You can extend the life of your generator by investing in a generator cover, booking planned generator maintenance, checking the generator’s oil levels often, inspecting the battery just as often, and giving your generator a good cleaning from time to time. We’re explaining these generator lifespan-extending methods in detail below, and putting you in touch with generator technicians in KwaZulu-Natal should you want to extend your generator’s lifespan:
- Install a generator covering
Imagine if you drove around without a hood on your car. It wouldn’t take long for dust, rain, and other natural materials to make their way onto and into your engine. The same goes for generators without coverings. The better you can protect your generator’s critical parts from the elements, the longer it will take for wear and tear to become an issue for your generator.
- Book regular generator maintenance
Monthly, quarterly or annual generator maintenance is another important step you could take to ensure you get the most value for your backup power generating investment. Planned generator maintenance will keep your generator running at peak condition, and this will ensure critical generator issues can be identified and rectified before causing any bigger generator issues.
- Regularly check your generator’s oil
A vehicle’s engine won’t last long at all without engine oil. The same is true for diesel generators and petrol generators. When engine oil is running low, and the generator is operational, higher-than-usual levels of engine component wear and tear occur owing to the lack of lubrication. Get the most out of your generator’s critical parts by keeping its oil topped up.
- Inspect your generator’s battery
It’s important to keep an eye on the condition of your backup generator’s battery. Corrosion and battery acid leaks are common generator battery issues, and are able to cause serious damage when generators are neglected and the condition of the generator’s battery and associated wires and connections isn’t checked regularly.
- Don’t forget to clean your generator
One final measure you can take to extend the life of your generator is to ensure it is being cleaned regularly. This is especially important when there is no covering placed over the generator, protecting it from dust and other troublesome matter. But cleaning a generator doesn’t end at a wipe down from time to time. Consider getting your generator professionally cleaned every time it undergoes maintenance.
Extend your generator’s lifespan with S&A Generators
Extending the lifespan doesn’t have to be a multi-step process. One call to S&A Generators and you can book generator maintenance and order generator oil replacements or generator fuel top-ups. If you’ve got a generator and you want to get the most out of it, contact S&A Generators today! If you’d like to see what else we can do with backup generators, have a look at our S&A Generators projects.
Like all internal combustion engines, there’s a lot that can go wrong with a diesel generator’s engine. With so many moving parts under immense levels of pressure, it’s no wonder diesel engines break down from time to time. As diesel generator repair specialists, we have been working on faulty diesel generators for decades, and know exactly what to look for in a damaged generator. In this article we’re looking at the eight most common signs you need a diesel generator mechanic:
- Problems with starting
Diesel engines rely on an immense amount of compression to function optimally. Unfortunately, when seals in the combustion chamber start to deteriorate, this compression can drop and lead to a diesel engine that keeps swinging but just won’t start.
- Blue exhaust smoke
A big red flag when it comes to diesel generators is the appearance of blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. This is a clear indication that your generator is burning engine oil, which really shouldn’t be happening if your generator’s engine components are all in good working order.
- Loss of engine power
This one is a bit tougher to pinpoint on a diesel generator, since you’re not actually revving the engine as you would in a car. Nevertheless, one can clearly tell just by assessing the genset that the diesel engine is not running as powerfully as it should be, which is another serious cause for concern.
- Terrible fuel economy
Is your diesel generator going through fuel faster than it used to for the same amount of operating hours? A thirsty engine is usually a sign of damaged components, with the most likely culprits being your generator engine’s injectors or the rings.
- Excessive or strange noise
Compression and timing issues in diesel engines are clear to see (well, to hear). If you’ve fired up your diesel generator and it’s sounding different, like loud clanking noises or sounds you haven’t heard before, this could be a sign of serious engine trauma.
- Heightened oil consumption
Some diesel engines sip on engine oil; others need to take large gulps to stay in operation. If you’ve noticed that your diesel generator is requiring more oil top-ups than usual, this is a sign that you might need a diesel generator mechanic to pay you a visit. This is especially true if you don’t see any external signs of oil leaking from the genset.
- Rough engine idling
Another clear sign that a diesel generator mechanic is required involves rough idling. There are two types of rough idling to keep an ear open for. Hunting idling which is when the engine idles up and down in intervals, and Missing idling which is when you hear slight hesitations in the engine’s idling. Rough idling could be caused by poor timing or leaking injectors.
- Engine runaway
This is when your diesel generator’s engine keeps running for a little while after you’ve switched off the ignition. It’s a clear sign that there’s an issue with the engine’s combustion process, as runaway usually means that a bit of oil is leaking into the combustion chamber. Since diesel engines can theoretically run on engine oil, the engine burns up the bit of oil that’s leaked in – even after it has been shut off.
