Generator Efficiency: How to Get the Most Out of Your Generator

In 2019, over 350,000 North Texans lost power in a single, shocking event. No one thinks a generator is necessary until they’re in the dark, right?

Having a generator is a great deterrent for lost work time if it’s for your business. When everyone else is searching for a flashlight, you’re getting things done. The value of a generator for a hospital or police station goes without mention, but your business matters too.

So you’re looking for a generator, but now you’re worried about generator efficiency. You should be! We’re going to tell you why it matters and how to get the efficiency you need.

Weather is coming, time to prepare!

Why Generator Efficiency Matters

Why do most things matter to us? Dollars and cents, pure and simple. There’s more to it than that for generators, however.

It doesn’t mean the difference of a few dollars saved, here and there. It means appliances and electronics not frying on a switchover or worst of all the generator not coming on when you need it most. Another major concern is the damage to our environment our power generation and transportation causes in general.

We’re going to talk about both.

Sustainability

Sustainability is something we should have been taking seriously decades ago, but instead, we took for granted.

We shouldn’t only consider what our generators do for us, but what they don’t do for our planet and future generations. There are three types of generators.

• Diesel
• Gasoline
• Propane

A generator is like an engine, similar to a car. The way we make electricity is by burning a chemical. It is on-demand and easy to use.

Also similar to a car is maintenance and storage. Gasoline doesn’t store well, so filling your generator with high-quality gasoline only for it to need replacement in six months or less, is no good. Ethanol-based Gasoline, especially E85, will degrade even faster.

Diesel can be stored up to a year but with ultra-low sulfur diesel on the market, there are changes in fuel quality as little as a month later. This is partly due to ultra-low sulfur, but also due to refining and collection processes crude oil today.

To fight this problem even more chemicals need to be added as fuel stabilizers for diesel and gasoline.

Propane is a very stable form of petroleum, also known as liquified petroleum gas, or LPG. It burns clean and can be found around the world in abundance. It is often used as an alternative fuel source for small vehicles, tractors, forklifts, and more.

There are numerous distribution companies that can deliver to you and fill the tank. It has an almost indefinite shelflife. In fact, your tank will need to be recertified before you need to switch out unused propane.

What does it mean for you? Better sustainability considerations mean better quality fuel, which in turn means better reliability.

Reliability

Generally, people want to know their car will start when they turn the key. When it comes to a generator, you want to know it will start the moment there’s a problem with your power supply. That’s reliability.

So how can you keep your generator reliable and in good working order? As we mentioned, one of the biggest concerns is fuel type. Each fuel has its advantages and drawbacks when it comes to reliability, a large part of which is shelf life.

If you don’t keep up with your fuel’s lifespan, it can cause a bad start in your generator or inefficient running. We can’t have that. If it is running on “dirty” fuel, it’s possible that you could get damage.

Another part of reliability is good maintenance schedules and buying quality parts. You get quality parts for your car when it breaks down or needs replacement. Nothing is different about your generator in this regard.

Regular testing and maintenance are must-haves.

A reliable generator is usually an efficient generator. Once you have a good schedule of maintenance and good fuel, most of the work is done. Right?

Let’s find out!

Generator Efficiency: How to Do It

We’ve talked a lot about maintenance and fuel for good reason, but it’s only a couple of pieces of the puzzle. Many other things go into increasing generator efficiency, along with a lot of complicated math!

Going back to cars, you wouldn’t buy a $200,000 car and use low-grade fuel and cleaning products. Similarly to a commercial generator, you wouldn’t buy one and use a low-grade cable to connect it to your building.

A heavy-duty cable will take the high voltage power needs without giving dirty power. When there’s a power fluctuation due to the main power and the generator switches over, there can be some initial fluctuations. High-quality, heavy-duty cables will help to stabilize that electrical flow and save your electronics from dirty power.

Another thing to think about is a cool environment. This helps to slow the decay of your liquid fuels (except for propane) and keep the mechanical components of your generator in better working order. Making electricity makes heat.

That heat build-up is worst than in a normal car or vehicle because the movement of electricity generates its own heat. That’s one reason you see so many “fins” on electrical wires and components. To keep your electricity moving freely and at high efficiency, keep it cool.

A suitable enclosure will solve most of those problems with keeping fuel tanks out of weather and cool, along with proper ventilation for the generator, and safe from damage or vandalism.

Streamlined and Loving It

Streamlining your generator maintenance schedule and operational efficiency sounds like a headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Just follow these simple guides and talk to your supplier and technician to get the best guidance. They’re professionals after all and had to learn a lot to do what they do.

You have to keep up with your car maintenance, and you have to keep up with your generator maintenance. You have to put good fuel in your vehicle, and likewise with your generator. Any kind of accessories or replacements requires quality parts and the same is true with your generator’s cables and accessories.

The idea of increasing generator efficiency can get really technical but if you enjoyed this easy-to-read article, rest assured there are plenty more to choose from at Swift Equipment Solutions!

Give us a call today to ask about how to make your new generator as efficient and reliable as possible!