The First Five Questions We Ask When You Need a Backup Generator

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Hurricane Dorian NOAA Storm Track Sept 2019

Power outages can be caused by a wide variety of reasons; extreme heat, wildfires, scheduled upgrades, grid equipment failures, planned blackouts or human error. These events can often occur with no notice. It will be vital to business operations to have a long-term backup power plan that is integrated, fully tested and maintained to keep a critical facility operating at capacity.

Get started today to avoid the financial hardship and uncertainty of temporary power rentals and the stress of unplanned events. Don’t expect backup power inventory will be available to you at a moment’s notice.

Here are five preliminary questions we ask our customers when they first explore a backup generator.

1. Generator Size

What size generator will you be needing? Size in kW, or voltage and amps. We have a calculator available online for quick help, as well as professional engineers on staff to confirm specs. It’s important that the generator be sized properly, as a generator that is too small will not handle the load and fail, and a generator that is too large can have issues reaching the proper operating temperature, which can cause problems such as diesel fuel wet stacking, among others.

2. Connections

Have you had a generator hooked up to your facility prior to this need? Do you have a tap box or generator quick-connect box, and where on the building is the main electrical distribution relative to where the generator will be located? This is important because important electrical work may be needed in order to hook up a generator, and the scope of that electrical work is best discovered at the beginning of the project.

3. What Type of Facility

What are you using the generator for? Defining the specific power demand will be important in determining the configuration of the backup power system. For instance, an apartment complex will have a different power profile than a data center.

4. Type of Fuel

What fuel type will you be needing? Diesel, natural gas, or LP. The type of fuel and the costs of this choice can vary greatly depending on your location and how often the generator is operational. Are you on an island, earthquake zone, or adjacent to an elementary school? It’s important to know the pluses and minuses of each fuel type.

5. Run Time

Estimated daily hours of operation? How many hours a day, week, or month will the generator be used, and how long are you typically without power. This can sometimes be tough to estimate, but combined with fuel type, can be an important factor in determining the type of generator and size of the fuel tank.

At Global Power Supply, we’re experts at helping businesses find their best possible backup power solutions. Whether it’s a state-of-the-art data center or a small farm in the country, we have a solution for you. We specialize in high-quality used, surplus, as well as new equipment to meet the needs of any business. Additionally, we offer a full turnkey service option, in which we take care of all aspects of the project from design, permits, installation, startup and maintenance.

Contact our experienced sales team with any questions, quote requests, or expert advice you may need.