In many instances, the standby systems that we discuss are not portable. They are large, immobile and can provide large amounts of energy when your utility provider can’t. When it comes to running a business, or powering any large facility, this is generally the kind of generator that people think of. This does not necessarily mean that their smaller counterparts are not useful for commercial purposes; you just need to know what you are getting into.

The biggest benefit of a portable generator is obvious: they are portable. You can keep them in one place if need be, but you can move them to a different part of your campus or an entirely different work site if circumstances change.

After severe weather, the ability to be flexible will be invaluable. You may very well need a portable generator in addition to you main standby system. If you have several buildings on your campus, then you likely do not have backup power in all of them. You may need power in one of your smaller building after the storm; your planned base of operations may be flooded or damaged.

If you work in construction, catering or another industry that requires you to change worksites frequently, a portable generator (or three) is a must-have. You do not want to get to a job site and not have lighting for your construction crew or find out that you cannot plug your plate warmer in before a big client’s wedding. In cases like these portable generators are worth every penny and should be at your disposal.

Some things to consider when choosing your portable generator are:

• Continuous Rating- The amount of power that your generator will be able supply for a period of a few hours. If you only need to plug in a couple of things, then you can select a unit with a lower rating. Decide what you will need powered in advance, so you know how much capacity you need.
• Maximum Rating- The amount of power that your unit can supply for a few minutes or less. This will be useful if you have overlap between different appliances, but do not intend for your generator to hold up at this level for long.
• Wheels- While this sounds a bit basic, you will want to consider how mobile your portable generator is. Not all units have wheels and you may want to be able to move your generator around easily.
• Voltmeter- This is a device on the generator itself that measures how much power the unit is producing. This will help you to ensure that you stay within your continuous rating in general and warn you as you approach maximum rating.
• Fuel- Portable generators can be fueled by a variety of sources. You will want to make sure that you have easy access to the fuel that you need or your generator may be obsolete when you need it. Fuel sources for portable generators include:

• Diesel
• Gasoline
• Natural Gas
• Propane

In Florida, having a generator is a good idea. A portable generator is something that will be worth having bought in advance when you need it. If you are in the market for one you can find a great selection here.

SOURCES

Find Generators.net
Consumer Reports
Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Canada
Portable Generators.com

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