Output voltage
Nominal voltage at the generator output.
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230 V Standard voltage of a regular household socket. It is widely used in everyday life, and there are many 230 V devices among specialized equipment; the only exception is powerful equipment (mainly from 4-5 kW), for which this voltage is no longer enough. It is 230-volt generators that should be considered by tech looking for a device for backup power supply of a residential premises or a small office.
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400 V Generators capable of delivering three-phase power with a voltage of 400 V. Such power is extremely rarely used in everyday life, but it may be required for heavy equipment, specialized tools and other similar loads. Generators with an output voltage of 400 V are generally more powerful, heavier, larger, more expensive and more "gluttonous" than 230-volt ones. It is worth specifically looking for such a unit only in cases where the presence of three-phase power is essential.
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230 and 400 V Combined power supply models — most generators with a three-phase output voltage of 400 V are also equipped with single-phase 230 V sockets. This ensures their universal use both for backup power supply of a home or office, and for performing more resource-intensive tasks (for example, in construction and repair, for autonomous operation of high-power loads, etc.).
— 110 V. Generators with 110
...V sockets (or 120 V for certain regions). This voltage is found in household electrical networks in some countries of North and Central America, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and occasionally in Great Britain. It is not recommended to connect 230 V equipment to such sockets (unless otherwise specified in the technical documentation for a specific electrical appliance).
— DC (48 V). Models with one or more DC connectors for powering external devices with direct current. The standard DC socket is round and has a pin in the center, but its depth and diameter may vary. The voltages output to the DC output may vary — in this case, 48 V is implied.Alternator winding
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Copper. Copper winding is typical for advanced class generators. The copper alternator is characterized by high conductivity and low resistance. The conductivity of copper is 1.7 times higher than the conductivity of aluminium, such a winding heats up less, and compounds made of this metal endure temperature drops and vibration loads. Among the disadvantages of the copper winding, one can only note the high cost of the alternator. Otherwise, generators with copper winding have high reliability and durability.
— Aluminium. The aluminium winding of the alternator is typical for low-cost-class generators. The main advantages of aluminium are light weight and low price; otherwise, such a winding is usually inferior to copper counterparts. An oxide film is created on the surface of aluminium, it appears everywhere, even in the places of contact soldering. The oxide film undermines the contacts and does not allow the outer protective braid to securely hold the aluminium conductors.
Motor type
Model name of the engine installed in the generator. Knowing this name, you can, if necessary, find detailed data on the engine and clarify how it meets your requirements. In addition, model data may be needed for some specific tasks, including maintenance and repair.
Note that modern generators are often equipped with
branded engines from famous manufacturers: Honda, John Deere, Mitsubishi, Volvo, etc. Such engines are more expensive than similar units from little-known brands, but this is offset by higher quality and/or solid warranty conditions , and in many cases, the ease of finding spare parts and additional documentation (such as manuals for special maintenance and minor repairs).
Engine size
The working volume of the engine in a gasoline or diesel generator (see "Fuel"). Theoretically, more volume usually means more power, but in fact, everything is not so clear. Firstly, the specific power strongly depends on the type of fuel, and in gasoline units, also on the type of internal combustion engine (see above). Secondly, similar engines of the same power can have different volumes, and there is a practical point here: with the same power, a larger engine consumes more fuel, but by itself it can cost less.
Starter type
Method of starting the electric generator engine. To start the internal combustion engine (petrol or diesel, see "Fuel"), it is necessary to turn the engine shaft in any case; this can be done in two ways:
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Manual. With this method of starting, the initial impulse is transmitted to the engine manually - usually the user needs to pull hard on the cable that spins a special flywheel. The simplest in design and cheapest method of starting, from additional equipment it requires only the cable itself with a flywheel. On the other hand, it may require the user to apply significant muscular effort and is poorly suited for high-power units.
