Generator School
Practical, jargon-free articles on every aspect of generator specification, ownership, and service — written by the team that installs and maintains them every day.
kVA vs kW — explained (with a beer)
Understand the difference between kVA and kW the easiest possible way — with a pint of beer and its foam. The single most useful concept when sizing a generator.
How does a generator actually work?
The full chain — fuel to engine to alternator to electricity — explained without the marketing fluff. Once you understand this, every component on a spec sheet makes sense.
Diesel vs petrol — storage, life, safety
Above 8 kVA, diesel wins almost every battle. Below that, petrol is fine. Here's why — fuel stability, fire risk, service life, and the real-world differences.
Selecting a generator — what to account for
A simple 6-question framework that gets you to the right generator without overspending. Run, surge, fuel, duty, location, future-proofing.
What is a load bank — and why every standby unit needs one
A standby generator that has only ever run unloaded is a generator that may fail in an outage. Load-bank testing is the only way to prove it.
Importance of maintenance — monthly testing isn't optional
It's not about service life. It's about whether the unit starts on the day you actually need it. Monthly tests + scheduled servicing — what and why.
So many brands — why Pramac?
Italian engineering, Generac global support, factory-trained Australian service. The case for choosing a recognised brand over a cheap import.
What makes up a generator's price?
Why is this 100 kVA $32k and the same-spec import $19k? A line-by-line breakdown of where the money actually goes.
Diesel generator engine failure points — the basics
Speed sensors, controllers, AVRs, governors, engine sensors — the systems that actually fail in real-world standby duty, and what to watch for.
Automatic Transfer Switches — types and redundancy
Contactor vs motor-operated vs MCCB vs ACB transfer switches — what suits each application, and why redundancy is non-negotiable.
Common installation pitfalls — and how to avoid them
Bad installation kills more generators than bad maintenance. The 5 mistakes we see most often in the field — and the fixes.