It’s no longer news that power outages are increasing rapidly. This makes it essential for everyone to have a backup diesel generator for their business or home. In modern times, electricity has become another basic necessity in work and life. Almost all electrical appliances and equipment that enable our lives and business operations are powered by electricity. That’s why it’s almost unbearable for everyone after a power outage.
Many power outages are caused by natural disasters, and outages can last for days. Now, many people are asking – how long can a backup diesel generator keep running? They want to be able to run a diesel generator non-stop for the duration of the outage. . Today, our article will give you a comprehensive answer to this question.
Additionally, we will answer several other frequently asked questions regarding long-term continuous operation of diesel generators.
How long can a backup diesel generator continue to run?
According to Yuchai, Shangchai, Cummins and other leading backup diesel generator manufacturers, their high-power diesel generators can run continuously for more than 500 hours. Although the diesel generator will run for several days, this is practically impossible. There are several situations that can prevent you from running your diesel generator continuously for up to 500 hours.
A backup diesel generator must have a fuel tank that can hold an amount of fuel sufficient to run the diesel generator for up to 500 hours. Once the fuel is used up, the diesel generator shuts down. You have to refuel before restarting.
Another reason why you cannot run your diesel generator for more than 72 hours is that you need to allow your diesel generator to rest after running for a certain amount of time. Otherwise, you will shorten the life of your diesel generator.
The bottom line is that a backup diesel generator can theoretically run for more than 500 hours.
Can you run a diesel generator 24 hours a day?
Yes, you can run a diesel generator 24 hours a day for about 2-3 days. After the third day, you have to let it rest for a few hours. If you run your diesel generator for days on end without allowing it to rest, the wear rate can be high. Therefore, you will reduce the life of your diesel generator. Therefore, we recommend that you allow your diesel generator to run for approximately 72 hours after a break.
Can a diesel generator run continuously?
Yes, Dingbo diesel generator is one of the most powerful, sturdy and durable diesel generator brands. In other words, Dingbo diesel generator can provide enough power to support the normal operation of your business. You can run your diesel generator continuously for about 72 hours, then let it rest for a few hours, and then start after two hours of rest.
How much fuel does a backup diesel generator use?
How much fuel a diesel generator consumes will depend on the following factors:
Diesel Generator Condition – When a diesel generator is in poor condition, it tends to consume more fuel than it should. This is why you should take maintenance inspections seriously.
Diesel Generator Power – Generally speaking, large diesel generators consume more fuel than small diesel generators because they have larger engines.
The load on the diesel generator – the heavier the load on the diesel generator, the faster it consumes fuel. In other words, at 50% load capacity, your diesel generator will consume more fuel than when running at 25% load capacity.
Standby diesel generators are actually powerful enough to work continuously for 500 hours or more, but these are for industrial diesel generators.
If you just use a home generator, first of all, the power demand will not exceed 150KW, and secondly, it does not need to run continuously for more than 500 hours. A home backup diesel generator only needs to power ordinary and commonly used household appliances, which does not require much power to meet demand. If you are purchasing a diesel generator for home backup, ask YDQ Power for a small portable diesel generator.