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Electric starter. With this type of start, the engine shaft is rotated by a special electric motor, which is called a starter; the starter is powered by its own battery. This option for starting the generator power unit is the easiest for the user and requires a minimum of effort. Depending on the implementation of the electric starter, it is usually enough to turn the key in the ignition switch, press a button, turn the handle or rotate a special drum, etc. The power of modern starters is sufficient even for heavy engines, where manual starting is difficult or impossible. Also note that an electric starter is required by definition to use the ATS autostart (see "Features"). On the other hand, additional equipment affects the weight and cost of the unit,
...and sometimes quite noticeably. Therefore, such starting systems are used mainly where they cannot be avoided - in the aforementioned heavy equipment, as well as generators with ATS.Fuel consumption (50% load)
Fuel consumption of a petrol or diesel generator when operating at half power, and for combined models when using petrol (see “Fuel”).
Fuel consumption usually increases with load. However, generator efficiency is not always linear - fuel consumption may vary disproportionately with different loads. In this case, the approximate amount of fuel consumed by the generator when operating at half power (50% of the rated power) is given. Knowing the fuel consumption and tank capacity, you can at least estimate how long one fill-up will last.
Sockets 230 V
The number of 230 V sockets provided in the design of the generator, as well as the type of connectors used in such sockets.
The type of connector in this case is indicated by the maximum power that is allowed for the outlet - for example, “2 pieces for 16 A”. The most popular options for 230-volt outlets are
16 A,
32 A, and 63 A. We emphasize that amperes in this designation are not the actual power that the generator can produce, but the outlet’s own limitation; the actual power value is usually noticeably lower. Simply put, if, for example, the generator has a 32 A socket, the output power on it will not reach 32 A; and the specific number of amperes will depend on the rated and maximum power of the unit (see above). So, if for our example we take a rated power of 5 kW and a maximum of 6 kW, then to a 230 V outlet such a generator will be able to produce no more than 5 kW / 230 V = 22.7 A standard and 6 kW / 230 V = 27, 3 A at its peak. And if the power has to be divided between several outlets, then it will accordingly be even less.
As for specific types of connectors, the higher the power permissible for the outlet, the higher the requirements for its reliability and quality of protection. In light of this, as a rule, higher power outlets can be connected to lower power plugs (directly or through an adapter), but not vice versa. And if there are several sockets, by their type it i
...s possible to estimate with some certainty the distribution of the entire power of the generator between them: between two identical sockets such power is usually divided equally, and more power is allocated to an socket with a larger number of amperes and power. However, specific details on this matter should be clarified separately in each case; It's also worth considering 400V outlets, if available (see below).Sockets 400 V
The number of 400 V outlets provided in the generator design, as well as the type of connectors used in such outlets.
The type of connector in this case is indicated by the maximum power that is allowed for the outlet - for example, “2 pieces for 16 A”. The most popular options for 400V include
16A and
32A, although other types of outlets are also found. We emphasize that amperes in this designation are not the actual power that the generator can produce, but the outlet’s own limitation; the actual power value is usually noticeably lower. Simply put, if, for example, the generator has a 32 A socket, the output power on it will not reach 32 A; and the specific number of amperes will depend on the rated and maximum power of the unit (see above). So, if for our example we take a rated power of 7 kW and a maximum of 8 kW, then to a 400 V outlet such a generator will be able to produce no more than 7 kW / 400 V = 18.42 A standard and 8 kW / 230 V = 21, 05 And at the peak. In practice, these values will be even lower, since three-phase devices are almost always supplemented with single-phase sockets, and the power will have to be divided between different types of sockets. The specific specifics of power distribution in each case should be clarified separately.
As for specific types of connectors, the higher the power permissible for an outlet, the higher the requirements for its reliability
...and quality of protection. In light of this, as a rule, higher power outlets can be connected to lower power plugs (directly or through an adapter), but not vice versa.Output 12 V
Existence in the generator of an
output with a direct current and voltage of 12 V. The main function of this output is to charge car batteries, as well as power devices originally intended for cars (recall, 12 V is the standard voltage of on-board networks in cars).
The following types of 12-volt outputs are found in generators:
- Terminals. Terminals are used to connect wires directly without using any plugs. This connection is the most reliable.
- Socket. Socket outlet for a plug with two flat pins, designed to connect 12-volt consumers. Holes in sockets come in different layouts, which you need to pay attention to.
- Cigarette lighter. The so-called "car socket", which in many cars is combined with a cigarette lighter socket (hence the name). Such connectors are used to power various automotive devices and accessories.