Thursday, January 8, 2009

Considerations For Your Next Diesel Marine Generator

By Adrian Fletcher

A diesel marine generator functions as a primary or backup power source for vehicles or machinery that are likely to come in contact with liquid or water. So you will find them used on boats and ships, in ports and harbors or even in plant where large refrigeration unit are needed.

Other uses are in supermarkets or any businesses where the generator may be exposed to water. The idea of course is that it is resistant to water and still operates despite coming into contact with water.

A marine generator is different from a box standard generator in that it has a protective outer casing and individual parts that are more resistant to water.

For instance salt water is a catalyst for rust on many items of machinery. A marine generator will be made of sturdy material and will be treated with rust resistant paint. The innards or working parts of the generator are designed to work in environments where the atmosphere will be humid too.

When it comes to selecting a diesel marine generator you can go down two routes. You can buy a new model or a used model. People are often interested in used models because diesel marine generators are not a cheap piece of equipment and can be out of financial reach of many people.

The first thing you need to find out when thinking about getting a used diesel marine generator is it's history. You specifically want to know how many hours it has been running and what kind of elements it has been exposed to.

Some marine generators may have been dropped into the sea for example. They may be cheap but that's the reason. This could be a good buy if you can have a proper look at the insides but in most cases it would be one to avoid.

Be it new or used, the next thing to think about is how much power or wattage you will need. A large ship may be hard to gauge as the power needs may go up and down over a few weeks. Run a monitoring exercise over a 3 month period to get a better average. If you are using the generator in a refrigeration plant it may be easier to work out the load you will need.

You also need to select the type of fuel that will run the generator. There are various types, from standard gasoline and diesel to natural gas.

Brand names count in the field of marine generators just as they do in haute couture. The best brands to go for are Onan, Westerbeke, Kohler, Mase and Fischer Panda marine generators. They have a history and reputation in the industry and produce quality machinery.

These manufacturers have many types and models on the market. They each have their unique selling points but ultimately it is their capacity and price that will probably help you decide which diesel marine generator to get. - 16928

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