You know how it feels buying a generator that was supposedly going to power your refrigerators, TVs and home electronics, going dead two weeks after purchase. Like are you kidding me? What just happened. This kind of scenerio is the kind I hate to experience.
When it comes to buying anything essential for your home or personal use, you don't always find it easy. The reason for this is the plethora of fake products that have flooded the Nigerian market. It's a risk alot of people want to minimize and so they look for ways to spot or differentiate original products from fake.
Buying a generator, just like any other goods demands that the buyer needs to be meticulous and down to earth to avoid losing hard earned cash. It goes without saying that a majority of generators in the market are sub-optimal and that is why this article is necessary for you.
Knowing how to spot a fake generator don't just save you time, energy and money, it gives you peace for mind knowing that you are making the right choice. The risk and worries are greatly reduced.
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So to help you, today I will be revealing very important points to hold close as you go around buying yourself a new generator, one that will last for years.
What To Look Out For When Buying A New Generator.
Engraved Brand Name.
One very important tip for spotting original generators is that original brand always engrave their name on their products. If you see that the name is painted only and no engraving, you can bet that that's a fake generator.
Parts of the generator to look for engravings are the fuel tank, engine block, head cover, alternator rear frame, cylinder head, air filter, AVR, carburettor and mufflers. If you can't find it drop it.
Uniform Engine Number And Sticker Number
When you buy a new generator always check the sticker number and make sure it matches with the engine number. If it doesn't match, ask why.
Some bad dealers use this as a trick to receive unsuspecting buyers and they end up buying fake goods. If you find it doesn't match don't buy. It's fake.
The Kind Of Coil Wire.
The coil also known as the alternator is the part of the generator that supplies power to your house for your use. Generators coils comes in three types; Full copper, Aluminum and Brass, and knowing these can help you alot. I mean that this can literally save you from crying and regrets.
Each coil type have their specific characteristics and strengths. For one, a copper coiled generators is the best you can buy. It is reddish-brown in color, very durable and long lasting. It's the best that's why original generators come in full copper coils which can make them pricey.
Aluminum coils comes after copper coils and it can mostly be found in fake generators. Aluminum coils have shiny silver color and are a nice subtitute for copper coils as they are quite cheap. However, it's not as good and long lasting as copper coils.
Brass coils are the worst there are. You don't want to buy generators with brass coil if you serious about getting a good generator. They will make a big hole in your bank account.
And as an extra note, you want to make sure to touch and feel the coil of the generator you intend to buy. Some dealers can delibrately spray a brass coil to make it look like copper coil to receive you.
And please as a final warning, all generator comes with coils. If for any reason a diesel or petrol generator doesn't know you are in for trouble. That generator is dead, save yourself. Fast.
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Engine Block Check.
Another tip that can help you is doing a few diagnostics on the engine block. So to tell a fake from an original, you have to look at the design and weight of the engine block. Fake generators have light and fragile blocks, whole originals have heavier block. This is relative.
When working, fake generator engine sounds are not smooth. it is irregular and unstable, while original generators will be the opposite except it is faulty.
Lastly, you can tap the block and listen to the sounds it makes. A muffled sound means the stuff is good, but when it make resonating sound that is loud something is wrong.
The Sound Test.
Just like I said before the sound of the generator can tell what is good from what is bad. So always test ride your generator before you leave the shop. When the generator is operating listen.
An original generator give a steady and smooth sound continuously until load is introduced to the system. Anything short of that is not acceptable. At times it Amy be that the generator is original but has a slight issue make sure to find out and save yourself.
When the sound is smooth, regular and cool, you can be sure you have a winner.
Conclusion.
Fake generators are everywhere in Nigeria and so are originals. You have to be careful when buying so as not to buy a fake product. In the market you can hardly trust dealers cause they want to sell, so it may do you good to bring a good generator mechanic with you when you buy.
However, when you know what to look out for, you can easily spot a fake generator and buy what you can trust, saving you time, resources and a lot of energy.