What Type of Generator Do I Need

Why Do You Need a Generator?

Emergency back-up for power outages

Having a generator will mean your family have the electricity to live in comfort during power failures, when those around will be in the dark and cold.

Recreational Use

A generator is handy when going camping or travelling in a mobile home.

Work Use

There are a range of silent and open frame generators from 2KVA to 200KVA available, whether you are powering one power tool to a block of site offices.

 

How to Select the Right Generator For You

To determine how much power you require, follow these steps:

  1. Make a list of what you need to power. What will you need to power in the event of a power cut: just kitchen appliances and lights? TV and home electronics, as well? Have you medical equipment that is a priority? Is your  freezer full? Make sure to include everything that is a priority for you. 
  2. If you need a generator to use on site you need to list out the tools or appliances you will want to use at the same time. On camping or fishing trips, how many outdoor cooking, heating or entertainment appliances or accessories will you be using simultaneously?
  3. How much power is needed to start each appliance. Keep in mind that the starting wattage is higher than the running wattage, sometimes 20% higher sometimes double. Running wattage is usually stamped on each appliance or in the owners manual.
  4. Calculate your total power needs. It’s a two part equation. First, add up all the “running wattage” for all the items you wish to power simultaneously. This will give you the total running watts the generator will need to produce simply to run your equipment. Next, add to that total the highest of the “starting wattages” you wrote down in step 3, above. Now you know how much power you need to start and run your appliances and equipment!

Now that you know what power you need, you can go shopping for generators within your wattage requirement.

Warning: Never connect a generator directly to a house without a transfer switch! If your generator is a back-up for your house you will need to get an electrician to fit a transfer switch to your house, usually beside the fuse board. There are two options available for a transfer switch, manual (MTS) and automatic (ATS). Manual is the cheapest and most popular, automatic transfer switches are more expensive and are popular among the disabled and elderly.

All Irish garage equipment generators are powered by high-quality engines that offer power you can count on. Our generators provide dependable power during power outages, and can also be used to run your power tools or to make recreational areas more comfortable where there is no electricity.

To shop for a generator, follow these steps:

1. Determine your power needs. 

2. Think about the ease of transporting/moving your generator. Some portable generators come with wheels, and some are light enough to carry. Silent generators have smaller wheels and less handles which makes them more difficult to transport on uneven or soft ground. Open framed generators are easier to lift and the wheels are bigger making them easier to transport/move around, the only down side being they are quiet noisy.

3. Look for a generator with at least 10 hours of run time. This allows contractors to make it through a full day’s work and home owners to get a full night’s sleep without re-fuelling.

4. Check the type of outlets and voltage you need on your generator. This depends on what appliances you’ll need to power and what voltage these appliances are.

Pacini 3.5kva petrol generator 7hp

Pacini 3.5KVA Petrol Generator 7hp

Features That Make a Difference

Weather Protected Control Panel Protects your control panel from rain, dirt, dust and debris.

Outlets - All outlets are circuit breaker protected. Select the generator with the types of outlets you need.

Fuel Tank - Size of the fuel tank determines the length of uninterrupted run times.

AVR - All digital appliances such as TVs and computers can be very sensitive to power fluctuations and will need clean power. You will need an Automatic Voltage Regulator to make the power clean. This is built into all of our generators.

Engine Type - All our petrol and diesel engines are OHV (OverHead Valve) engines that provide longer life, longer run times, greater fuel efficiency and quieter running.

Exhaust Helps reduce engine noise.

Wheels  Depending on your requirements, look for large wheels for easier transportation over rugged terrain like construction sites.

Check out the wide range of  generators available on our online store and if you need any further assistance please feel free to give us a call on 01 257 2171 and one of our sales team will be happy to help.