Find expert diesel generator mechanic services in Durban
If your diesel generator is exhibiting one or more of the above eight signs of damage, it might be time to call in a diesel generator mechanic. S&A Generators offers expert diesel engine repairs and maintenance in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. We are also able to assist with generator fuel refills, planned generator maintenance (to prevent generator repairs), and the sourcing and installation of new generators. Get in touch today to find out more!
As generator specialists, S&A Generators offers emergency generator services in addition to installation, maintenance and repairs. Our support services are designed to help you get back up and running in the event of problems such as generator failure. Operating across KwaZulu-Natal, our experienced technicians are available 24-7 to assist in case of emergencies.
To help you get the help you need, we offer support for critical, urgent and important emergencies. Some problems can pose a major risk to operational effectiveness and safety. Other problems may be serious, but may not require immediate assistance from our helpful emergency generator services team. There are also important problems that may not pose a major risk but still need to be resolved quickly.
S&A Generators Emergency Generator Services
Our emergency generator services provide call-outs to your premises. These include initial fault detection to identify the problem. We then provide problem-solving resolution of generator sets driven by fuel-powered engines if there has been a mechanical breakdown, start failure or stalling. If any spares or additional equipment are needed, we will advise on what is needed. You can then place your order to get the parts you need as quickly as possible. We offer support services across all parts of KZN, with travel times that depend on the distance from our headquarters in Gillitts, Durban. Here is a breakdown of how we can assist in critical, urgent and important emergencies.
Critical
We provide 24-7 assistance in the case of critical emergencies. This applies to major failures that affect the effectiveness of operations throughout the building. This does not simply mean an inability to perform day-to-day operations. It means having the entire building and all areas of operations affected. Healthcare buildings and other similar buildings that cannot afford generator failure will need critical assistance, for example. It also applies to generator failures that can pose a safety hazard to occupants within the building. If safety hazards arise, it is essential to get help immediately
Urgent
For generator failures that do not pose safety hazards but still affect the overall effectiveness of the building’s operations, emergencies are classified as urgent rather than critical. Urgent support services are provided between 07h00 and 17h00, Monday to Friday. If you are unable to occupy buildings or continue operating efficiently, you would need help quickly.
Important
Other failures can still cause havoc with day-to-day operations, even if they do not cause major operational problems or safety hazards. These situations are still classed as important as they result in downtime. Important support services are provided from 07h00 until 17h00 on weekdays, Monday through to Friday. As we mentioned above, we provide call-outs across the province. Arrival times of our technicians onsite are dependent on where you are located and the availability of a technician. Within the Durban Central area, you will get help within 30 minutes. If you are based in Pietermaritzburg, you can expect to see our technicians in approximately 1 hour. Our team will reach Port Shepstone customers in 1.5 hours. Richards Bay customers will be reached 2 hours, while Newcastle customers will be helped in 3 hours.
To request our generator emergency services and get help from our friendly, helpful, experienced technicians, contact S&A Generators now.
Generators, like any mechanical devices, are prone to degradation during their operational lives. Even those generators that stand unused for weeks every year can develop issues. At S&A Generators, we’ve seen all varieties of generator problems, and there hasn’t been a generator-related issue that we haven’t been able to figure out. This article looks at a few generator repairs that we commonly carry out for customers in KwaZulu-Natal.
Generator wiring repairs
Power surges are a common occurrence in South Africa, and they can sometimes have devastating consequences for backup generators. During large storms, or in times of load shedding, surges are able to damage important generator parts. We strongly recommend installing a surge arrestor to prevent surge-related generator damage in the future.
Resetting controller alarms
Genset controllers are electronic systems used to monitor generators in terms of voltage, current, temperature, oil levels, etc. Very often, these controllers (specifically the alarms) malfunction, and when this happens the generator won’t start. Resetting these controller alarms is also a common generator repair we regularly carry out.
Repairs to radiator cores
A vital component of every generator is its radiator. Without this part working at its best, the generator risks overheating and eventual breakdown. Something we see quite often, when performing generator maintenance for our clients, is radiator core damage. Repairs to generator radiator cores is something we are able to facilitate.
Expert generator repairs in KwaZulu-Natal
S&A Generators specialises in generator repairs and other generator-related services. We can source and install new generators, relocate generators, connect new generators to building electrics, provide planned generator maintenance, and even diesel generator refilling. Contact us on +27317028621 or [email protected]. Alternatively, fill in the form on our S&A Generators contact page.
