for combustion. Otherwise, cold fuel sprayed into the chamber and onto the glow plugs can gel and adhere to these parts. Hard starting and inefficient combustion occur with potential for damage to plugs and cylinder heads.

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Generator Reviews

Picking the best generator is hard enough, picking the best company is even harder. The best analysis is often from real generator owners and not by reading just one companies opinion. It is best to gather information from a few sources. Customers complaints can tell you a lot about a company and their product. The quality, service and what you can expect down the road for example. Searching organizations such as Ratepoint and the Better Business Bureau and you will often find some interesting information, warnings and what real problems real verified customers have to say. Many other sources often permit unfiltered posts so they may not be as accurate but still give you some idea about who may be dealing with.

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Surge Protection

Standard surge protector passes the electrical current along from the outlet to a number of electrical and electronic devices plugged into the power strip. If the voltage from the outlet surges or spikes — rises above the accepted level — the surge protector diverts the extra electricity into the outlet’s grounding wire.

In the most common type of surge protector, a component called a metal oxide varistor, or MOV, diverts the extra voltage. An MOV forms a connection between the hot power line and the grounding line.

One problem with surge protectors is that the MOVs can burn out with one good surge. This is why it is good to get a protector with an indicator light that tells you whether or not it’s functioning properly.”

An MOV has three parts: a piece of metal oxide material in the middle, joined to the power and grounding line by two semiconductors.

These semiconductors have a variable resistance that is dependent on voltage. When voltage is below a certain level, the electrons in the semiconductors flow in such a way as to create a very high resistance. When the voltage exceeds that level, the electrons behave differently, creating a much lower resistance. When the voltage is correct, an MOV does nothing. When voltage is too high, an MOV can conduct a lot of current to eliminate the extra voltage.

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What is a Generator Controller Used For?

Automatic Engine Control Modules or Generator Controllers are designed so you can manually or automatically start and stop the engine on your generator.  Controllers also monitor for fault conditions and show operational status. Event, performance monitoring and controlling alarms or sending a remote signal to let you know the power has failed and the generator is running are also possible with some models.

Generator controllers can also monitor fluid levels, temperatures, service intervals, voltage, power usage, engine preheating functions and more.  One display can tell you all you need to know rather then multiple meters and gauges.

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Generators and Sensitive Electronics

Inverter generators produce commercial-quality AC power. The Inverter generator power is often equal to what you have at home. The problem is they are very expensive, often are only 120 volts and are limited in power. There is also too much electronics and much more to go wrong with them.

Non inverter type generators are not so perfect. Does it matter? Often not. Most equipment today can handle some electrical noise. They have better power supplies and filtering then in the past. Internal power supplies convert the AC power into lower cleaner voltages that electronics use. A notebook computer for example runs off of batteries that are always on charge so if the power is lost there is no damage. Home computers should always have UPS power supplies to save them in case of a power failure.

Your more likely to have electrical damage due to a local lightning strike then damage from electrical noise produced by most generators.

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Which is better, gas or diesel?

It is a question confronting more and more new generator buyer. Whether you opt for the more expensive diesel engine may hinge on your experience with diesel engines. Perhaps it will depend on your desire for performance. Or maybe your decision will be based largely on economics, but chances are there will be an emotional element to the decision too.

For most new generator buyers, diesel engines connote power — the power to move or pull heavy loads. The terms “strength”, “heavy-duty”, “durable”, and “rugged” are all associated with diesels. Power — that’s part of the emotional appeal of diesels. After all, you don’t think of diesel engines for light-duty applications like motorcycles or lawnmowers. You may not even think of diesels as appropriate for automobiles, but that too is changing.

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Before you buy Standby Generators.

Here are some tips that may help you decide what generator is right for you.  Before you go out and buy a diesel standby generator, you’ll need to decide what equipment you want it to run. Some of the most common choices are refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, well pumps, sump pumps, lighting, security systems, garage doors, water heaters and televisions.

Every electronic device you add to the list will increase the wattage you need – and drive up your costs. While a single light bulb will only add around 100 watts to your needs (15 watts for florescent equivalent)  , a mid-sized central air conditioner can use 4000 watts or more. Limit your choices to those devices that are truly essential during a power failure and you’ll keep your total costs down.

How often will you use your Diesel Standby Generator?

Diesel engines are built tough. They need to be, it is just the way they work.  No matter what diesel engine you have as long as you do regular oil changes and use high quality oil it should last you over 10,000 hours.  Unlike portable diesel engines the larger standby generators use slower turning speeds, 1800 RPM instead of 3600 RPM They are also water cooled rather then air cooled. Most of these engines do not  even work as hard as your car so imagine the life you can get out of them.

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Understand Your Generator Options

Power generators have two main components. A motor that burns fuel to supply power and a generator head that turns power into electricity. Together, the motor and the generator head comprise a standard generator. Generators come in two basic designs: standby generators and portable generators.

Portable generators:

Portable generators provide power in remote locations, such as construction sites, for short periods of time. In a pinch, they can also power essential equipment during a power outage. Portable generators tend to be smaller and less expensive than standby generators. They have built-in fuel tanks, which allow them to run anywhere, and standard power outlets that can plug into ordinary extension cords. Portable generators should never be run indoors as they can produce fumes that can cause serious health problems or death if used indoors.

Standby Generators

Standby generators offer anywhere from 7 kW to several hundred kW of power. They help offset the harmful effects of power outages.  Installed permanently as an emergency power source for your home, cottage or business, standby generators are hardwired to your home or building electrical system and often get fuel from built in larger fuel tanks able to run for longer periods of time. Safety features can prevent injuries as well as damage to your generator.

Quality standby generators will shut down if they lose oil pressure, overheat, or are being worked too hard.  Standby generators also have solid steel or aluminum enclosures, good mufflers to reduce noise, and be compliant with all relevant emissions regulations. Standby generators should be started up once a week and run for 15 minutes to “exercise” them – making sure they are ready when needed.

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