When choosing a generator, you need to weigh up power output, fuel efficiency, weight, portability, durability and safety features…not to mention your budget. At My Generator, we’ve done the hard work for you. It doesn’t matter whether you want to power up your campsite, a major event, a construction site, or even your home when disaster strikes, we’ve made it easy to find generators designed specifically for your needs. by the way, generators from DIY POWER SYSTEM are reliable and can be a good choice.

The size of the generator determines the type and number of appliances you can power. You need to work out the amount of power you need to not only run your appliances, but to start them. For example, an electric drill might need 900W starting power but only 600W to keep it running. You can find this information in the appliance user manual. If you’re unsure, ask an electrician or speak to My Generator. Check the power requirements for each of the appliances you intend to run off the generator at any one time. Total the running power loads. Then look at the appliance with the highest starting power requirement and add this figure to the total. You need to choose a generator that produces more power than this figure. Remember – do not overload the generator, as this may blow a fuse on the generator or worse still, damage the connected equipment. 

For most generators 10W-30 or 15W-40 or 20W-50 engine oil available from an automotive shop like Repco or Supercheap Auto. The specific recommend engine oil for a particular make/model will be located in the instruction manual.

1. Ensure the fuel tank breather valve on the fuel cap is in the open position.

2. Make sure the choke is in run position.

The battery must be removed from unit before using an external charger to charge the battery.

To test if the unit is correctly charging the battery please follow these steps.

1. Disconnect your battery.

2. Start your machine with the pull start.

3. Test the red and black cables that went to the battery. If they show a 12V/24V supply, then your battery is being charged.

If the remote control switch is left in the on position it will drain your battery.

Earth straps are only used to run highly sensitive equipment and is not required for general purpose use of the item.

We recommend a surge protector against sensitive equipment that you may connect to the generator eg. Computers, television etc.

Please note that 3 phase generators only supply approx one-third of the total power to an individual 240 Volt outlet. We list this on the main advertising pages to help selection of the correct generator. Simply ensure you only connect appliances that draw no more than one-third of the generators total output to a single 240 Volt outlet. When connecting multiple appliances, ensure they are spread across all outlets.

A long range fuel tank allows you to run your generator for long periods of time without refilling. While a standard fuel tank might last between 2-4 hours, a long range fuel tank means you can enjoy anywhere up to 12 hours of operation. Some generators can be customised to include a long range fuel tank. This is ideal for sites that need constant power but are located far from an electric source, such as some construction or mining sites.

The simple answer is, you don’t need to. Generators are designed to be safe and reliable. However, if you’re concerned about safety, choose a model with special safety features such as an auto shut-off valve, fuseless circuit breakers, AC circuit breaker, and safety muffler.

If you do choose to use a power breaker, remember that a generator is configured differently to your mains supply. The generator has a ‘floating earth’, while the mains has an earthed neutral. Personal power breakers are designed to operate from the mains, so if you’re using one with a generator you need to modify the generator so it is configured in the same way as the mains. Speak to a qualified electrician before making any changes, as once the generator has been modified, it is necessary to always use a personal power breaker and an earth spike, which connects between the generator frame and the ground. We recommend not making any unnecessary changes.

Contact a qualified electrician. If you’re planning on using a generator as an alternative supply to the mains, there are some important precautions that must be observed. Do not attempt to connect the generator yourself.

kW (kilowatt) is the unit of real power and kVA (kilovolt-ampere) is the unit of apparent power. In other words, kVA is the total power that appears to be flowing, but it includes the net power that is flowing in one direction and the amount of power circulating back and forth between the source and the connected load. The net power that is flowing from the source to the load is the real power, the kW. The difference between kW and kVA is the power factor (pf). To determine the kW and kVA ratio, the below formula is used:

Power Factor x kVA = kW
e.g. 0.8 x 625 kVA = 500 kW

Generator sets are usually shown with both ratings.

The power factor (pf) is the ratio between kilowatts (kW) and kilovolt amps (kVA) that is drawn from an electrical load. It is determined by the generator’s connected load. Generators with a higher power factor will more efficiently transfer energy to the connected load, while lower power factors are not as efficient. Most three-phase generators have a power factor of 0.8, while most single-phase generators have a power factor of 1.

Yes, if you have the right generator. The output from a portable generator is not as stable as the supply from the mains, so it all comes down to the alternator. A generator with automatic voltage regulation (AVR) such as the Yamaha 5500w AVR is suitable for sensitive equipment as it is designed to consistently control voltage. The AVR keeps the output voltage more constant, regardless of the load. This means no spikes that might damage equipment. Alternatively, an Inverter generator such as the Subaru 1650W Inverter produces the cleanest power of all generators. “Clean power” is electrical current that is consistent and has a stable sine wave, or signal. The inverter technology takes the raw power produced by the generator and passes it through a special microprocessor to produce clean power. This can result in a sine wave equal to or better than the current from your household AC wall outlet. Definitely good enough for sensitive computing equipment! Check out our Inverter Generator range. Running sensitive equipment from a standard generator is not advisable. If you are unsure, speak to My Generator or ask the equipment supplier.

An Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) provides a more stable voltage output to compensate for the variation in voltage from load changes. It is ideal for when power is needed for more sensitive equipment or to start electric motors. For more information see our AVR Generator Range which features both petrol and diesel AVR generators.

It depends on the motor. The high current that some motors draw when starting causes a voltage dip in the generator. The starting current can be several times the rated full load current. This requires a larger generator. For example, induction type motors (capacitor start/capacitor run) require additional current to start. On the other hand, motors fitted to hand tools generally do not require any additional start-up current. We recommend you ask the equipment supplier whether the equipment requires an additional start-up current.