Comparison Firman FPG 7800E2 vs Forte FG 6500E

Model name of the engine installed in the generator. Knowing this name, you can, if necessary, find detailed data on the engine and clarify how it meets your requirements. In addition, model data may be needed for some specific tasks, including maintenance and repair.

Note that modern generators are often equipped with branded engines from famous manufacturers: Honda, John Deere, Mitsubishi, Volvo, etc. Such engines are more expensive than similar units from little-known brands, but this is offset by higher quality and/or solid warranty conditions , and in many cases, the ease of finding spare parts and additional documentation (such as manuals for special maintenance and minor repairs).

Method of starting the electric generator engine. To start the internal combustion engine (petrol or diesel, see "Fuel"), it is necessary to turn the engine shaft in any case; this can be done in two ways:

— Manual. With this method of starting, the initial impulse is transmitted to the engine manually - usually the user needs to pull hard on the cable that spins a special flywheel. The simplest in design and cheapest method of starting, from additional equipment it requires only the cable itself with a flywheel. On the other hand, it may require the user to apply significant muscular effort and is poorly suited for high-power units.

— Electric starter. With this type of start, the engine shaft is rotated by a special electric motor, which is called a starter; the starter is powered by its own battery. This option for starting the generator power unit is the easiest for the user and requires a minimum of effort. Depending on the implementation of the electric starter, it is usually enough to turn the key in the ignition switch, press a button, turn the handle or rotate a special drum, etc. The power of modern starters is sufficient even for heavy engines, where manual starting is difficult or impossible. Also note that an electric starter is required by definition to use the ATS autostart (see "Features"). On the other hand, additional equipment affects the weight and cost of the unit,...and sometimes quite noticeably. Therefore, such starting systems are used mainly where they cannot be avoided - in the aforementioned heavy equipment, as well as generators with ATS.

Fuel consumption of a petrol or diesel generator when operating at half power, and for combined models when using petrol (see “Fuel”).

Fuel consumption usually increases with load. However, generator efficiency is not always linear - fuel consumption may vary disproportionately with different loads. In this case, the approximate amount of fuel consumed by the generator when operating at half power (50% of the rated power) is given. Knowing the fuel consumption and tank capacity, you can at least estimate how long one fill-up will last.

Existence in the generator of an output with a direct current and voltage of 12 V. The main function of this output is to charge car batteries, as well as power devices originally intended for cars (recall, 12 V is the standard voltage of on-board networks in cars).

The following types of 12-volt outputs are found in generators:

- Terminals. Terminals are used to connect wires directly without using any plugs. This connection is the most reliable.

- Socket. Socket outlet for a plug with two flat pins, designed to connect 12-volt consumers. Holes in sockets come in different layouts, which you need to pay attention to.

- Cigarette lighter. The so-called "car socket", which in many cars is combined with a cigarette lighter socket (hence the name). Such connectors are used to power various automotive devices and accessories.

The level of protection provided by the generator housing — namely, the degree of protection of the “hardware” from dust, moisture and foreign objects. It is designated by the IP standard with two numbers, one of which corresponds to protection against solid objects and dust, the second — from moisture, for example, IP24.

According to the level of dust protection (first digit) in modern generators, the following values \u200b\u200bare found:

2 — protection against objects with a diameter of more than 12.5 mm (fingers, etc.);
3 — from objects larger than 2.5 mm (most instruments);
4 — from objects more than 1 mm (almost all tools, most wires);
5 — dustproof (full protection against contact; dust can penetrate inside, but does not affect the operation of the device).

Water protection levels can be as follows:

1 — protection against vertically falling drops of water;
2 — from water drops with a deviation of up to 15 ° from the vertical axis of the device (rain);
3 — from water drops with a deviation of up to 60 ° from the vertical axis of the device (rain with wind);
4 — against splashes from any direction (rain with strong wind);


In general, for indoor use, this indicator does not play a key role, but on the street and in similar conditions (for example, at a construction site), you should make sure that the selected generator is sufficiently protected — or else take additional protection measures.

The noise level produced by the generator when operating in normal mode. The less noise the unit makes, the more comfortable it is to use, the closer it can be placed to people, but the higher its price, all other things being equal.

It is also worth considering that generators with internal combustion engines are, in principle, quite noisy equipment. Thus, even the "quietest" units produce < 70 dB - this is the volume of a conversation in tones from medium to high. Accordingly, it is recommended to install the device remotely from the place of use. At the same time, we note that the noise level is not directly related to the power: for example, among units of 80 dB and more, there are both heavy and relatively low-power models.

The total weight of the unit - usually excluding fuel; the weight on full tank can be easily determined knowing the tank capacity.

In general, more powerful generators are inevitably heavier, but models with similar characteristics can differ significantly in weight. When assessing these differences and generally choosing an option based on weight, it is worth considering the specifics of the generator's use. So, if the device is often to be moved from place to place - for example, when used "on the road" - it may be worth paying attention to lighter units that are more convenient to transport. However, it is worth considering that the downside of a lightweight design is often an increased cost or a reduced degree of protection. But for stationary use, you can not pay special attention to this parameter - or even the opposite: choose a heavier (and, as a rule, more advanced and functional) option.

Regarding specific figures, it is worth noting that modern generators are generally quite massive. Thus, a small weight for such equipment is considered not only < 20 kg, but even 20-30 kg ; many units weigh 150-200 kg, or even more, and the weight of stationary industrial models is measured in tons.