Power generator: what power to choose?

Power outages are a common problem that can disrupt business operations, especially given the widespread use of electrical devices. In many cases, power downtimes make it impossible to perform professional duties. Generators are indispensable equipment for construction sites that are not connected to the power grid as well as for manufacturing enterprises. If you are planning to buy a similar device, remember that the key to its functionality is power. The generator should be tailored to your individual needs in this regard. Check out what you need to pay attention to first to match the right generator power.

Generators are currently in very high demand. No wonder – the widespread use of electrical devices and their importance for daily functioning are factors that make constant access to energy essential. Unfortunately, temporary power outages are a fairly common occurrence. They are mainly caused by temporary failures due to, for example, adverse weather conditions.

Power outages mean not only a lack of light for your business but also an inability to run the electrical equipment used by the company, resulting in a forced shutdown. Hence, it is worth protecting against it by buying a generator. In today’s entry, we will tell you how not to make a mistake when choosing its capacity.

Generators: power. What are your options?

The power of the generator is one of the basic issues you need to keep in mind when planning to buy this device. It should be adjusted to individual electricity demand. We will write more about this in a moment. In the market, there is a very wide range of models with various power ranges, depending on the device’s operating – occasional or continuous.

• The occasional cycle involves securing access to energy in the event of a grid failure. It is indispensable in Data Centres because the servers installed there require power continuity. Potential interruption could lead to the loss of important data for server room customers.
• A continuous cycle means that the generator is a source of primary power, such as on the aforementioned construction sites without access to the grid.

In Eneria’s offer, you can buy generators designed for occasional operation in power variants ranging from 7.6 kW to as much as 2480 kW. For the continuous cycle, you can choose from a range of 6.8 kW to 2260 kW.

What power should a power generator have?

If you wonder what power of a generator will be the best solution in your case, remember one basic rule: the power of the uni must be sufficiently greater than the summed power of the devices you want to power with it. Unfortunately, calculating the electricity demand is not easy, so it is always best to seek the help of a specialist, who will help you choose a generator tailored to your expectations. When calculating power, you must take into account that:

the power of the generator includes the reserve needed for the start-up of some equipment.

Why? This is due to the simple fact that during the startup of certain consumers, the current consumption is sometimes much higher than at the time of constant operation. This is especially true for devices that have an electric motor.

As you already know, the power of the generator must be greater than the sum of the consumption of the devices you want to power with it, therefore you need to add an appropriate reserve to the power of all devices.

Typically, to calculate the optimal power of a power generator, the following principle is used: a few tens of percent reserve should be added to the total power of consumers, but ultimately much depends on the specifics of the equipment to be powered by the generator.

Therefore, the adequate back-up value will look different for various receivers.

When calculating what generator power will be the safest solution in your case, start by listing all the devices that you intend to power with a unit. This will be a great convenience, as you will be sure that you will not forget any device, which could adversely affect the final calculations and lead you to buy a generator insufficient for your needs, and thus lose money.

If you are having trouble estimating the power of a unit, you can also use the generator calculators available on the Internet. All you need to do is specify the number of devices, their type, power and voltage, and in response, you will receive information about the proposed power of the generator. This is a very convenient tool, especially if you are looking for a generator for home use and therefore do not have extensive energy needs.

Power generator: how to choose the power?

When choosing the power of a generator, you need to pay attention to two types of common mistakes that can expose you to unnecessary expenses. It is worth avoiding them if you want to make the right decision and buy a generator that will actually meet your expectations and be functional.

First of all: when adding power reserve, beware of the trap of overestimating it. As we mentioned above, the reserve is necessary, but you should adjust it to the specifications of the devices. The principle that the more powerful the generator, the better, is limited by its cost. Such a unit will probably just be more expensive, so do not choose models with a capacity you will not be able to use. You will only lose money this way. Our advice: Can’t afford the generator of your choice? Consider buying a second-hand device, which, if in good condition, can work just as effectively as a new model. Before making a final decision, however, check that the generator has passed a thorough technical inspection.

Second: think about whether, soon, you intend to buy or replace equipment to be powered by a generator. If you have such plans, include the power of the devices in your calculations. This is very important because this way you will also be able to use the generator of your choice if the total power of the equipment changes. At the same time, however, remember what we wrote about a while ago – don’t buy an “over the top” generator.

Unfortunately, in practice, it is very difficult to provide an accurate power range worth choosing, and calculations for each case must be done separately, taking into account individual needs.

Summary: Generators are devices that, due to the widespread use of electrical appliances, are very popular today and can provide access to power in the event of a power grid failure or shortage. When choosing a unit, it is worth bearing in mind its power first and foremost. It should be greater than the power of all the devices powered by a unit. This means that a different wattage will be needed if you need a generator for emergency use in a small office, and a different one if your generator is to be the only source of power on a construction site. We hope that with our guidance you will find it easier to make the necessary calculations and make the right decision.

Written by: Kamil GWARA

mail: kamil.gwara@eneria.pl

CAT Power Generator Sets Expert