Gas generator for home and summer cottages. How to choose the best option

Recommendation points

• Why a gasoline generator
• FUBAG BS 6600 A ES
• Makita EG 241 A
• Honda EU10IT1

In the article, we will consider three generators suitable for use in a private house or in the country, but performing different functions in a domestic environment. Each of them, in terms of its performance, belongs to separate weight categories and has its own set of performance characteristics..

Once, in the days of the union, its own “power plant” was something from the realm of fantasy, now it is difficult to surprise someone with an independent power supply. Generators are used in different ways. Some people take them with them to nature and thus provide themselves with maximum comfort. Builders and repairers use generators to power electrical tools and equipment, and can work in the field or on sites where mains electricity is not supplied. Often, mini power plants are purchased to provide backup power supply for residential, industrial, and commercial facilities. Probably, such units have won the greatest popularity among summer residents with their energy problems, as well as residents of the private sector, who can use the generator in literally all forms. Let’s take three different models as an example to see what a generator used in a private household can do..

Why a gasoline generator

In the review of household inverters, we looked at devices with the same power and similar performance, but in the case of a generator, we will act a little differently – let’s pay attention to three machines from the power range of 0.9-6 kW. A powerful productive generator, an average 2.5 kW, and a “kilowatt kid” – such power characteristics should fully satisfy the needs of a private consumer.

The second question is the type of motor. We will rely on a gasoline engine, since generators running on this fuel have a lower cost than, for example, diesel analogues. In addition, they are smaller in size, have less weight, are somewhat easier to operate, not as noisy, start up without problems and function at subzero temperatures – and these are all very important indicators for us..

For the sake of fairness, we note that power plants operating on diesel fuel are cheaper to operate, primarily due to lower fuel consumption and lower cost. In addition, diesel equipment has a much longer (2–3 times) service life and increased power. Therefore, such equipment is excellent for providing a long-term backup or even a constant source of electricity for more or less large objects..

FUBAG BS 6600 A ES

Let’s start with the “heavy artillery”. For a long time (more than an hour), the generator produces a clear 5.7 kW, with a voltage of 220 volts. The maximum power (kVA indicator) reaches 6.2 kW. A gas generator from the well-known company FUBAG is able to provide a full-fledged backup power supply for a medium-sized cottage, including all its power plants – pumps, large household appliances, electric garden equipment. This model can be easily integrated into an uninterruptible power supply system, since the manufacturer has equipped the unit with a connector for connecting an automation module. Naturally, so that the generator can turn on without human intervention, there is also an electric starter with a battery (it is recharged while the equipment is running).

From FUBAG BS 6600 A ES it will turn out to power a not too gluttonous inverter welding machine and steadily cook with a C-grade electrode. In general, the developers made sure that the full potential of this machine could be realized. They brought as many as 3 sockets to the work panel. These are two 16-ampere standard points and one outlet for a heavy-duty consumer of 32 A. Of course, each of the terminals is controlled by automatic equipment that turns off the unit in case of overloads or short-circuits..

This generator has a rather informative digital display, and not just a lone dial voltmeter, like many competitors. The user can visually monitor a number of important parameters, in addition to providing data on frequency and voltage, an indication of problems with the oil level and the total operating hours are displayed.

The manufacturer has installed its own engine on this generator – “professional” (Fubag brand), as, in fact, on the entire BS series. Quite economical, with a working volume of 439 cm³, it, coupled with a 25-liter tank, runs without refueling for over 7 hours at 75 percent power. The famous AVR system helps to control the operation of the entire system, which reads the nature of the load on the generator and, if necessary, makes changes to the operation of the motor. Note that the sound pressure level from a working generator is 98 dB, which is considered normal for machines of this power..

The layout of the generator is traditional – a rectangular welded frame, the engine on vibration damping mounts at the bottom, the tank on top, no casing. Considering the mass of 92 kilograms, a pair of small transport wheels would have come to the place..

Let’s summarize. FUBAG BS 6600 A ES will be indispensable for a full-fledged backup power supply of a private house. It is also a great option if you plan to perform welding work using an inverter, less powerful power plants will no longer cope with this task. The generator is relatively inexpensive (about 28,000 rubles), which is primarily due to its budgetary motor. If you are not constrained in funds, you can take a closer look at the MS series units of the same manufacturer with the Japanese Mitsubishi GM engine, however, for a model that is close in characteristics, you will have to pay 20 thousand more. If you want literally a “smart” generator, you can purchase a digital inverter FUBAG TI 6000.

