Worldwide, when it comes to portable power, portable diesel generators are more popular than gas powered ones. Why? Perhaps because unlike gas powered generators, portable diesel generators have no spark plugs, or carburetors to rebuild or service, and diesels generally burn half the amount of fuel as gas powered engines do to do the same amount of work. So you won't find yourself having to tune up your generator often, clean it, or replace parts as often.

Also, diesels generally outlast the lifespan of a gas powered engine ninety percent longer according to many specialists in the field of diesel engines, and need maintenance a lot less sooner. So for a typical gas powered generator, it might need service after 1000 hours, and the diesel can go to around 20, 000 - that is a big difference. One other nice feature of diesel is that it is a fuel that is safer to store, which is ideal for keeping it on hand in the event of an emergency for standby power.

Unlike gasoline, diesel fuel is flammable, but does not explode, and its fumes are less toxic. Since portable diesel generators are simpler in design, and need less service, they are often quite easily fixed by anyone who knows anything about engines. Most of the maintenance simply means changing the oil, the oil filters, and the air filters. One down side to portable diesel generators as opposed to gas powered ones, is that they may be louder, and the sounds sometimes frightens people.

However, portable diesel generators come in typically two different designs: 1) Open framed generators, and 2) Closed framed generators. The closed frame generators are often also called "silent" generators because they con equipped with large mufflers, and sound insulation resulting in portable diesel generators that are as loud as listening to two people conversing - that is impressive for a diesel, when they are typically stereotyped as being louder than the rest. These silent generators are most popular in residential use. If you are wanted to power just necessities such as your fridge, freezer, pumps, television, etc. in your home in the event of an emergency, you're looking at wanting to buy a generator that is around 6000 watts or greater.

When wanting to power whole-home heating, or cooling you'll want a much larger size of generator, although the cost is not that much more. In short, portable diesel generators are reliable, efficient, and easy to use.