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Emergency power generators consume different amounts of fuel depending on their size, use and operating time. Exactly how much can be calculated with a formula.
This is how you calculate the consumption of your emergency generator
Emergency gensets, or also known as generators, have become increasingly popular in debates about power shortages. Here’s how to calculate fuel demand and consumption.
- Everything starts with the technical data of the emergency generator. Here you can read the consumption values. There is no general formula for all emergency power generators. Fuel differences, efficiency differences and other factors make it difficult to form a uniform formula.
- The basic factor for consumption is the engine efficiency and the load under which you use the genset. Depending on the size of the generator, an external fuel canister is recommended.
- Small power generators like the Scheppach SG1000 has a rated power of 650 watts. The generator is equipped with a 230 volt AC socket with an overload protection switch. The 1.6 hp petrol engine has a 4 litre petrol tank. The engine consumes approx. 0.6 l/h at 2/3 load. At 1/2 load a little more than 0.4 l/h. Accordingly, you can operate the SG1000 between 5 to 9 hours without refuelling.
- The Eberth 2,200 watt emergency generator has a continuous output of 2,000 watts. The genset has two sockets and has a 15 litre fuel tank. Depending on the load, you can generate between 9 and 11 hours of power.
- Gas lovers will get their money’s worth with the KS 2900G from Könner & Söhnen. The unit has a rated output of 2.5 kW with a maximum output of 2.9 kW. Besides petrol, the generator can also be operated with LPG (liquid petroleum gas; propane, butane) and thus be used more flexibly. The petrol tank has a volume of 15 litres and lasts for about 15 hours at 1/2 load.
- For higher power requirements, you should use the Scheppach SG7100x, for example, with its 12 hp 4-stroke petrol engine. The rated power is 5 kW and you have two 230 V and one 400 V socket on board. The generator is mobile and has a 25 L petrol tank. You can conveniently use the electric starter instead of the pull-wire starter.
Maintenance for constant consumption of the emergency generator
The consumption of your emergency generator is only low in the long term with good maintenance. Likewise, regular maintenance increases the service life and operational readiness of your generator.
- As with a car, engine oil is very important for the engine. Make sure you have enough engine oil before using the generator for the first time and before each subsequent use. You may need to change the engine oil with new oil and catch the old oil with a suitable oil pan.
- The cost of a power generator in operation depends largely on consumption. For example, if a generator needs 0.4 l/h of petrol for an output of 300 watts per hour and a litre of petrol costs 1.80 euros, the fuel costs per kWh amount to 2.40 euros. Generators running on gas are more economical to run.
- Included in the maintenance is a check of the spark plugs and air filter.
- It is important to note that emergency generators have a higher maximum output. However, when buying, look for a high continuous output depending on their intended use. This value is decisive for longer-term operation. With many generators, the specified maximum power can only be provided over a short period of time. Therefore, in this practical tip, you will read examples with 2/3 load or 1/2 load in each case.
