Generator comparitive field study

By Justin Kitson

Generators are essential for fieldwork done by consultants often exposed to remote areas where electricity is not available.



A Goscor Engines customer recently did an intensive study to establish which generators are suitable for use with sensitive equipment such as the Cedip product range where spike and dips in power supply are very unhealthy for the equipment used.



Prior to doing the comparative study the customer, working in the field as a logistics consultant, used battery supplies as equipment power source. He found battery supply as power source extremely limiting due to limited battery life.



Subsequently the consultant tried using UPS as a power supply especially when he did demonstration work but also found that time is a factor as the UPS also ran out of power, often at crucial points during a demonstration.



Traditional generators were not suitable either as dips and spikes occurs damaging the sensitive equipment used during demonstrations.



New generation (Inverter technology) generators were therefore considered as it includes power saving mode, are capable of delivering increased power on demand and are also equipped with a built in inverter circuit that protects sensitive electronics. These generators also have a 12V output, which is great especially when batteries have to be charged. Light-weight, compact in size and low noise levels are also an advantage especially when field demonstrations are done.