Sizing a generator

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 several factors and considerations.

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 gensets are available for homes, RVs and small offices, but larger businesses, data centres, buildings, plants, and industrial applications need to use the much larger sized industrial generators to meet their higher power requirements.

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 also be very detrimental.

Unfortunately, generator under sizing is one of the most common mistakes committed by buyers. It potentially risks damaging your new asset (the generator) and can also damage other assets connected to it, create hazardous situations, or even limit overall productivity of the unit and/or the business relying on it.

If nothing else, the key thing to remember when selecting a product such as a diesel generator or a gas generator is that more is always better than less.

While there is no substitute for having a certified electrician perform an inspection and calculate everything for you, the guidelines below will give you a great starting point and should at least get you started in the right direction:

• 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

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.

Of course, with our extensive experience in the market, our team at PowerLink is ideally placed to help you make the right choice.