Generators for gardening
Back-up electricity supply is an urgent problem for owners of country houses. Power outages or its complete absence can completely ruin the long-awaited vacation in the lap of nature, because you do not want to part with the usual comfort given by a TV, refrigerator, computer and other achievements of civilization, and therefore generators for summer cottages, devices designed to provide autonomous power supply, must be included in the list of essential appliances. Content
- Criteria for choosing a country generator
- Gasoline generators for summer cottages
- Diesel generators for summer cottages
- Gas generators: characteristic
Criteria for choosing a country generator
Generators are devices designed to produce electricity. There are three types: gasoline, diesel and gas.
Gasoline generators for summer cottages
Gasoline generators are divided into synchronous and inverter. The first have a power of not more than 10 kW and are able to work up to 12 hours. Optimal for the life support of household assistants: a microwave oven, a double boiler, a vacuum cleaner, etc. The latter generate electricity of a higher quality, so they can be entrusted with the power of even very picky equipment, for example, your favorite laptop or home theater. Advantages include efficiency, low noise, small dimensions and light weight, high reliability ignition system.
Gasoline generator – an economical option for additional energy supply
Diesel generators for summer cottages
They have a longer working time – up to 5000 hours. Water cooling system allows you to use them as a permanent source of energy. There are diesel generators for summer cottages with two types of engines: 1500 rpm and 3000 rpm.
Installations with a high speed are optimal for periodic use and are characterized by increased noise, but the price will accordingly be significantly lower compared to low-speed ones, which operate almost silently, but cost twice as much.
Diesel generator can serve as the main source of energy.
Gas generators: characteristic
Such equipment has many advantages: gas is cheaper than diesel fuel or gasoline, solid particles and ash are emitted by 30% less during combustion, which leads to high performance indicators. Gas generators are focused on solving complex production problems, are silent and can operate around the clock, without interruptions.
Gas generator – a unit that converts the cheapest type of fuel into energy
How to choose a generator for a summer residence?
Buying such an important device requires a thorough approach to business. You can, of course, use the information gathered from the Web – the query “generator for giving: reviews” can provide some information, but this is clearly not enough. It requires an individual approach and taking into account many important points.
Power is a customer benchmark
Power is the main criterion for buying, depending on the spectrum of tasks assigned to the generator. It is necessary to calculate the sum of the capacities of consumers of electricity (devices), which will operate at a time. Most often, these are light sources, a refrigerator, a TV. If you plan to carry out repairs, consider connecting a grinder, a punch and other tools.
It is important! After calculating the power of all devices, add to the resulting figure 30% for unaccounted cases.
On average, 6 kW is enough for a small summer cottage, but the lucky owners of a country cottage should pay attention to the more powerful generators – 10-15 kW.
For cottages preferred generators with a capacity of 10 kW
Petrol or diesel?
Due to the fact that gas generators are much more expensive than gasoline and diesel counterparts, cottage owners are often forced to choose from the last two options. A compact and inexpensive gasoline generator is characterized by a poor list of “skills” (7 kW) and the inability to carry out continuous operation. The engine heats up quickly, so using it for more than 8 hours is not recommended. In principle, if you do not live in the country all the time, but come only on the weekend, then this option justifies itself, saving from the vagaries of the weather or emergency blackouts.
The diesel generator has a large power (up to 15 kW), which means it is designed for long-term operation without interruptions. It is worth noting another remarkable property – the admissibility of efficient operation with low fuel consumption. Thus, if uninterrupted power supply is required, it is better to purchase a diesel installation.
Pay attention to the phase. If the wiring in the country is single-phase, then the generator should be the same. In the three-phase version, note that the skew should not exceed 30%.
Synchronous or asynchronous?
This characteristic is often forgotten, but when using technology sensitive to temperature extremes, this cannot be done. Synchronous generators can be used without fear to power refrigeration units, lighting devices and emergency power supply, while asynchronous samples are optimal for sensitive devices.
