If you belong to the majority of people who think the diesel generator is one of those noisy, smoky engines that farmers don't seem to be able to do without, then you are going to have to think again. There is a growing surge, almost a tidal wave of new owners sweeping across the United States. These are the people who through no fault of their own seem to be forever losing their power supply. It is not until you are faced with trying to take care of your family through an extended power outage that you realise just how difficult life becomes without that magical current flowing through the lines.
It seems that storms are becoming more severe, with some badly affected areas having to go without power for between one and two weeks. On the other hand, heatwaves put so much demand on the national grid that rolling outages have to be forced on the population to keep the whole system from crashing. Then of course there are all the other things that can go wrong, such as transformers malfunctioning, but they all mean the same thing, you are left searching for candles and matches in the dark.
The diesel generator has always been regarded as belonging to industry, and indeed this is where you will find the giant units ranging from 20kW to way over 2000kW's that produce the same amount of power as a small power station. You will also find them permanently installed at hospitals, nursing homes, fire and police departments or anywhere that reliable stand-by power is required. Our transportation systems such as air traffic, sea navigation, and radio communications all rely on diesel generators in times of emergencies. In the situation of a natural disaster, it is the diesel generator that will be the heart beat of emergency services and reconstruction.
Many suburban homeowners, RV owners, tradesmen and small businesses are paying the extra, and purchasing a diesel generator in preference to a gasoline powered unit. When there are so many gas generators coming on to the market at such ridiculously low prices you can be forgiven in asking why. The consumer has finally woken up to the benefits of diesel. There are in fact four main reasons why people are turning away from the cheaper gas alternative in their droves.
1. The diesel generator likes to work, and it is very happy putt-putting away 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It works well under load too, in fact it loves to work hard. Many of the discount and hardware store bought gas generators virtually disintegrate during prolonged use, and you are doing well if they last more than a couple of hundred hours. There are of course very good models, but they will still be more suited to intermittent use, and will need a thorough overhaul at around 1,000 hours. The diesel generator on the other hand won't need anything except regular maintenance - such as oil change, for the first 20,000 hours of its life.
2. Maintenance. No ignition system to give you trouble, no carburettor that needs rebuilding or cleaning, no distributor to go kaput, and no spark plugs to be replaced. Maintenance is simplified on a diesel generator, they are in fact a much simpler system altogether. Regular oil changes as well as replacing the oil, fuel and air filters are all that is required.
3. The diesel generator is way more fuel efficient, and the exhaust is not nearly as toxic as gasoline.
4. Diesel power is synonymous with dependability and for standby or emergency power, this is essential. The quality of the electrical output is also excellent and this means that you are bale to run your computers and electronic equipment with peace of mind.
The cost factor has been a stumbling block for many people, but at the end of the day, the diesel generator is worth every extra dollar and more. It is common for them to outlast their gasoline counterparts by anything up to ten to one. Their work ability has never been questioned, but their noisy and smelly habits have. The diesel generator has cleaned up its act and is now a much quieter and cleaner producer of commercial grade power, and it is fast becoming the preferred choice of all those people who want the best.
