Generators

Generators buying guide

Veldkraft lists 73 generators, priced from R342 to R407 531, from brands including Hyundai, RYOBI Power Equipment, STECO Genereators / Inverters and Solar, Perkins. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

kVA and kW

Generators are rated in kVA. Multiply by about 0.8 for the real power in kW you can use, so a 5 kVA generator gives roughly 4 kW.

Allow for starting surges

Motors in pumps, compressors and fridges draw two to three times their running power for a moment when they start. Size the generator for the biggest motor starting while everything else runs.

Petrol, diesel or inverter

Petrol generators are light and cheap for occasional use. Diesel generators last longer and cost less to run for long hours. Inverter generators give clean power for electronics and run quietly.

Connect it safely

Connect a generator to your house through a changeover switch fitted by a registered electrician, so it can never feed back into the grid. Never run a generator indoors or in a closed garage.

Generators: common questions

What size generator do I need for a house?

A 5 kVA to 8 kVA generator runs lights, fridges, TV, Wi-Fi and a kettle. Adding a geyser, stove or borehole pump usually means 10 kVA or more.

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