TOP FACTORS TO EVALUATE WHEN BUYING A COMMERCIAL GENERATOR

Commercial generators are essential for many uses, although they are most recognized for providing backup power during blackouts. They can be used for prime or continuous applications, like mining operations, building sites, and backup uses. Although commercial generators can be a dependable power source for various uses, it is essential to consider your options when purchasing. Below, we’ll review the most critical aspects to evaluate when investing in a commercial generator.

Power Requirements

You must consider your needs when purchasing significant equipment at the https://garpen.com.au/. You should think about not only the brand but also the amount of power that your workplace, factory, or other facility will need. Consider the following question when evaluating or attempting to ascertain your power needs.

  • Should the generator power the entire building or only a portion during a power outage?
  • What is the peak electricity demand if it applies to the entire building?
  • Do you need emergency backup for vital equipment, such as in a medical facility?

A generator’s proper sizing might mean the difference between your business’s operations suffering due to low power or all of your essential gear and equipment being able to continue operating.Generally, you would need a larger generator with a high rating for power output (in kW) for large buildings, commercial activities, or industrial purposes.

The best course of action would be to size your facility for a generator and determine your power requirements. It is advisable to have an expert assist in calculating your minimum and maximum electricity needs to ascertain your power consumption.

Fuel Type and Operating Expenses

The primary determinant of most buying decisions is the kind of fuel the generator runs on. Natural gas, propane, and diesel are the three fuel types that generators run on most frequently. Petrol may appear convenient, but because of its short, stable life, it’s generally considered a bad fuel option for generators. Diesel engines offer several advantages compared to generators fuelled by gasoline.

Additionally, as technology advances, smaller diesel engines are now available to meet most needs for small workplaces and offices.It takes some math to decide between a natural gas or diesel generator because the price difference varies with generator size.

Another crucial element is the fuel source’s accessibility. It is simpler to obtain diesel delivered to your facility, and it offers an on-site fuel source. Conversely, propane is a bit more complicated if you don’t live close to large industrial regions with gas pipelines. Furthermore, it may not always be necessary to have a fuel supply on hand, depending on the kind of facility. Click here to find out more about diesel generators.

Size

Since commercial generators come in different sizes, installing one is an undertaking in and of itself. It’s crucial to ascertain whether your establishment can support a generator on-site. This is true for on-site generator installations outside your building and scheduling space for a generator enclosure within the structure.

Your generator’s length, width, and height may vary depending on the available area, whether indoors or outside. It must be accessible for maintenance and repair purposes. Enough room for the fuel supply, exhaust ducting, ventilation, and closeness to combustible materials are essential for indoor installations. The fuel supply and transfer switch should ideally be the closest proximity points for the generator.

Noise Levels

Natural gas generators operate more silently than diesel generators, which can harm human hearing due to their high decibel noise levels. But enclosing the generator can help solve the noise problem. The sort of enclosureis a follow-up question, mainly if the installation will occur outside.

While industrial-grade generators may have numerous enclosure styles, ranging from a typical weather enclosure to a tailored package to satisfy particular industrial requirements, many residential or light commercial generators typically come standard with a sound-attenuated enclosure. A sound-attenuated enclosure can help both types of generators operate quietly.

The Type of Transfer Switch

Emergency standby systems often use automatically controlled transfer switches. Manual transfer switches are available for some systems if that is what the user prefers, but these are typically not very cost-effective. Your electrician should decide on the transfer switch’s size (amperage rating) and installation position; this may rely on the answer to the previous question, “entire building or just emergency loads?” 

The transfer switch may need to be service entry rated, which includes a utility disconnect inside the transfer switch cabinet if the system is large enough to support the entire building. A few more transfer switch capabilities are available for commercial and industrial applications, including closed transition, programmed transition, and bypass isolation.

Ultimately, without an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), employees will have to physically turn on the generator when there is a power outage and manually turn it off when it is back on.Purchasing an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), which will trigger the generator to start in only a few seconds in the event of a power outage or power loss, might be the best course of action. A prompt to turn off the generator will appear once the primary power grid is back online.

Safety

Of all fossil fuels, diesel fuel has one of the lowest combustion levels. A diesel leak is unlikely to go undetected due to its liquid condition and inherent stench. If that happens, handling and cleanup are generally safe. On the other hand, natural gas is highly flammable and can burst into flames when it encounters an ignition source or merely a spark. Natural gas is also quite hazardous when inhaled in large amounts.

Warranty Period

The typical warranty for generator systems usually lasts between one and five years, depending on the kind of generator. An industrial generator may have an optional one-year or two-year guarantee as standard, whereas residential generators may have two to five years of warranties. It’s a good idea to know how long your standby system’s warranty will last and what it covers, and if you would like more coverage, inquire about the costs of an upgrade.

To summarize, consider your commercial power requirements, preferred fuel type, size, noise levels, safety, and warranty period when investing in a generator. You should also purchase from a reputable vendor to ensure the generator meets industry standards.