The advantage of the first is the ability to connect equipment with a reactive power that is 65% higher than the rated power, which synchronous generators cannot promise, because the limit of their capabilities is at 30% mark.
Air cooled generator
If we talk about uptime, water cooling is preferable to air cooling. On a hot day, an air-cooled appliance overheats after 8 hours. The generator will have to be turned off and wait for it to cool. Water cooling allows the engine to function for more than 15 hours.
It is important! The compactness of such a generator also speaks in favor of water cooling. The weight of the device is unlikely to exceed 40 kg. To transport the generator with an air type of cooling, it is necessary to involve several people or a special loader.
Two or four stroke?
Two-stroke engines are simpler in design and cheaper. Light weight facilitates transportation and use in everyday life. However, there were some shortcomings. A two-stroke electric current generator for giving consumes a lot of fuel, is noisy and has a small motor resource. Each refueling will require mixing oil and gasoline, as on pure gas, push-pull installations do not work. Instruments designed for a limited operating time are equipped with such an engine..
Four-stroke engines are considered to be more modern equipment, capable of providing energy to the cottage for 5000 hours (7 seasons). The generators are filled as follows: 10W30 oil is poured into the crankcase, and AI-92 gasoline is poured into the tank. The four-stroke engine makes much less noise, and after heating it does not smoke at all.
It is important! If you do not plan to use the generator for more than 500 hours per year, then it is easier to buy a high-speed copy (3000 rpm), which costs much cheaper. In the case when the need for hours exceeds the specified amount, it will be more profitable to purchase a low-speed generator with a low noise level and increased capabilities.
In addition to the specified parameters, the choice of the generator for the cottage is influenced by the control method, which determines the ease of use. Manual mode is the simplest installation that requires your presence. Manual mode with remote control allows you to control the device at a distance of 25 meters.
Semi-automatic control is a synthesis of automation and manual controls. The generator is started and put into operation manually, and all other options are automated.
Automatic generator
The automatic mode through programming provides full-featured monitoring, regardless of how far you are from the unit. This mode is ideal for controlling branched, high-tech power supply systems for one / several objects from a single control point.
Now choose a generator is not difficult. Perhaps it is worth mentioning the craftsmen who make generators for giving with their own hands. Wind generators, or simply windmills, can be assembled from improvised means: steel pipes, magnets, a motor from a treadmill, coils, a wooden or metal frame, blades …
Do-it-yourself wind generator
There are a huge number of options for such home-made devices. It’s quite understandable that a wind turbine will not be able to provide electrical appliances, but, for example, it’s quite suitable for lighting outbuildings.
How to connect a generator to give?
So, the device was purchased and now an equally important event is ahead – installation. Installing a generator in the country is not an easy task, therefore, if you do not understand the electrician, it is better to trust a specialist. But if you have the knowledge and desire, you can try to carry out the work yourself. If the generator will always be at the selected location, then it should be installed according to a permanent scheme, i.e. switching will be without breaks in the electric circuit from the unit to the switchboard. If not, installation of a special outlet is required to connect the cable, the ends of which are fitted with special plugs.
The wires from the generator are held in the shield. The connection point should be after the counter, in front of the protection device, as shown in the diagram.
Installation diagram
When connecting, the following devices are used:
- signal lamp necessary for monitoring the presence / absence of current in the network;
- a switch or a reversing switch for selecting the modes “electric network” – “electric generator”. Cheaper analogue – cross over switch.
Generators for summer cottage – a guarantee of a comfortable stay
If there is free space in the electrical panel, the equipment is installed there, if not, in a smaller smaller panel, which will play the role of a control unit for choosing the power supply path “electric network” – “electric generator”. When connecting, do not forget to disconnect the lines from the mains and the generator.
Done. The generator is purchased, safely installed, which means that staying in the country will be comfortable, filled with exclusively positive emotions.
