What type of Generator is best suited for my business?

23 Jun What type of Generator is best suited for my business?

The availability and reliability of the United Kingdom’s power networks means that modern enterprises are able to conduct business 24-hours a day, 365 days of the year. However, severe weather events in the last three years have caused some concern, with areas hit by flooding and gales experiencing power outages that have lasted for several days.

For a business that must stay open, or for an enterprise that must stay running, power outages therefore are a serious issue. Having no power will invariably lose a business money and power cuts can also damage electrical appliances and office equipment, such as servers, computers and printers. The worst part? Power outages and power cuts can happen anytime, and as a result, businesses are rarely prepared for them.

Generators

Generators have been used by businesses to reduce the risk of a power outage affecting their operations for more than eighty years. Today, some of the biggest companies in the world have multi-fuel generators that can power their operations – or keep business-critical operations – going for months, and even several years.

What type of generator do I need?

Electrical generators can be split into two distinct types:

1. AC generators – These are single-phase or polyphaser generators capable of delivering up to 25 kW of power. Most portable generators are AC generators.
2. DC generators – These are either shunt, series or compound-wound generators and they are used to power things like street lights. Shunt generators are usually used as battery chargers, and also as exciters for AC generators.

Portable generators

Most small businesses use this type of generator – they are powered by petrol or diesel and the minimum size you want for a small business is 5 kW, but ideally 10 kW. Portable generators must be kept outside due to the exhaust gasses they give off.

Standby generators

These hook into the automatic transfer switch on the main electrical panel; they are installed outside usually but can be installed inside. They can run on natural gas, propane, petrol or diesel and they are a more refined solution than portable generators.

Generator power

5 kW is the bare minimum to power ‘survival appliances’. 8 and 10 kW generators are a more complete solution. Businesses that use a lot of energy will need something larger, though, such as a 25 or 30 kW generator. These are more like mini power plants, really, but they are powerful enough to run air conditioning systems and large offices.

Talk to Brightlec today about generators

If you have been affected by a power outage and you want to find out more about how generators can help you, give us a call on today on 0800 9788 168 or 0113 8941968.