Things To Keep In Mind Before Buying Used Generators

Used cars are one thing, but when it comes to buying a used generator, there are a few things you should be aware of.

Let’s be honest, nobody likes to part with more hard-earned money than they have to, which is why the second-hand market in Australia is big business. But just like when you buy a second-hand car, if you see a used generator for sale, it’s worth stopping and giving it a little more thought.

Buying a used generator for sale can be risky

Before you start shopping, weigh up the pros and cons of buying a used or new generator. To help, here are some things you need to know:

Does the generator come with a warranty?

This is a huge no-no for many people. When you’re buying something with so many moving parts like a generator, you want the peace of mind that you can get it fixed if something goes wrong. And even though generators these days are built to last, things can still go wrong. Of course, some second hand generators may come with a warranty or guarantee of some kind, depending on their age. But that warranty is usually void if you are not the original owner. With a new generator, however, you always get a warranty and have the peace of mind that there is after-sales service support should you require.

Premium Generator Brands like Perkins Generators and F G Wilson Generators have years of warranties and extensive national service networks around the country

How much was the generator used?

The thing about buying a used car is that you know how much it’s been used – look at the kilometres. You know each kilometre has taken its toll on every component of that car, from the body to the engine, suspension and tyres, and can make your decision accordingly. So how do you know how much the generator has been used? In short, you don’t. There are some signs an expert technician can pick up on…but most of the time you just have to take the sellers word for it. With new diesel generators, you know exactly where that unit has been and who it’s been used by – that is, nobody until you.

Do you get value for money?

One argument for buying a used generator is that it provides better value for money. But the price tag on those Used Diesel Generators isn’t the best way to gauge whether you’re getting good value for money. You need to consider fuel economy, durability of parts/components and many other factors. This is where a new generator will always win over a used generator; you need to consider the costs going forward, not just the initial outlay.

What features do you want?

If features are important to you then New Diesel Generators could be the better option. Generator technology is evolving all the time, and manufacturers are constantly introducing sets with additional features to drive better fuel economy, efficiency and safety. Just another reason why new generators provide better value for money over used generators…furthermore, some generators require factory fitted additional accessories for your specific use – things such as remote start, two-wire auto start, earth leakage protection etc. These extra features need to be fitted by the manufacturer to ensure appropriate compatibility with your genset.

So if you’re looking for great value for money and peace of mind, your best bet is to choose a new generator. The additional cost outlay will likely save you more money in the long run.

The Guide For Buying Inverter Generator For The Jobsite

Looking for a generator for the jobsite but don’t want to go big? An inverter generator could be the way to go. Here’s why…

When we talk about power around the jobsite, we’re usually recommending

the open frame trade generators that pack the most grunts. Those Petrol or Diesel Generators that you can rely on for a full day’s worth of electricity for your big and small equipment. And even models that provide a welder, compressor and generator all in one as well as trade specific requirements such as Work Cover approved features, lifting bars, etc.

Conventional generators are the popular choice for tradesmen, farmers and mining sites. But what happens when you don’t need all that? And all you really want is a lightweight generator you can count on to power up your smaller tools as you move from job to job? That’s where these smaller inverter generators come in. Smaller hand drills, saws, sanders, some air tools, or recharging of batteries for lithium-ion powered tools can often be popular jobsite equipment run by inverter generators.

This isn’t only for independent tradies, but also the bigger jobsites have traditionally relied on one or two super-powerful conventional generators. There’s now a growing trend for some jobsites to equip groups of employees with their own smaller power sources. So individuals have control of the generator and can easily move it to where they need it.

Here are 5 reasons to consider an inverter generator for the jobsite:

1. Potential savings: They might be small, but investing in some smaller inverter generators has huge potential to save you the hassle and money of hiring a large traditional generator for the jobsite.

2. Clean power: The great thing about inverter generators is that they produce very clean power – the same quality electricity you would get from your home power socket. This is ideal for charging lithium ion batteries in hand tools, as well as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. And it can power those tools with sensitive electronic control modules, like some electric hammers. 

3. Lightweight, small package: We don’t need to tell tradies the benefits of having a lightweight generator when you spend your day moving from Ute to job and back again. But bigger jobsites can also benefit from power in a smaller package. Rather than powering the whole site with one conventional generator, you can equip groups of tradies with smaller inverter generators, which they can move around easily depending on the task at hand. 

4. Quieter operation: One of the reasons many jobsites choose an inverter generator is the noise factor. Thanks to the smaller engines and insulated materials, inverter generators run extremely quietly – some are only as loud as a normal conversation is how quiet it runs. For reference, most conventional trade generators will produce 72dBA and above.

5. More efficient: Inverter generators are more fuel efficient than their traditional counterparts. This is because the engine speed varies with load. So if the load on the generator keeps changing while in use, you won’t sacrifice great fuel economy.

The drawbacks of inverter generators

Most of the Electrical Generators that can be used as inverter generators for job sites have some drawbacks. However, on a personal note, F G Wilson generators are the best bet in terms of balance and value for money.

The trade-offs when you choose an inverter generator for the jobsite are:

One of these is fuel capacity. With lightweight inverter generator, you generally won’t have the big heavy fuel tanks you get in a traditional generator. This means runtimes can be much shorter – anywhere from a couple of hours up to 10 hours. The good news is, there are some exceptions to the rule.

Another big trade-off is, of course, the power itself. The size of inverter generators means they are simply not capable of generating the power of conventional trade generators. Most construction/building sites requiring traditional portable trade generators will be in the order of 8kVA to 12kVA in size…inverter generators just don’t come in that size. You can’t run your standard sized welders, brick-saws or concrete mixers from small portable inverters for example…so just be sure that if you go with an inverter generator for your job site, that it’s fit for purpose.

