What should you look for in a gasoline generator when buying one? The first thing you need to consider is how much power you will need. Generators work on gasoline, so if you have a substantial electrical bill you will need a gasoline generator. The size of the generator you buy should be in proportion to the amount of power your home requires. Fuel costs are very important, and if you do not fuel your generator frequently, it can turn out to be more costly than purchasing an alternative fuel source.
Diesel generators are typically more affordable to run than gasoline ones. They also burn cleaner, although they tend to produce a bit less power per gallon of fuel. Diesel engines also run much more efficiently than gasoline ones. This is apparent when comparing the compression ratios of both kinds of generators. In general diesel engines are an editors choice for homes that have small electric bills and high demands for power.
It is important to know what type of fuel your gasoline generator uses, whether natural gas, propane or natural petroleum. All three fuels are usually priced in similar units, but there are differences between them. Natural gas is by far the most expensive, while propane and petroleum each have varying costs per gallon of fuel per year. Knowing which fuel to use, will help you save money on both gasoline and propane.
A major consideration when choosing a gasoline generator is to determine what wattage it can generate. A good rule of thumb is to choose a starting wattage that is equal to about twice the device’s maximum capacity in gallons. For example, a 100 wattage unit is usually good for powering small appliances. You should also keep in mind that this maximum capacity number varies between different models. This means that you may be able to get two-watt units that are capable of powering larger appliances such as a hair dryer, but they may not be powerful enough to run larger appliances. The number of watts determines the number of hours of continuous operation that the unit should last.
The amount of fuel that is used also affects the price of diesel generators and gas appliances. The higher the fuel source, the more expensive it will be. There are many options available in both diesel fuel sources and gasoline fuel sources, so you should be able to find something within your price range that will perform adequately.
Another thing to consider is how long the diesel engine will last compared to gasoline engines. Diesel generators run extremely long before they must be changed, while gas engines wear out much faster. Gasoline engines have the potential to run for much longer than diesel generators do, but they will eventually need to be replaced.
There are some new technologies that are being tested that could bring about a change in fuel efficiency. Hydrogen is one of these technologies that could reduce the amount of fuel that is needed to operate the generator. This would be a great benefit if you are thinking about using the machine at home. However, there is currently no evidence that hydrogen generators can actually be used successfully at home. More research needs to be done on this topic.
One other issue that you will need to think about is how much you would pay for electricity if you did not have any type of fuel source at all. Standby generators are usually cheaper per gallon than most other types of gas fueled machines, but they cost more in the long run because of the fuel required to keep them running. If you are going to use natural gas, make sure that you are able to purchase sufficient quantities of natural gas to make it practical to run your generator on a regular basis. While they may cost more up front, you will save money in the long run because they are less expensive to run on natural gas than alternative fuels such as diesel.