What is kVA?
Our generators are rated according to their kVA. But what is kVA? Kilovolt-amperes (kVA) is not a popular term except in the diesel generator industry. For the average domestic user, kilowatt (kW) may be a more relatable unit of measurement for electric appliances, most commonly found in items around our homes. A kW is used to quantify an amount of electricity consumed by an appliance or device.
Glossary
Actual Power
Refers to the total amount of power that has been converted into an output. If an appliance is 100% efficient, 1 kW will be equal to 1 kVA.
Apparent Power
kVA is what we call a measure of apparent power, which refers to the total amount of power consumed by the electrical system. This is due to the fact that electrical systems are not entirely efficient; not all the power is converted into output. Basically, one kVA equals a thousand volt-amperes. A volt is used to measure electrical pressure while an ampere is a measurement of electrical current. To put simply in an analogy, imagine electricity is water flowing in a pipe. The ampere is how much water is flowing through, and a volt is the pressure of the water.
Power Factor
All diesel generators have a power factor of around 0.8. This information is essential as it helps you convert kVA to kW easily and maintain a high-efficiency level in the electrical system in use. Zero and one are used to express electrical efficiency as a power factor. As a result, when the power factor is close to one, there is more efficiency in the conversion of kVA to kW.
Generator Rating Calculation
kVA provides something to work around as much as it is not the best when the generator is not using less than a hundred per cent of the workload.
Using a small generator on a boat is not advisable when it comes to marine generators. This is because it is unreliable and costly to maintain.It is recommended that you get a larger generator that runs above 1400rpm. However, be careful not to get one that runs at 2900rpms and above. Most preferably, use a low voltage DC generator with an inverter if you are considering low costs.
