How To Choose The Most Appropriate Diesel Generator

For an asset like Diesel Generators, costs can really go high in terms of initial investments, operational costs and maintenance related expenses. It is customary to go for Used Diesel Generators, when the budget of initial investment is not very encouraging. But with this benefit comes a risk - Will you be able to meet the expenses incurred in operational costs, capacity utilization and maintenance costs, if the generator you are buying at almost half the price of a new one, is not in a very good shape?

To answer this question, I would like to bring forth some very crucial aspects of the decision making process that goes behind making a deal worth it. While doing so, I assume that you have a basic understanding of technical terms associated with a diesel generator. If you are not familiar with them, I would request you to do your homework and come back to this article when you feel confident.

So, for your convenience, I am pulling together all my experience and representing before you the crux of the matter: 

First of all, check for the make and the model number and learn as much as possible about the model you want to buy from the manufacturer's website. Once you have knowledge about the technical specifications that the new ones have, you can compare the same against the used one. The main purpose of doing this exercise is to make a fundamental judgement of what to expect and what not to, from a used generator. Also, surf the internet and gather information regarding the performance depreciation curve of the particular model and make, so that you can have a realistic idea of the kind of performance you are going to get.

Secondly, gather information regarding the pattern of usage of the generator from its previous owner or reseller. It includes the maximum load to which it has been subjected previously and the number of hours for which it has been running. The thumb rule is that less the number of operational hours and more the peak load powered by a generator, the better it is for you. This is because fewer hours mean less wear and tear of the internal moving parts. Also, the maximum percentage utilization of its rated capacity will indicate the performance of the generator when it is pushed to its limits during high-demand or crisis situations. If you are buying a used generator as a back-up during blackouts, it is likely that the entire electrical load of your infrastructure will be carried by it. If such is the case, you must check for the performance of the generator at the peak of its rated power. 

Thirdly, you must insist on the load test report from the reseller. If a reseller does not agree to give a load test certificate or if you doubt the integrity of the reseller, then it is advisable to look for other resellers of used Diesel Generators. The load test is crucial because it is a measure of the overall performance of the diesel generator, with special emphasis on the condition of the engine, rotor, stator, peak load performance, exhaust and fuel efficiency. Simply speaking, a load test is the acid test for used diesel generators. There is another fine point that deserves special mention within the scope of this discussion; by spending a little amount, you can vastly improve the performance of Used Diesel Generators. All you need to do is to ask the reseller for rebuilding the engine - the heart of the generator.