In the modern era, diesel generators have become the ideal choice for backup power across various industries due to their stability, reliability, and continuous operation. However, many businesses only realize the importance of electricity after experiencing a power outage. If your business is located in an area prone to frequent power outages, you will undoubtedly understand the inconvenience and losses caused by sudden power interruptions, especially during severe weather conditions or grid instability. Therefore, an increasing number of businesses are opting to install backup diesel generators to provide sufficient power to their facilities during outages, preventing production downtime caused by power failures. However, when purchasing a diesel generator, it's crucial to ask yourself: "What power capacity does my business need? "
Technically, the power of a diesel generator is not related to its physical size. Generally, the power of a diesel generator, also known as its generator capacity, refers to the amount of electricity it can produce within a specific time to start and maintain office equipment or manufacturing equipment. In other words, a higher-powered diesel generator will produce more electricity than a lower-powered one. Power is typically measured in watts or kilowatts.
Generally, a small to medium-sized enterprise might only need a diesel generator with a capacity of 30 to 60 kilowatts to meet its operational needs. However, accurately determining the ideal power capacity for your business is crucial. This overview outlines how to estimate the most suitable generator based on your power requirements. Additionally, you may discover which diesel generator best suits your business.
Why Diesel Generator Power is Important
Many factors need to be considered when choosing backup power equipment, from the generator's fuel source and brand to its noise reduction capabilities. However, the power capacity of the diesel generator is arguably the most important factor. If the generator's power is larger than needed, you may end up paying significantly more for the unit, and larger diesel generators also have higher operating costs.
On the other hand, if the chosen diesel generator is underpowered and cannot meet your business's daily electricity needs, it could lead to overloading. Forcing a diesel generator to provide power beyond its capacity may cause it to shut down automatically or overheat, potentially damaging the engine and other electrical appliances connected to it. In some cases, overloading can even lead to serious problems like fires.
Even if overloading is avoided, choosing a diesel generator that's too small for your business's needs means having to prioritize which equipment to power during an outage, sacrificing others. For example, you might have to choose between running production lines or machine tools. To avoid this, you should consider your business's maximum and minimum power requirements during an outage to ensure optimal generator performance.
Therefore, the most important step in choosing a diesel generator is calculating your business's total power needs.
When calculating your business's total power needs, start by listing all the equipment or appliances you want to power during an outage. You might need to categorize them into three types: appliances that need to run during an outage (e.g., heating or air conditioning systems), office equipment that needs to run during an outage (e.g., computers, printers, lighting systems), and manufacturing equipment (e.g., production lines, machine tools, cranes), as well as equipment that doesn't need to run. This will help you determine the approximate power requirements and running costs for each category and make the best choice based on your budget.
Powering All or Part of Your Facilities
While some businesses only need a generator to power a select few devices during outages, many prefer a diesel generator capable of powering all equipment simultaneously. Large diesel generators allow your business to operate as if there was never a power outage, providing more consistent and reliable power.
Once you've determined the appropriate power capacity for your business, you can start considering other important factors, such as noise reduction features or mobility options.