AssetTrader Buying Guide to Generators

Introduction

The worst thing that can happen to any business is to be without electricity. Nothing makes you appreciate electricity more than not having it. To maintain a business that operates smoothly and efficiently at all times, a generator becomes an essential piece of equipment. For the food service or catering industry this becomes a necessary addition, saving thousands of dollars of food. For other businesses, like hospitals it can be a life saving back-up. For business operating on sites that are not powered by electricity, a generator becomes the main hub of operations for construction sites, manufacturing depots.

For each individual situation or need, there is a generator suited for that purpose. Choosing the right size will keep costs down and provide best value for money. AssetTrader has taken the guess work out of buying a generator. We list types, sizes and prices for the informed buyer.

Functionality and Use

The main aspect of a generator is choosing the specific voltage for the situation. From there you pick the generator that will provide all the voltage you need.
Most small businesses use roughly about 120/240v service. However large businesses are not quite as simple to work out. Often having different power needs. Most likely they will be using a three-phase power, which requires a heavy-duty motor rather than the residential-standard single-phase service. The voltage for a three phase power is usually 12/208 volts or 277/480 volts.

Types of power generators
There are two models of generators; standby generators and portable generators.
Standby generators are used mostly in emergency situations when power has been lost. They can be installed permanently to off set the harmful effects of power outages. They are hardwired into the electrical system. They supply about 7kW or can go up to several hundred kW.
Portable generators are used when there is no supply of electricity coming into the site at all. They provide power to construction sites or remote locations. In contrast to standby generators they can be used to in a power outage, but don’t last longer than a few hours as they are much smaller and therefore less expensive than standby models.

To find the right size generator, never guess the voltage you need. There are several ways to determine this amount, but if you overestimate the amount, you could be heading for a dangerous overload on the generator. If you underestimate you could be wasting fuel and cost in running something to big.
Most dealers will help you work out the voltage you need from the equipment used in your business. They can either walk you through the process of looking at the nameplate on each device and calculating the amps into volts or they can determine it from talking to you. You could also bring out a qualified electrician who will be able to give you professional advice.

Keep in mind that there is 3 times more electricity needed to start up appliances that it does to keep them running. Once you have worked out the running and start-up amount of voltage you will need, you should factor in another 20% for additional small devices and to not overwork the generator. This should bring you to the size generator you need and you are well on you’re way to purchasing the right piece of equipment.