But there are also a couple of “buts”. Such powerful generators are quite heavy and large, it is difficult to carry them with you, for example, to the country. And most importantly, the mini-power plant “does not like” to work with little load. By all the rules, below 25-30% of the rated load is no longer good, you will have to connect everything that is, even if you do not need these consumers at the moment. Therefore, in some cases it is better to buy a less efficient generator..

Makita EG 241 A

Considering the weight of 57 kilograms, this generator can be safely classified as mobile. In terms of performance, this is an average option that is perfect for a summer residence and a construction site. Its performance is enough to simultaneously power up to five units of power tools, or, if necessary, connect light and vital devices and electrical appliances. The nominal power of the power plant, at which it can operate for a long time, is 2 kW, and its maximum performance (short-term) reaches 2.4 kW. Obviously, there can be no question of any welding machines here; it will not be possible to provide backup energy for a large cottage. But there is a 12-volt output that can be used to charge low-voltage electronics, batteries, car accessories …

This unit is reliable and economical in Japanese, with a four-stroke engine from the leading manufacturer – the EX Subaru-Robin series with an overhead camshaft. Its working volume is only 169 cm³. The oil level is controlled by a sensor, the cooling system is air. The tank here is relatively large for equipment of this performance, its volume is slightly less than 13 liters (10 hours of operation), there is a sensor for monitoring the fuel level.

The gas generator produces very stable electricity, the parameters of which are controlled by a special capacitor system. Naturally, such a technique is equipped with overload protection, which responds clearly and quickly, saving important components from damage or premature wear..

The layout of the Makita EG 241 A doesn’t have any innovations, but the unit is immaculately assembled. There are no special excesses in the device – the start is manual, there is only a voltmeter from the visualization devices, there is no control automation. The panel has two standard sockets and a low-voltage connector. The panel itself is well recessed behind the plane of the frame, which protects the controls from damage. There is no doubt that the generator will stand up to even the harshest jobsite conditions..

This (and similar in performance) gas generator will perfectly perform most tasks in the country and in private households, unless you are going to use a welding inverter offline. Well, it will not pull too many consumers, they (according to the capacity of the power plant and the total load power) will have to be manually selected for connection. The cost of such a generator is within 30,000 rubles..

Honda EU10IT1

This generator is representative of compact power plants, or portable. The Japanese kid gives out a maximum power of 1 kW, but its optimal load is 900 watts, and the rated current is 3.9 A. The manufacturer here used inverter technology, so that at the output we get ideal electricity in all respects, and you can power even the most demanding electronics. Moreover, the unit produces not only 220 volts, but also a direct current of 12 V (there is a corresponding 8-ampere outlet). Alternating current is removed only through one Euro socket.

The engine for this generator was set to a four-stroke single-cylinder with 50 (more precisely 49.4) cubes. With a full filling of a two-liter tank, it will work for three and a half hours. The user has the ability to switch the device to save / parallel mode. Honda EU10IT1 has a fail-safe overload protection system. Naturally, such a miniature generator is started in manual mode, and its cooling can only be air.

Made by the Japanese in a closed form, the body is made of durable ABS plastic, its contours are well smoothed, there is a molded handle on top for carrying. Partly due to the housing-casing, the generator does not create much noise, the sound pressure level at a distance of 7 meters is about 55-57 dB. The mass of an uncharged generator is only 13 kg, and its dimensions are within 451/242/379 (as you can see, it does not take up a lot of floor space, due to the large vertical component of its layout).

This device can hardly be called a “power plant”, but it can be an emergency power source. Such (less than a kilowatt) machines are sometimes casually referred to as a “stand-alone outlet”. But in fact, this generator is quite realistic: power several light bulbs, connect something from the equipment or one or two units of power tools, charge various batteries. This is ideal for going out into nature, or to provide yourself with a little comfort in the country. The cost of this particular model is about 39 thousand rubles. Not enough. But you need to understand that this is a purebred samurai. A similar generator of a Chinese brand (with a similar motor) will cost more than half the price, for example, the price of KIPOR IG1000s is up to 16,000 rubles.

So, if you need a generator for small loads, and a low weight with moderate dimensions is a priority, then it makes sense to purchase a miniature device in a casing with a capacity of 0.8–1.2 kW. If you need to power complex electronics, it is better to choose an inverter generator. If you need a power plant to connect a welding machine or you need to make a full-fledged energy reserve for a cottage, then you should not consider equipment with a power of less than 5 kW, but, most likely, you will need something more powerful (see the recommendations of the manufacturer of the welding machine). However, do not overlook the fact that the generator must be loaded to at least 75% of its rating. Perhaps the golden mean for home and summer cottages will be a petrol mini-power plant with a capacity of 2-3 kW.