Residentially they are also used as back-up and emergency power if for some reason the home is taken off the power grid.

Technically, generators are not really the sources of power. Instead, a more proper term for them would be a power converter. Generators convert power from fuel sources into electrical energy. The primary fuel sources for generators are diesel, gasoline, solar energy, hydro energy (water), wind power, natural gas and propane.

It is unusual to find generators that are used as a primary source of power in industry simply because operating a generator can be so much more expensive than using a direct power supply. The main function of most generators is to simply provide an alternative power source when the main power source fails.

Having a generator in place to substitute for a lack of power can mean the difference between life and death. Common uses for generators include:

• Supplying an uninterrupted power supply so that surgeries being conducted in hospitals are not sabotaged by a lack of electricity.
• Keeping devices such as ventilators, monitors, lights and life support systems working in hospitals.
• Keeping sophisticated television monitoring and security systems powered at banks and other high security institutions in the case of a power outage.
• Making sure that people who work in mines have access to light, water and communication.

Other facts concerning generators include:

• Those who work in aerospace industries often rely on generators as a primary source of power.
• Industrial sites that deal with hazardous materials also rely on generators to keep in production and keep the plant safe
• Research and development teams in remote areas without power also often require electrical generators to keep them warm and alive
• Generators are used to back up essential systems like lights for highways and signal lights so that accidents do not occur
• Generators are used to supply warmth and heat to homes and businesses in cold climates where it is possible to die from being exposed to cold temperatures.

These are just a few of the ways that generators impact and can actually save our lives. This is why that the industrial generator you might be thinking of buying, should be both technically and mechanically as excellent as you can afford.  Generators are a necessary and long-term investment in which excellence is not just a sentiment; it is absolutely required.

Natural Gas Powered Generators

A natural gas generator is powered by propane. Propane is liquefied petroleum gas and most people are familiar with it as a fuel for barbecues or gas stoves.

One of the advantages of buying a natural gas powered industrial generator is that very large emergency reserves can be stored easily in above-ground or below-ground tanks.

Another advantage of propane powered generators is that they do work so efficiently.  They tend to be durable and suffer less wear and tear than generators powered by other fuels.

One of the disadvantages of a natural gas generator is that they tend to be the most expensive of all of the industrial generators both in terms of the unit and also in terms of the cost of the fuel.

Gas Powered Generators

A gas powered generator is powered by gasoline, the same readily-available fuel used to power the majority of vehicles used in private transportation.

There are a lot of advantages to using gasoline including the fact that it is a little cheaper than using natural gas. Gasoline powered generators are also efficient producers of power and can run for months or even years in an emergency.

The main disadvantage is that gas generators smell and can also emits toxic fumes into the air. This does not make them the generator of choice for hospitals or small industries in mixed zoning.

Gasoline generators are also restricted in style: they are only available as air compressed converters which sometimes can be finicky or require the compressor to be added on to the cost of the generator.

Yet another disadvantage is that gas is very hard on the mechanical and rubber parts of the generator and cause it wear out, clog and depreciate faster.

The storage of gasoline can also be problematic. Unlike natural gas it can deteriorate over time. It is also more of a fire and explosive hazard than other fuels.

Diesel Powered Generators

This type of industrial generator uses diesel fuel. Like gasoline, it is also used to power vehicles.

Of the three types of industrial generators, the diesel powered generator tends to be the most common.  It has fewer odors and it poses less of a flammable or explosive risk than other types of fuels for generators.

Diesel fuel is easy to store and it has a viscous quality to it that does not degenerate fuel lines and mechanical parts like gasoline can. It is also cheaper to use than gasoline.

The main disadvantage of using diesel fuel is that it produces a huge amount of smog that can harm the environment.

Whichever industrial generator that you choose for your business is going to greatly depend on a number of variables including the nature of your business, your location and what you can afford.

Establishing the amount of needed stand-by power use is usually a figure provided by engineers and electricians, especially if it is for a large facility. That is because it is difficult for the layman to establish the power consumption required for something like a mall or huge agricultural complex.  The reason it is important to get an expert to assess your usage needs is because you never want to be in the position where you have experienced a power shortage because the generator that you purchased is not able to meet your power demands.  This is crucial because sometimes lives, such as the lives of miners, military personnel and hospital patients are at risk.

If you are a smaller industry you can sometimes estimate how much power you will need in an emergency by looking at your hydro or electricity bills. It is then simply a matter of choosing the emergency generator that is able to supply you with that level of usage in an emergency.

Sometimes you do not need a generator for stand-by or emergency services. If it is a generator that is run full time it is also important to consult with an expert in business who can tell you how much it is wise for you to spend on a generator and generator fuel. Also in this instance the cost of the generator might be quite high as to run full-time it must be a very efficient and quality piece of machinery.

Another factor affecting the size of the generator that you buy is the actual size of the building or grounds that will be the home of the unit. Usually generators need to be sheltered from the elements so many need to be in their own building or shed. Industrial generators also need to be placed well away from humans where their noise, smell and smog cannot affect them.

The used industrial generators that are bought back by manufacturers are often refurbished and rehabbed and then offered for sale on their own websites or by brokers or dealers that are affiliated with them.

In a case where a manufacturer sale is not feasible (or desirable), you can also try selling it to a broker or a dealer who specializes in recycling and selling both used and new industrial generators. Sometimes the broker or dealer has someone in line who is looking to have “first dibs” on a certain type of generator.

You can also advertise your used industrial generator on industry websites that specialize in the after markets (such as posting a listing here on IndustrialGenerators.com) and on auction sites like-Bay. You can also place ads in newspapers or in magazines specific to the industry that your used generator suits.  Be very clear in your description of what you are prepared to do or not do in terms of sprucing up the machine before you sell it. You should also try not to assume shipping costs for a large used industrial generator as it can actually eat into your profits.

Still, before trying all other avenues, do offer your industrial generator back to the manufacturer. Rehabilitating used generators and customizing them so that they can be made-to-order for a new customer is big business and many companies are actually advertising for used generators.  This is why it might also be a good idea for you to do a search for potential buyers of your generator on the internet. Usually this turns up the manufacturers looking to rehab and customize used ones as well as individual business owners looking for a cheap used generator.

If you are not buying directly from the manufacturer you need to aware of how old the generator is, what it was used for and how well it has been maintained. Like vehicles, industrial generators also have odometers that tell you how much mileage they have on them. Never buy a used industrial generator that is missing an odometor or that has one set to 0.

Another thing to consider is that a generator that was used as an emergency or stand-by unit is probably in better shape than one that was used as a primary source.  Ask the seller for the history of the machine and, in the event that the history is missing, be sure to bring it up and use the lack of history in your decision-making (weighing the risks) and in negotiation.

It is best to have the unit inspected by a certified technician before you buy it or require that the dealer, broker or current owner provide you with a certificate saying that it has been inspected in the last month.  You can also hire a mechanic or engineer to do an inspection and make sure that all of the bearings, bushings and wiring on the generator are in good shape.

If you are buying a complex industrial machine or a stand-by machine for a mission critical facility such as a hospital it is best to put any machine that you might potentially buy through as many inspections as possible. It is also possible to buy a used machine from an individual and then ask the original manufacturer’s service department to tune it up and customize it to your needs.

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