Here at SGS we have a wide variety of generators for a number of domestic and commercial applications, so we understand that finding the perfecting one for your requirements might seem daunting at first. We’ve spent some time putting together a simple check-list of considerations to help you narrow the choices. All of our generators are rated to run at a certain wattage. The first thing you must consider is what wattage you need your generator to produce to power the equipment you wish to run. Regardless of whether you’re going to be running camping equipment or a whole construction site, this is a vital step in the buying process – otherwise you might end up with a generator that isn’t fit for purpose. So your final required wattage is: All the individual equipment wattages for the items you wish to run together (x 3 if the item has an induction motor), + 20% head room = minimum wattage generator you require For example, to run a 250W slow cooker with a 650W hand drill the maths is:

650W (drill) x 3 (starting wattage) = 1950Wair duct cleaning san rafael ca 1950W (drill total) + 250W (slow cooker) = 2200Wruud media air cleaner 2200W + 20% = 2640W total required watts requiredair duct cleaning huntsville tx This is an approximate guide only. Wattages can vary massively, so it's always worth looking up your specific piece of equipment. *These items will normally have a starting wattage so remember to multiply the wattage by 3. Now we know the total watts required to run our equipment, we need to match it up with a generator. Generators are often listed in kVA (kilo-volt-amps) or kW (kilo-watts). These are both measurements of power,  just in slightly different formats. - To convert Watts (W) to KiloWatts (kW) divide by 1000 - Eg.

1000W = 1kW    - To convert KiloWatts (kW) to Kilo-volt-amps (kVA) divide by 0.8 – Eg. 1000W = 1kW = 1.25kVA We split our range of generators in two ranges; domestic and professional use – each with their own warranty specific to its intended use. If you want a generator for doing occasional jobs requiring power tools, for your hobby, or as a short back-up generator for outages, a SGS generator will be exactly what you’re looking for. SGS generators are fantastic value for money and perfect for home and hobbyist use. Designed to be run occasional, they are perfect for back up use or working in the garden at the weekend. If you’re planning to use the generator every day or commercially, we have a whole range of generators perfect for the task. If you need a power source regularly, or for a prolonged period of time, we’d suggest a Stephill generator. They’re made in the UK to the highest of standards, with energy efficiency and performance in mind. They’re fitted with Honda, Yanmar or Lombardini engines and come with a three year commercial use warranty.

We also offer a range of budget Hyundai generators that are perfect for lower end commercial use and serious hobbyists. They’re great for backup power or more sporadic commercial applications. Anything with a microprocessor in it is considered sensitive to electrical power, meaning computers, phones, TVs, games consoles, printers, DVD players and even some kitchen appliances and power tools, shouldn't be run directly from a conventional generator.  A simple solution is to run them from an inverter generator to prevent damaging them. These generators "invert" DC power back into AC power, resulting in a much "cleaner" power (pure sine waves). We have a range of our own inverter generators, as well as some powerful Honda and Hyundai inverter generators. Choosing between a petrol or diesel generator may seem arbitrary, but in reality it will seriously affect your total cost of ownership. Diesel generators tend to cost more out of the box than petrol alternatives, but when you think about the long term running costs it’s not quite that simple.

Over the long term, diesel will give you a considerable saving on fuel if you’re using the generator often, especially if you have access to red diesel. Diesel engines will generally stand up to more regular use, especially with high end engines and generator models. As a rule of thumb, it you’re looking for a generator under 10 kVA then you would purchase a petrol model, and over 10 kVa you would look at diesel generators. Petrol generators come in 1 to 10 kVA models and are available as great value domestic use models as well as professional models design for high usage. Available in 110 and 230V sockets, you would also need a fly lead for use with a standard 3 pin plug. Diesel generators tend to be larger and are more expensive than petrol generators. However, they offer better fuel economy and longer run times. Large capacity diesel generators (10kVA+) are available, such as "welfare cabin" models. We have diesel generators available made by Stephill here in the UK, as well as by Hyundai.

There’s nothing more frustrating and disruptive to a busy life than a long power outage. Waiting around in the dark and being completely reliant on the National Grid can be quite the headache – but there is a cost effective solution! Standby generators allow you to use your household lighting and appliances in the home, completely independently of the grid, meaning you’re always prepared for a power-cut. The simplest way of providing back up power to your home is to install two products; a standby generator and a transfer switch. Manual Power Transfer – A manual transfer switch (MTS) allows you to switch between utility power and backup power at the touch of a button. They’re simple to use and relatively easy to install – the only drawback is that you might have to find the switch in the dark if you have a power-cut at night! Automatic Power Transfer – With an automatic transfer switch (ATS), the process is even simpler; the ATS senses when the power goes down and automatically starts the generator.

Within a few seconds your home has power again and you can continue your day as normal. When the primary power for the home is restored the ATS will switch back to utility power and shut down the generator, leaving it in a standby state, until it’s needed again. As well as providing you with convenience and security, a stand-by generator power system can reduce home-owners insurance rate and even boost the value of your house. You can see a full range of SGS standby generators here. installing a standby generator and/ or a transfer switch should only ever be carried out by a competent electrician. As our range of generators has grown over the years, we’ve added more and more specialist generators. As well as a comprehensive range of petrol, diesel and inverter generators we now stock a range of LPG, welder, rail approved, welfare and export generators, to suit more specialist requirements. Bottled gas offers a considerable saving compared to petrol or diesel fuel sources.

On average LPG is 30% - 50% cheaper to run, and as the price of petrol and diesel steadily increase, an LPG generator becomes an ever more attractive solution. If you’ve got LPG gas canisters readily available, like many caravan enthusiasts do, the LPG range can be a great mobile power solution. Stephill offer a small range of generators specifically designed for the welders. They’re rugged, purpose built generators made in the UK, perfect for commercial use on site.  We also offer a range of compatible welding leads in AC and DC varieties. Here at SGS, we’re one of the few suppliers of Network Rail approved generators in the UK. Designed to be robust, dynamic and overall incredibly safe to work with, these specialist generators are perfect for commercial use around and on the railway. These specifically designed diesel generators are great for powering accommodation or welfare units. They’re all made in the UK and powered by super-silent Yanmar and Kubota engines.