YOU & YOUR GENERATOR DURING THE RAINY SEASON

Generators can be lifesavers, especially in Nigeria where the power situation is getting worse by the day.  Also, when the power goes out, having a generator means that you can continue to enjoy. 

But there is a darker side to generators that many people fail to consider. Understanding their risks and issues as well as their benefits is the best way to ensure you and your generator remain safe during this raining season.

Here are some of the risks you are exposed to and the steps you can take now to help prevent them:

Risk and prevention for YOU

Shock Hazards: Since generators are often used in the rain, it’s important to take extra precautions to avoid electrical shock risks, which are increased in wet weather. Always,

·         Store your generator under a covered area like a carport or open-sided shed or portable canopy so you’re standing on dry ground when operating it. Ensure your generator is well grounded and put on shoes with rubber soles when operating.

·        

 Carbon monoxide poisoning: This is a major problem during raining season when people keep running their generators inside the house and even sleep off as the case may be. They have their homes closed up tight against the rain, wind and thieves. To avoid potential carbon monoxide poisoning – which can be deadly

·         NEVER operate your generator inside the house, not even in a garage.

·         When placing it outside, make sure it’s at least 10 feet away from any vents, doors or windows – yours as well as your neighbors’.

Fire: Generators burn gasoline, diesel, or another fuel to generate electricity. Ensure you use the exact fuel type that suits your generator to avoid fire outbreak.

·         Do not exceed the generator’s power rating it can damage the generator (overloading the generator) and any equipment that’s hooked up to it which can result in fire outbreak.

·         Do not operate generator near hazardous material. Heat created by muffler and exhaust gases is hot enough to cause serious burns and ignite combustible objects.

·         To reduce the risk of fire and burn injury, handle fuel with care. It is highly flammable

Risk and prevention for your generator

Electric power is critical to society and business alike.  Weather is responsible for the majority of major power outages that occur,

Water mixing with fuel

Coil damage

Display panel malfunctioning

 Short Circuits:

A short circuit is the most commonly used term to describe the cause of a power failure. Unfortunately, it is also a term that is bandied about without people having much knowledge of what it actually means. So, what is a short circuit, and how can you protect your equipment from its effects?
A short circuit occurs when an electric current travels along a path that is different from the intended one in an electrical circuit. When this happens, there is an excessive electric current which can lead to circuit damage, fire, and explosion. In fact, short circuits are one of the primary causes of electrical fires throughout the world. 
Why do short circuits occur?
Short circuits can occur when the insulation of the wiring used breaks down. It can also occur due to the presence of an external conducting material (such as water) that is introduced accidently into the circuit. Electrical batteries can explode if they are subjected to a large current. 

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DIESEL GENERATOR SMOKES (REASONS AND SOLUTION)

Is your generator embarrassing you by smoking up the neighbourhood? Reading this writeup could be the solution you need

Basically, smoke from a diesel engine indicates that something is not right , this will potentially shorten the engine life, or result in unnecessary costs. 
A diesel engine in good condition should produce no visible smoke from the exhaust, under most operating conditions. A short puff of smoke when an engine is accelerated under load may be acceptable.

There are three basic types of smoke, as identifiable by their colour.

1. Black smoke is the most common smoke emitted from diesel engines. It indicates poor and incomplete combustion of the diesel fuel. There are many causes, including

• Incorrect timing
• Dirty or worn injectors
• Injectors sticking open too long
• Over-fuelling (yes this is possible)
• Faulty turbocharger (ie not enough air to match the fuel)
• Incorrect valve clearance
• Incorrect air/fuel ratio
• Low cylinder compression
• Dirty air cleaner
• Carboned up intake manifolds
• Other engine tune factors
• Poor quality fuel
• Excessive carbon build up in combustion and exhaust spaces
• Cool operating temperatures

2. Blue smoke is an indication of oil being burnt. The oil can enter the combustion chamber for several reasons.

• Worn valve guides or seals
•  Wear in power assemblies (cylinders, piston rings, ring grooves)
•  Cylinder glaze
•  Piston ring sticking
•  Incorrect grade of oil (eg oil too thin, and migrating past the rings)
•  Fuel dilution in the oil (oil thinned out with diesel)

3.White smoke occurs when raw diesel comes through the exhaust completely intact and unburned. Some causes of this include

• Faulty or damaged injectors
• Incorrect injection timing (could be a worn timing gear or damaged crankshaft keyway).
• Low cylinder compression (eg caused by leaking or broken valves, piston ring sticking, cylinder and/or ring wear, or cylinder glaze)
• Water entering combustion spaces will also create white smoke

 
 
 
If you need solution to your diesel generator smokes send me a mail please.
 
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PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR PETROL GENERATOR

Hello friends, Today we will talk about how to prolong the life of your generator. I will be sharing some tips to achieve that. 

HOW TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR PETROL GENERATOR.

1. It all starts with choosing the right generator for your use-: 

If you get this right then you are good to go. Select a generator based on its rated watts and Not on the max rated output. Every generator lists two capacity ratings. The first is “rated” or “continuous” watts. That's the maximum power the generator will put out on an extended basis. The second is higher “maximum” or “starting” rating which refers to how much extra power the generator can put out for a few seconds —like when your fridge or A/C picks up. Always buy a generator based on the RATED WATTS. If you buy a generator based on the "Maximum Rating" and think you can run it at that level, by the end of the day, your new generator will be up in smokes, and you'll be out shopping for a replacement.