5 Tips For Your Safety From Generators

Keep Your Generator Away From the House

A generator is the best thing to have in a blackout. But it can make you black out (or die). Like any internal combustion engine, a generator engine exhausts carbon monoxide gas, which can give you a headache, knock you out or even kill you. This is easy to avoid, though: Don't run a generator in your garage or porch, and keep it at least 10 ft. away from your house.

Buy a Standby Generator if You Can Afford It

A standby generator, unlike a portable generator, is permanently connected to your electrical system and goes on automatically when the power goes out. Standby generators can run on propane or natural gas, eliminating the need to monitor the fuel. And they're quieter. Buying one of the latest models of New Diesel Generators will also be an excellent choice for stability and longevity. You can buy one large enough to power everything in your house, or you can buy a smaller unit and choose the most critical circuits to power. Standby generators start at about $1,800, plus installation. (And they do need to be installed by a pro.) The difference in cost between a portable generator and a standby unit may not be as great as you think. Remember, a portable unit requires either expensive extension cords or a transfer switch. Standby units can run on less expensive natural gas, which will save you money in the long run.

Diesel is Easier Than Gas

When it comes to portable generators and ease of use, Diesel Generators sure beats gasoline. Gasoline is a handy fuel, but it's not without problems. Storing enough gasoline to get you through a several-day power outage requires constant vigilance. First you have to buy several 5-gallon gas containers and find a safe place to store them. Then you have to add stabilizer and ideally replace the gas after several months to make sure it's still fresh when you need it. Refueling is simple and safe; just replace the diesel tank with a full one. And you don't have to worry about the carburetor on your generator getting gummed up with old gasoline. However, be cautious if you have bought a one of those old, Used Diesel Generators, for they are known for their notorious noise and smoke.

Buy a Generator You Can Get Serviced Locally

You may find a great deal on a generator by shopping online. But what will you do if you can't get it serviced locally? Sometimes it's worth spending a little extra to buy from a local dealer. Parts will be available, and the dealer will be familiar with maintenance and repair procedures for your model. So before you buy a generator, make sure there's someone nearby who can provide parts and service. In this regard, F G Wilson Generators and Perkins Generators beat all, because they have the widest reach and penetration of service centers.

Furnaces, Well Pumps and Electric Water Heaters Require a Transfer Switch

Electrical Generators can also cause harm to your household electrical and electronic equipments.

You can use extension cords from your portable generator to power any device with a plug, but anything that's directly connected to your home's wiring, including essentials like your well pump, furnace and electric water heater, requires a transfer switch.

A manual transfer switch is essentially a small circuit breaker box that you mount next to your main electrical panel. You match the capacity of the transfer switch to the wattage of your generator. Then you choose which circuits to connect to the transfer switch. 

Using a transfer switch is the only safe way to connect your generator to house wiring because it requires you to disconnect the house wiring from the incoming power lines at the same time you switch to generator power. This prevents the possibility of “backfeeding” generated power into the power lines, which creates a potentially lethal hazard for power line workers.

What Is The Difference Between A Generator And Inverter?

A generator makes electrical force, while an inverter changes one kind of electrical current to another. There are two unique sorts of electrical present, exchanging (AC) and direct (DC). Inverters are utilized when gadgets that utilize AC forces should be utilized as a part of an auto or other spot where just DC force is accessible. The two machines have unmistakably diverse capacities, in spite of the fact that there are inverter generators which do both for more noteworthy vitality effectiveness. 

How Inverters Work 

An inverter takes the current power that comes as immediate current and believers it to substituting current. It does this by sending the current through switches that send it in distinctive headings. Channels might then be connected to smooth out the wave and give it an altered recurrence. Distinctive sorts of inverters utilize an assortment of sifting systems, contingent upon how smooth the yield should be. To change over AC power into DC, a gadget called a rectifier is utilized. 

A standout amongst the most widely recognized ordinary employments of inverters is to give energy to run distinctive hardware in cars. Autos more often than not create DC, which is not good with most gadgets intended to utilize standard family unit outlets. Most present day autos have an adornment port that a versatile inverter can be connected to, permitting a little TV, mobile phone, or other electronic gadget to utilize the force. Some little inverters are intended to be connected to the cigarette lighter of an auto. 

Bigger inverters are utilized on development destinations to give power to power devices and different gadgets. Sunlight based and wind vitality generators use inverters to change over the force they deliver into that which can be utilized as a part of a home. 

An imperative qualification between an inverter and a generator is that an inverter can just work if there is as of now a wellspring of electrical vitality; it can't make its own. Unless piece of a mix machine, inverters essentially change over DC to AC, while a conventional generator can't change current starting with one structure then onto the next. 

How Generators Work 

A generator is a machine that changes over mechanical vitality into power. As a rule, electric generators are in charge of giving the vitality a home gets. Extensive scale electrical generators may be controlled by coal, characteristic gas or atomic vitality. A compact generator normally utilizes gas or diesel fuel, which is blazed to make power for utilization on a development site or in a building amid a force blackout. A generator has an engine, and Perkins is the best producer of generator engines in the world. That is why Perkins Generators are widely preferred. Even the Used Diesel Generators containing Perkins engines fetch high resale value.

Generators can be intended to deliver either AC or DC power, albeit most utilized as a part of force stations and for littler applications produce AC. This is all that conventional generators do, however they make power. On the off chance that the voltage that power should be changed, for instance, a transformer must be utilized. 

Inverter Generators 

Inverter generators are similar to conventional generators in light of the fact that they create AC power, which is then changed over to DC power before being changed over back to AC. This delivers a smoother, steadier stream of force. The change likewise permits the generator to be more fuel proficient, and additionally work more unobtrusively than standard models.