-Getting a generator that can handle all your power generation needs is one of the most critical aspects of the purchasing decision. Whether you are interested in prime or standby power, if your new generator can’t meet your specific requirements then it simply won’t be doing anyone any good because it can put undue stress on the unit and even damage some of the devices connected to it.
Unfortunately, determining exactly what size of generator to get is often very difficult and involves a number of factors and considerations.
-Making a choice amongst single phase, three phase, kW, KVA, welder, standby or motor starting generators can be mind-boggling. To prevent such confusion, this article was developed to help you get a better idea of how the sizing process works and some key things to keep in mind.
Generator Size Variations
-With the latest advancements in the field of electrical engineering, generators are now available in a wide range of sizes. Generators with power supply capacities of 5kW to 50kW are readily available in the personal and home use markets, while industrial generators are anywhere from 50kW to over 3 Megawatts. Handy and portable gen sets are available for homes, RV’s and small offices, but larger businesses, data centers, buildings, plants, and industrial applications need to use the much larger sized industrial generators to meet their higher power requirements.
Generator Sizing - How Much Power
-Many people believe smaller generators can be used for standby electric power because they are not running all the time. This is not only a myth but can actually be very detrimental. Unfortunately, generator under sizing is one of the most common mistakes committed by buyers. Not only does it involve the risks of damaging your new asset (the generator), but it can also damage other assets connected to it, create hazardous situations, and even limit overall productivity of the unit and/or the business relying on it. If nothing else, the key thing to remember here is that more is always better than less.
Know Your Requirements
Going to a dealer and buying the best or cheapest generator available without any other consideration is clearly not the best approach. It is always better to delve deep into your power generation requirements before making a choice. You can do this in the following ways:
- Make a list of the items that need to be powered by the generator
- Make a note of the starting and running wattage of the respective items
- Calculate the total power requirements in KVA or KW
Now that you have an idea on how to choose the appropriate size of generator to suit your needs, here’s just a few of the benefits obtained by going through that process:
- No unexpected system failures
- No shutdowns due to capacity overload
- Increased longevity of the generator
- Guaranteed performance
- Smoother hassle-free maintenance
- Increased system life span
- Assured personal safety
- Much smaller chance of asset damage