Diesel Generators

Most diesel generators run at 1800 RPM and are water-cooled. This gives them greater dependability and a greater lifespan than the standard 3600 RPM, air-cooled portable gasoline generator: you can often get 15,000 to 30,000 hours of use out of a diesel generator before it requires significant work.

A primary advantage is that a diesel generator is cheaper to operate than a generator that runs on natural gas, gasoline, or propane: fuel costs per kilowatt (kW) produced are as much as 30% to 50% less than other fuels. However, diesel generators require deliveries of diesel fuel and a large holding tank. In addition, while diesel generators have cleaned up their act considerably in recent years, diesel generators are still not as clean-burning as other types.

Additional advantages of diesel generators include:
Lower Maintenance - diesels do not require a spark ignition system - they fire on compression, thus - no spark plugs, plug wires, distributor or coil to fail!

Improved fuel consumption - a 10kW propane fueled generator will consume 2.8 gallons of propane per hour...a 10kW liquid cooled diesel will only consume 0.8 gallons per hour!

Most diesel generators fall on the large end of the scale - while diesel generators can be as small as 8 kW, this is fairly rare. It's more typical to find a diesel generator in the range of 20 kW up to 500 kW, while the largest diesel generators top out at over 2,000 kW. These huge diesel generators are commonly available as "towable" models: they're mounted on a basic trailer, ready to be easily towed to your work site.

Diesel generators are also known as "industrial generators" or "commercial standby systems", as they are used as a source of backup power for businesses and industries during power outages. With the use of an automatic transfer switch, diesel generators can serve hospitals, nursing homes, refrigeration operations, farms, large buildings and other businesses that can't go without power.

Today's modern diesel generators are quiet and normally require less maintenance than comparably sized gas (natural gas or propane) units. Engineers at generator manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha work competitively to produce new and innovative diesel generator models with added, specialized features that improve quality and performance. Consult with your local generator dealer to find the right diesel generator for you!