Generators are the lifeline of outdoor events, construction sites, and infrastructure projects. While buying generators isn’t easy, it is crucial to understand their uses and models before purchasing.
Buying industrial generators come with many benefits. We can’t overstate generators’ value as a dependable and flexible power source.
They also support applications and supply energy to different industries, including hospitals, manufacturing industries, construction, mining, and agriculture. Here are factors that can help you when buying industrial generators:
1. Supplier
Our best bet is always looking for a reliable supplier, like ABLE Sales, to buy an industrial generator. With a reliable supplier, you will get repair and maintenance services.
When finding a supplier, ensure they are not just reputable. They must also be licensed to supply generators. If you are unsure of anything, ask questions. Learn how much they know about repairing and maintaining generators.
2. Location & Transportation
Small features made to streamline and simplify unloading generators on the worksite will make the process much faster and easier.
Consider whether the generator you want to buy has to be loaded or towed onto a truck. You can see if the equipment has lifting eyes and forklift eyes to determine this.
3. Power
Before you buy generators, ensure you’re already aware of your power needs. One important question that you must ask yourself when there is a power outage is whether your generator will supply power to the whole premises.
You will need more power if this requirement is for a bigger premise. But if it is for household purposes, your power needs will depend on the electricity consumption in that house.
4. Fuel Type
Mostly, industrial generators run on diesel, with small sizes available in gasoline. If you are considering buying a diesel generator vs. a gas diesel, compare their pros and cons.
Diesel generators are commonly used for their durability and fuel efficiency. They are dependable and continuously provide power, making them suitable for companies requiring uninterrupted power support. However, diesel-based generators have a higher upfront cost than gasoline generators.
On the other hand, gas generators are more affordable and perfect for companies with lower budgets. Gas generators are more portable and smaller than diesel generators, making them ideal for businesses that need mobility. Unfortunately, they might have higher fuel expenses and limited power output.
5. Maintenance
Owning a generator comes with maintenance responsibility. This is true whether you own a prime power or a standby generator.
During maintenance, you must eliminate and replace old elements with new ones. You also need to ensure every clamp and wire is in pristine condition.
Failure to offer maintenance may result in unexpected downtime. Plus, there will be no guarantee that the equipment will function when you need it the most.
6. Emissions
Although new industrial equipment runs cleaner than older ones, some engines, like diesel generators, produce smoky exhausts, which carry a very strong smell. This released emission is toxic to both animals and humans and may even lead to fatalities when inhaled in large quantities.
Because of this, more generator operators and owners prefer installing their engines outdoors. Those who install their engines indoors must set up a generator space equipped with exhaust systems that safely expel those emissions outside without putting users at risk.
7. Age, Usage, & Hours
Consider checking an industrial generator’s history, hours, and age. Generators used as backup or standby power sources are well-maintained and wear less.
Only a professional technician can help you determine this. So, it will be best to seek a technician’s advice before buying any generator.
8. Enclosure Type
A generator’s enclosure type determines the amount of noise the engine produces and how it gets protected against different elements. A generator we use in a noise-sensitive environment, like a residential area or hospital, needs an enclosure that minimises noise. However, a generator that we use in an industrial setting might not require noise reduction.
9. Safety Concerns
Like diesel-powered generators, generators come with two main safety concerns: exhaust emissions and noise. Exhausts are far less of an issue these days, but the emissions that diesel generators give off are still unsafe for us to breathe.
In addition, the equipment’s motor runs at a high volume. To deal with these two issues, ensure you give your equipment the right enclosure, which is required to keep the emissions and noise contained.
10. Remote Capabilities
Mostly, industrial and commercial systems are found in remote areas. Therefore, looking for a generator setup with remote management abilities would be best. This will help you to be in full control of your system’s operation all the time.
11. Voltage Requirement
When deciding what kind of generator suits our environment, a major concern must be ensuring you get the right configuration.
Electrical configurations include hertz, phase, kW, and voltage. So, check with electricians and sellers before deciding on the right application system.
12. Portability
This factor is important when buying a system like a diesel generator. It depends on the specific requirements of users. For instance, if generators are required for outdoor purposes, you must ensure you can easily transport them.
Diesel generators come in various styles, depending on how easily they can be carried around. Some are stationary, made to stay in just one place, whereas others are portable, enabling users to move from one location to another.
13. Size
Generators that we buy for our businesses must serve the electricity consumption. This may sound obvious, but it is one of the reasons many purchases for generators go wrong.
Apart from generator damage in under-sized scenarios, your properties can get damaged if you try to get or draw power from your generator. The right sizing needs you to find a compliant and professional electrician to help you assess.
The bottom line is that it is important to consider factors like noise level, fuel type, and power requirements before you buy any generator. If unsure, look for a reliable generator supplier to advise you on the right generator based on your applications and needs.