Empty | £0.00

We understand that choosing a generator can be a difficult and sometimes time consuming process. There are so many generators to choose from, so how do you make up your mind? Well, we’re sure this blog will help. We’re going to outline a few of our frequently asked questions in order to help you gain a better understanding of generators and which of our generators will benefit you the most.


Our Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Of Generator Do I Require?

All electrical products are equipped with a data plate with information regarding their power usage. For a lot of power tools, their listed wattage is all the power that they require to run. Household items such as freezers, fridges, washing machines and some lawn mowers are different. Whilst they can state a wattage rating, they can require a much greater requirement on startup, and a smaller usage once started.

If you’re unsure what the power usage of a product is, you can always get in touch with the manufacturers, tell them the model number and request the start uprunning wattage of your product. Once you have this information, you’ll know which size generator you require.

Can I Use A Personal Power Breaker?

A generator is configured quite differently to the mains supply. The generator has something which is called a floating earth, whilst the mains has an earthed neutral. It is highly recommended to use a personal power breaker from the mains, it is not necessary to use one with a generator.

Personal power breakers are specially designed to operate from the mains; if one is used with a generator, it is necessary to modify the generator so that it is configured in exactly the same way as the mains.

How Do I Connect A Generator To My House?

A few precautions must be observed when you are connecting a generator to your house. It is of vital importance that the generator is isolated from the mains supply. This helps to ensure that the generator is not attempting to power up the whole neighbourhood, but also makes sure that it does not electrocute a utility worker trying to restore the mains supply. To properly achieve this, a double-pole, break-before-make changeover switch must be installed by a qualified electrician.


Can I Operate Sensitive Equipment From My Generator?

Well, the output from a portable generator is not as stable as the supply from the mains. The speed of the engine which drives the alternator is controlled by a simple yet effective mechanical governor; therefore, the speed drops as the load is increased. The frequency of the output voltage is directly dependent on the engine speed, which means that the frequency of the output varies with load. Additionally, the output voltage will vary with load and with temperature. Most standard generators will have an output voltage of 230v +/- 1-% from no load up to the rated load current quoted on the data plate.

We advise that you always ask the equipment supplier whether their equipment is suitable to be operated from a portable generator.

We hope that our answers help you with whatever it is that you need. If not, you can give our team of generator specialists a call on (0)1429 264 097.