2. Allowing fuel to finish can cost you

Some generators, especially petrol, can be damaged by running out of fuel. This usually affects the generator coil. You will end up having to rewind the generator coils. So keep the tank filled and always remove the electrical load (The loading switch) before you shut down.

3. Stop crooks and prevent shocks

The only thing worse than the rumbling sound of an engine outside your bedroom window is the sound of silence after someone steals your expensive generator. Combine security and electrical safety by digging a hole and sinking a grounding rod and an eye bolt in concrete. If you don't want to sink a permanent concrete pier, at least screw in ground anchors to secure the chain.

4. Use the right oil grade for servicing

A key to long engine life is oil: Make sure you're using the right type and changing it according to manufacturer's specifications.

5. Keep it away from the house

Never, ever, operate a portable generator in a garage, even close to an open garage. And please don't even think about starting a portable generator in the house. Keep the generator at least 15 feet from the house to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from getting inside. Also keep portable generators away from any opened windows — and that includes the neighbors'

6. Do NOT overload your generator.(Conserve Power)

Keep in mind that if your refrigerator runs on 800 watts it might need 1,600 Watts at startup when the compressor kicks in. Overloading a generator could damage your appliances and the generator. Don't run appliances or other electronic equipment unnecessarily, when using your generator.

Do not forget, if you have any questions or more suggestions on how to prolong your generator life, Well you know where to find me! Have a lovely day.

PROLONG YOUR DIESEL GENERATOR LIFE

I strongly believe in helping my readers get the best out of their generators, thereby prolonging the life and getting value for money spent. Therefore we will be sending you some useful tips on how to maximize your generators. There are a few things you can do to make your generator last longer.

 - Why do generators bought from the same brand seem to last longer than each other? IT’S ALL IN THE MAINTENANCE!

 HOW TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR DIESEL GENERATOR

• Don't start your generator for a 10-minute project. Ideally, the generator should be started and allowed to reach normal operating temperature before any big loads are applied, and it should again be allowed to run at a light load for a few minutes before shut-down.

• Running a diesel engine at a fairly high load ensures enough combustion pressure to keep the piston rings seated firmly against the cylinder walls, and this is important to the long life of the engine.

• An oil change every 250 hours of operation is normal operating procedure for a diesel engine, and it will assure a long and trouble-free life.

• Diesels use precision fuel injectors that are ultimately dependable as long as they are kept clean. even a tiny speck of debris can clog a fuel injector nozzle, so it is essential to buy good quality fuel.

• Put original fuel filter in the system.

Did you find this writeup informative OR Is there a topic you will like me to treat? Please give me your feedback.

Also visit www.joshualongconsulting.com.ng for all you generator products and services.

TIPS ON BUYING A USED GENERATOR

Hello Everyone we all have come to discover that generators are an integral part of doing business and living here in Nigeria. It is not ideal but it is the situation we find ourselves.

The new ones can be a bit pricey. Just go for a Fairly Used Generator. I said it! It is often the most cost-effective way to buy good quality generators.

You can always find a used Open/Soundproofed/Petrol/Diesel generator readily available. Find below some of the things to look out for in choosing a generator.

AGE, HOURS, AND USAGE - Find out how many hours it has on it (For Generators above 10kva), Most generator engines are usually just like a car and have an odometer reading. Try to always go for a generators that has less than 4000hrs on it. If it is a petrol engine low Kva generator then find out how long ago it was bought.
* It may also be helpful to know what it was used for. A generator that has been used as a standby or backup power will have less usage than one that is used 24hrs in a day.

MANUFACTURER HISTORY & REPUTATION - Be sure to determine the manufacturer of the generator as well as its model. Try and get a used generator manufactured by a known brand. Do not go and buy a generator from an unknown manufacturer that you might not readily get the spare parts.

VISUAL INSPECTION- Always try to see what you are about to buy! Pictures can be deceptive. A generator, like any mechanical device, suffers wear and tear during operation. This is something you will not see from pictures. There are lot of thins to look out for here like-:
1. Meters/Indicators On Panel - Does the indicators and meters on the panel move when the generator is operated?
2. Engine Frequency/Speed - For diesel generators, the bench mark for engine frequency in Nigeria is 50hz.
The frequency and speed are directly related. While buying a generator ensure you buy between 47Hz -54Hz and an engine speed of 1500rpm.
3. Engine at Start up - You need to note how the engine starts. Does it come on once it is started or it does 'hard starting'?
4.Idle Running - When the generator is put on and there is no load on it, what is the sound like is it smooth and cool or you are hearing all sorts of noise as if some components are running loose.
5. Engine at Shut Down - How does the generator go off at shutdown? Does it go off quietly like it should or it starts coughing and hiccupping before going off.

Still confused? why don't you leave a comment or your questions and I will answer them.  We can also refer sales partners to you.

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WELCOME

Welcome everyone to the GENERATOR PROBLEMS blog!

I am here with my team to answer all your questions concerning Petrol, Diesel, Basic and Soundproof generators of all sizes. Whatever issues you are having with your generators just tell us the symptoms and we can tell you the solutions.

We also give advice on price range for generator sales, repairs and rental. We have a team of tested and trusted experts that can do all of this things

Is your generator giving you issues, then you are in the right place to get answers or have you been turned into a maga and cheated by quacks and opportunist who are milking you for your hard earned money. We will deliver you by giving you useful bargaining chips.