Does generator consume fuel when the switch is turned off?

[dreizehnX]

Does a generator, which is connected to lights only via a switch, still use fuel when the lights are turned on?
I am currently just starting with electricity and I am not sure about this since the generator will actually be running and just the switch will be set to off.

[DthBlayde]

If I'm understanding this correctly: You have a generator --> switch --> lights.

Regardless of the light switch status, the generator will continue to run so long as it, itself, is left on. You may want to go something like :

Timer --> Generator --> Battery Box --> switch --> Lights.

This way you could have the generator run during the day to charge the bat box, but turn off automatically at night. Then the lights would feed off the bat box with no further fuel consumption till the next day

[dreizehnX]

Wow, thanks. I did not think about putting a timer on the generator at all.

...I somehow hoped the generator's energy consumption might be nullified or at least decreased when the lights are switched off.
Thanks for the idea about the timer.

At your example: Would the generator 'overcharge' (in terms of continuing full fuel consumption) although the battery box is fully charged?

[dreizehnX]

Originally posted by dreizehnX:

Wow, thanks. I did not think about putting a timer on the generator at all.

...I somehow hoped the generator's energy consumption might be nullified or at least decreased when the lights are switched off.
Thanks for the idea about the timer.

At your example: Would the generator 'overcharge' (in terms of continuing full fuel consumption) although the battery box is fully charged?

edit:

Originally posted by DthBlayde:

If I'm understanding this correctly: You have a generator --> switch --> lights.

Regardless of the light switch status, the generator will continue to run so long as it, itself, is left on. You may want to go something like :

Timer --> Generator --> Battery Box --> switch --> Lights.

This way you could have the generator run during the day to charge the bat box, but turn off automatically at night. Then the lights would feed off the bat box with no further fuel consumption till the next day

I cannot put a timer before the energy source. ("The power source cannot have a parent connection") Did you maybe mean it the other way round?

[DthBlayde]

You know what? you're right. My bad. Hmm. Nah, because even the other way around the generator would still be running unless you manually turned it on and off. Also, it won't over-charge persay, but would still continue to waste fuel.

[dreizehnX]

Thanks for the confirmation though.

[DthBlayde]

np