When the time comes to choose a generator, there are quite a number of possibilities for both the home owner and the business operator: so many, in fact, that it can be quite problematic to the uninitiated. What source of fuel do you prefer - diesel or petrol? Do you need a small "emergency" generator for the home, or one with sufficient power to act as a back up when the mains electricity fails in your business? If you don't have much of an understanding of how generators work, you will find it difficult to choose.

How then, do you make a choice? Firstly, you should decide for what actual purpose you will need the generator, as this will help you to determine the capacity. If you require a generator for home use, it would not be a good idea to choose a heavy duty industrial generator, as it would provide more power than you require. Similarly, if you need to run machinery, a generator with a low output of power will not be sufficient as it is guaranteed to fail when you need it most.

Both diesel and petrol generators are similar in how they deliver power. Diesel electrical generators are most often found in agricultural environments, on construction sites and in factories and warehouses: in fact, wherever there is a requirement for a portable and reliable source of energy. This can be because there is no mains power (as with construction sites) or the mains power cannot be relied upon (such as with agricultural areas and factories).

In determining your generator needs, it is important to choose the most efficient model. The size of the diesel generator can be worked out by the output and speed provided by the manufacturer: generally speaking, a generator with more power has a higher output and speed. The majority of generators fall between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. Those generators with a lower KVA rating are suitable for home use, whereas those with a higher KVA rating are more than ample for most industrial situations.

The efficiency of the model is the first step: however, you will also have to determine the load you have to supply. To do this, you just have to work out the power demand, whether this be for home or business use, during normal operating conditions. The level of power that the generator can output will tell you whether it is powerful enough to meet the requirements of your home or business: the amount of fuel the tank carries only determines the number of hours the generator will operate between refueling.It is always a good idea to choose a generator that can supply a little more power than you really need, thus minimising the eventuality of overloading.

Something else you may need to consider is the decibel level of the silent generator. Does the generator need to be run during the night in the home? If so, you should choose a silent diesel generator as the decibel level of these is much lower than traditional diesel generators. It is also sensible to choose a silent diesel generator with a large fuel tank, to ensure that it runs overnight, thereby avoiding refueling in the middle of the night. The noise output is not such a critical aspect if it is used in an industrial situation, or during the day.

For generators that will be used only occasionally, it makes sense to opt for a good quality used generator, as this will save you a good deal of money.

Having a generator available for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or even when there is no actual mains electricity (camping is one such example) is an excellent idea. However, it pays to do your homework and carefully choose a generator that best suits your individual requirements.

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