Those who've never purchased a generator before may find this whole process a little bit daunting in the beginning. But do not worry, it's not as intimidating as you may think it is. Just like with everything else, there are some things that must be taken into consideration.

After all, you do not want to waste your money on something that isn’t suitable for you. That’s precisely why it would be recommendable to get yourself familiar with some facts before you proceed with the purchase.

Fortunately, you’ve stumbled upon this article that has prepared some very useful information when it comes to it. So if you want to know more about it, just keep reading and you’ll find out everything you’re supposed to.

Things To Consider Before Purchasing A New Generator

The Size

The answer to this question highly depends on the sum of the entire load expected at any time of the electrical loads that you wish to power at the same time, measured in watts. For starters, you should add the amount of load that you’ll be able to run concurrently. 

After that, determine which electrical object in your household requires the most electricity to start the motor and then just simply add that to the total. Ensure that the generator you want to buy can provide lots of electricity so that larger objects won’t overexert the system.

Furthermore, each generator comes with two wattage ratings, running surge wattage and wattage. Generally speaking, people mostly pay attention to surge wattage because they are looking for a generator that can offer additional capacity in case the load you have is higher than what you’ve thought it will be. 

All in all, during your purchase, select the size based on the running wattage of the generator and the surge wattage must fall into line with what you need.

Control Systems & Management

The right control system must come with numerous useful features. Generator connoisseur at www.generatormag.com suggests focusing on these features, for instance, the ability to start and program the machine from afar, show any warnings, to deliver a variety of analysis data, etc. Namely, all of this helps to better employ the efficacy of the power plant while giving a high-quality overview of the entire application process.

A majority of generators come with the Power Management System (PMS). What’s the purpose of it? It helps you to optimize the fuel consumption and performance of the generator. Moreover, it can also prevent any damage to the generator when it’s working with low load levels, which means that it expands its work life.

What Else Do You Need To Know?

What Type Of Fuel Is The Best For You?

Choosing the right fuel is extremely important and something that mustn’t be overlooked. First, you have a natural gas that gives you an “always-on” supply that goes straight into the standby generator. 

In this case, you do not have to think that you will run out of fuel, or the transportation of it, or when will you have to refill the tank, etc. Furthermore, when the power goes out, your generator will still be able to operate normally.

It’s worth mentioning that this option is very environmentally-friendly and it meets all the emission requirements. On the other hand, if a natural disaster destroys your gas lines, it is highly likely you will no longer be able to run your generator.

Then you have diesel-fueled generators that are a great option during a power outage. On the other hand, you have to run them at least once a month to make sure they are working properly. Additionally, these generators can be very loud and are not as environmentally friendly as the ones that run on natural gas. 

When it comes to expenses, the biggest ones can revolve around fuel, additives, and potential problems these generators can cause, which is why you have to carefully think about whether they are a good option for you for the time being. 

And last, but not least, propane. Just like natural gas, it burns cleanly, however, it isn’t as effective as diesel or natural gas. Moreover, it’s quite simple to obtain propane in sealed metal tanks, and luckily, it does not degrade the way diesel does. 

Generally speaking, generators with propane are a perfect solution for people who do not utilize them too frequently, but who still want to own a good generator.

Is it possible to choose the right generator without having any previous knowledge about it? The answer is no! That’s precisely why we’ve created this useful guide that is going to help you pick the best possible one.