You might think this concept has something to do with water, but it doesn’t. Diesel generator wet stacking is an extremely common generator issue, usually showing its worst impacts after a period. The good news is that wet stacking is preventable.
All you need are generator specialists to shed some light on the problem – and show you how to stave off diesel generator wet stacking for good. Let’s look at what it is, signs it’s taking place, and how to prevent generator wet stacking:
What exactly is wet stacking?
Like any internal combustion engine, diesel generators have optimal temperatures. Without at least 60% load on the generator when it’s being used, the engine doesn’t get hot enough to burn off excess fuel and carbon deposits.
A build up of these in the diesel generator’s exhaust system is called wet stacking. There are a few indicators of wet stacking that any diesel generator owner should look out for.
Signs of diesel generator wet stacking
There are two main signs of wet stacking becoming a serious problem for your generator’s power output and general longevity:
- Black ooze around the exhaust pipe
- Continuous black exhaust smoke
So, what’s the big deal with some exhaust soot and decoloured smoke? Wet stacking can clog your generator’s injectors, decreasing its output performance. Backpressure is also a likely outcome, and a combination of factors leads to reduced efficiency, shortened part life, and increased repair costs.
But wait, there’s more! Wet stacking can affect your generator oil’s ability to protect the engine, and will cause increased wear over time. At suboptimal temperatures, the pistons don’t interact with the cylinders as they should, often causing unburned fuel to leak into the oil pan and diluting the oil.
How to prevent wet stacking
There are a few things you can tick off to give your generator the best chance of surviving wet stacking:
- Run your diesel generator for 15 – 20 minutes once a week.
- Ensure the generator is running at a minimum of 60% load when operational.
- Make sure that your genset’s fuel tank is always kept full.
- Check that the generator is reaching the manufacturer’s recommended operating temperatures.
- Book a planned generator maintenance plan, where your genset will be kept in optimal condition throughout its life.
Expert diesel generator services in KZN
The best way to prevent the devastating impact of wet stacking is to let a qualified generator technician perform regular generator fuel refills and generator maintenance. Wet stacking is one of multiple problems impacting generators that aren’t looked after, so it pays to maintain the generator instead of having to sit without power while it’s being repaired or replaced. Get in touch with S&A Generators to arrange expert diesel generator services in KwaZulu-Natal.
Generators, like any other electrical supply device, is susceptible to problems from time to time. Like motor vehicles, generator maintenance is required every so often to ensure that a generator is ready and able to provide emergency power should the lights go out for whatever reason.
However, sometimes generators are installed without the correct pre-installation inspections. One reason these are so important is to prevent a generator overload – which happens more often than you’d think. This article will take a look at how generators get overloaded, what happens when overload occurs, and how to prevent overloading a generator:
How to overload a generator
Generator overloading occurs when there is too much load, or too many appliances and fixtures requiring power, than the generator in question can sufficiently handle in terms of wattage. Most generators are protected from overload damage with circuit breakers. Regardless, it’s easy to forget just how much power your building requires – and how this requirement changes as time goes on. For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your generator when you do use it, looking out for these tell-tale signs that a generator is struggling with your power demands:
Signs your generator is overloaded
– Overheating
The first sign that a generator might be struggling with overload is overheating. If your generator’s cooling fan is going flat-out, or you notice more heat coming off of the generator than usual, it might be overloaded and is working harder to provide the power you require.
– Power reduction
Another issue with generator overload is reduction in power output, which presents itself in a number of ways. Added to this, the generator might be working too hard for too little of an output, which will also greatly affect the generator’s ability to provide enough electricity.
– Soot in exhaust
Generator overload is also often caused by damaged or worn generator components not doing their jobs properly. A sure way to tell if this is the case is by looking at the generator’s exhaust pipe. Dark smoke is normal, but black soot residue after use is not.
How to prevent overloading a generator
– Correct installation
The first step to prevent generator overload is to ensure that your new generator is installed correctly – with all the necessary assessments that should be carried out by your generator installer. If you already have a generator in place, get the installation assessed by a third-party generator expert to make sure it was done properly and that it is suitable for your electrical requirements
– Planned maintenance
Secondly, as your power needs might change over time, prevent future generator overloading by ensuring that your generator is assessed and serviced on a regular basis. Consider getting generator professionals in once a year to inspect and service your generator, and re-test to make sure that the generator is still suitable for the building’s power needs.
Expert generator repairs & maintenance
S&A Generators does not install a generator until a thorough site inspection and load requirement assessment has been administered. This makes sure that the building requiring back-up power will have a generator with capacity sufficient enough to power everything needed – and this reduces the risk of ever overloading the generator. Chat to our expert team of generator specialists for any and all of your generator-related queries!
