We all know that having a generator can be invaluable when you need it. Power outages can stop the course of your business and even cost you money. The problem for many people seems not to be deciding to get a generator, but rather deciding which one to purchase. It is easy to get bogged down by ratings and load specifications. Unless you are an electrician or in the generator business, it isn’t likely that you know what your specific needs are. These tips will clear up some of your questions.

Which type of generator do I buy?

The first decision requires evaluating your electrical needs and deciding on an overall type of generator.

• Portable- Portable generators fulfill a more temporary need. They are looked at this way because they are not hard wired into a buildings power supply. They are good because you can move them around from location to location providing you with flexibility. You can purchase units with a variety of capacities and fuel supplies. Generally they are smaller capacity and will not be able to say, power an entire office building. They will however be capable of maintaining vital auxiliary systems such as computer servers. They are also useful because they can be moved from location to location, serving you at multiple places of business.
• Standby- Standby generators are usually larger than portable ones in capacity and size. They are wired directly into the electrical mainframe of buildings. In the event that the usual utility provider cannot supply electricity, a standby generator will be able to keep the building going. (assuming a generator with enough capacity has been purchased) Standby generators can even be programmed so that they turn on when they sense that your utility provider is down. This seemles transition can be vital during a power outage.

How much generator do I need?

Next you must determine how much power you will need your generator to supply. A generator expert is a good resource here. A trained generator expert will be able to estimate the capacity needs for the building that you want to power. (We would be glad to help) Powering an entire building will require a larger capacity than powering certain equipment, such as your main computer server and lights for example. Tell your expert what your needs are and he can tell you how much capacity your generator should have. The generator expert will evaluate the equipment that you want powered, measure the wattage requirements to both start and run the equipment, and finally give you a figure. This figure dictates the minimum wattage requirements that your generator will need to have.

What fuel type should I choose?

Many fuel sources are available and you can choose a generator that runs off of the one that suits your needs best. If your building is already equipped with natural gas lines, then purchasing a standby generator that operates off of natural gas will be the “natural” choice. If you do business in a variety of locations, you may prefer a portable generator that runs off of gasoline as you should be able to acquire fuel wherever your business takes you.

Common generator fuel sources

· Gasoline

· Diesel

· Natural Gas

· Wind turbine

· Propane

Purchasing a generator should be a calculated decision. You need a generator that has the capacity to serve you along with the physical capability and resource fitting fuel supply. The advice of an expert can be crucial to ensuring that you spend your money wisely.