Saturday, December 27, 2008

Finding Your Next Diesel Marine Generator

By Adrian Fletcher

A diesel marine generator is used to provide power or a back up source of power in locations where it may come in contact with water. The obvious use is on boats or ships but also in harbors and docks where freight may be moved around.

Don't be surprised to find them used in large supermarkets too, as they need large refrigeration units and may need a backup system if grid electricity is unreliable. Basically such a generator will resist a certain amount of water and still operate.

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.

If a used option is your preferred choice then you need to do a bit of research on the individual unit. The baseline is that you need to know how many hours it has been running and what kind of elements it has had to weather.

For instance, some generators may have been dropped into water. This is not good for any generator regardless of whether it was designed for marine use or otherwise. Get a full service history too as this should highlight anything that the owner may be unwilling to mention.

Whether you go for a used or new marine generator, the next consideration is how much power you need from the generator. This depends on the uses you have. If it is used in a large boat that will power plenty of appliances then the wattage that the generator creates will need to be higher. Work out the load that your circumstances require before selecting a marine generator.

Another factor might be the type of fuel to power the machine. Diesel is an obvious choice but you can also get standard gas or natural gas.

Look for brand names too as they have the track record in an industry where knowledge is generally gained through failures. 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.

Each manufacturer has all sorts of models that fit into different niches. I'd say that the capacity and price will ultimately help you decide which diesel marine generator is for you though. - 15275

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