Diesel Generator Types and Maintenance Guide

Consider a scenario where you are working hard on an assignment of yours on your computer and suddenly the power goes out! And it stays like that for hours. Not only is all your day’s hard work ruined, but you also don’t know if you will ever be able to make that deadline on time. 

On another hand, you may have a catering business and there is a power outage for several hours. All your food goes bad, you are unable to fulfill your client’s order, and your reputation takes a hit. You get the picture. These are just a couple of examples of how a power outage can have disastrous outcomes. There are many other simple ways in which a power outage can cause disruption in your normal life and it sets all things out of order. A power back, therefore, is a must-have in this age. And the best option for a power backup is a generator.

There are various types of generators that you can opt for but a diesel generator is the most common one. In diesel generators, there are again certain types which we will discuss. A generator also needs to have regular maintenance so it continues to function properly. 

Although a professional generator company will take care of all types of maintenance for your diesel generator, it can never hurt to find some information about what constitutes its maintenance. Here, we will discuss some of the types of diesel generators and what needs to be done as part of their maintenance.

Types of Diesel Generators

Broadly speaking, there are two types of diesel generators which are discussed below:

Portable Generators

A portable diesel engine can be moved around easily and it uses a combustion engine to generate electricity. It can easily be moved to remote sites to produce power. It is also an ideal generator for a home since it can power a refrigerator, freezer, and TV. It can also be used to power spray gun systems and nail guns. 

You can find out more information and find a diesel generator for rent in Singapore at https://activegenrental.com/diesel-generator/.

Standby Generators

A standby generator is a fixed generator that is installed at a particular location. It usually also has an automatic transfer switch that detects power outages within seconds and starts up automatically. These generators have large output capacities and can be used to power big machinery and buildings.

Diesel Generator Maintenance

The first and foremost principle of generator maintenance is to follow the maintenance schedule that comes with the generator. Through regular inspections, one can look for any leaks, check the oil and coolant levels, and check the general working of the generator to ensure that everything is running smoothly. The maintenance of a diesel generator comprises the following main steps:

Annual Fuel Cleaning

Diesel has the property of degrading quickly after a few weeks of operation of the generator. Regarding this aspect, the generator requires annual cleaning and filtering by using biocides.

Checking Coolant Levels

The coolant in the generator is responsible for ensuring that the cooling system works properly. The coolant levels, thus, need to be checked regularly so that any decrease in its levels can be caught in time and refilled so it does not get time to cause any damage to the generator.

Checking Oil Levels

The oil levels in the generator also need to be checked regularly. If the generator continues to run on low oil, it can damage the engine severely which will cost you a lot of time, money, and stress in getting fixed.

Checking for Battery Health

Batteries are part of standby generators and help the generator to start automatically. If the battery health is not good, it will affect the start-up process. The batteries need to be checked on a periodic basis to ensure that the batteries are robust and charged.

Exercising the Generator

In the days when there are no power outages, it is very important that you exercise your generator so everything stays in working condition. You can just turn on the generator once a week for 30 minutes on full load. This will help keep the batteries charged, lubricate the engine, and keep everything in a working state.

Keeping Record of Inspections and Tests

It is very important that you keep a log or record of all the inspections and tests that you carried out so you know exactly when the next inspection and maintenance is due. Keeping up to date with the maintenance schedule helps you in preventing big generator issues.

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