Generator Basics

Without a doubt, the world runs on electricity. In 2006, as a planet, we collectively used 16 terawatts. In times of electrical doubt, we become nervous and scared. For good reason, we rely on electricity to run nearly everything in the developed world. From various sources electricity is one of the greatest needs of the electrical digital age. Generators of various styles and sources are made, but that all have a few basic parts in common.

A generator is the inverse of a motor. A generator takes mechanical energy and transforms it into electrical energy. A motor takes electrical energy and transforms it into mechanical energy. It is important to note that photovoltaic cells or modules are not generators. Although it might be simple to say they generate electricity, they do not work in the same manner as a mechanical generator, so they will be omitted from this discourse.

The primary dilemma is that there are losses due to inefficiencies. Transmission lines, power stations, even the generator itself will not be 100 percent efficient. It will have losses due to heat, friction, or even chemical imbalances. 100 percent efficiency is almost impossible to obtain, but in the mean time there are several viable utilitarian alternatives.

A common residential generator will take diesel, gas, propane, or natural gas and run a simple engine with it. The basis for a generator lies in Faraday's laws of induction. They state that if you oscillate a magnet around a coil you will see a registration of electricity. Increase the number of coils, or the number of times a wire goes around of magnet, increase the power of the magnet, and increase the frequency at which it moves are all methods in which to increase the output electrical supply.

Generators come in a massive variety of sizes. There are small residential generators that you can easily place in the back of any car, all the way up to 45 foot-long trailers that can run up to 2000 watts, or permanent 150kw backup generators for industrial complexes. The multiplicity of generators means that there is one for the circumstance that you need, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Just because you purchase a $30,000 commercial generator doesn't mean you can use it in a household.

A generator must be correspondent to the proper electrical hookup. It is necessary to consider what fluids and upkeep that you need to accomplish and how frequently. For example, the extended trailer that was mentioned before requires up to 70 gallons of oil and 50 gallons of coolant as well as the potential for 1500 gallons of gas to fuel the engine. The engine could also be inefficient due to the altitude or temperature, all of which are important considerations to take into account if the instruments are sensitive.

The modern demands of electricity spell doom if it goes out and you're reliant on it for your business. For exactly this reason, there are a variety of backup systems that will generate electricity for your needs.