5 Key Considerations to Make Before Choosing a Diesel Generator
Are you in the market for a diesel generator for your business? Diesel generators are often a go-to for business owners due to their robust, fuel-efficient, and easy-to-maintain design. However, it’s possible that you could buy the wrong one. Then you’ve just spent all that money and you’re stuck with something that just isn’t right for the job. So, before buying a diesel generator, there are a few key factors to consider.
How much power do you need?
The first question you’ll face when buying a generator won’t be about the brand, fuel type, or features but what size generator you need. Generators are sized using the measuring unit kVA. As you look through generators for your business, you’ll see their sizes represented like 3.5, 4, 5kVA and higher.
The only way you’ll know how much power you need for your generator is to calculate the wattage of all your machinery and appliances and convert that total into kVA. Here’s how to do this. Use the following formula:
- kVA = W / (1000 × PF)
Essentially, you will take your total watts, say 7000W, and divide them by the power factor (1000 x 8) 800, which would equal 8.75kVA. We always encourage businesses to buy a generator that’s roughly 20% bigger than they need to ensure that they have the extra power if they ever plan to expand.
Size and transportation
The next thing you will have to consider is transportation and installation. A large diesel generator will take up a reasonable space and be difficult to transport. It won’t be something you can simply pick up off the shelf and put in the back of your ute.
Because of this, you’ll need to work out how to transport it to your business premises and where it will be installed. Ideally, at your business, you should try to install your generator nearer to the main electrical board to make integrating it into your system easier. Likewise, avoid installing it next to offices or homes because of the noise and fumes it gives off.
Thankfully, many businesses that sell generators also often offer transportation and installation services as part of the package or for an extra fee. Either way, this makes things a lot easier for you.
Run time and fuel efficiency
The initial cost of buying a generator isn’t the only cost you need to factor into owning a generator. Every month, you must factor in how much it costs to run your generator. This means factoring in the fuel cost and how much fuel your particular generator will use. Thankfully, many diesel generators are more fuel efficient than their petrol counterparts.
Diesel burns significantly slower than petrol, approximately 50% slower if you want a good figure, and it still manages to put out the same amount of power or more. Hence, diesel generators are typically more popular in the business world. In addition to their better fuel consumption, diesel generators are also simpler to maintain, but more about that later.
Another important factor related to fuel efficiency is a generator’s run time. Should you plan on running the generator for 8 hours daily, your fuel costs will be relatively high. So, you would need to consider whether the money you’re making warrants running the generator for that long otherwise, it might eat into your profits.
Noise
Diesel generators can be quite noisy, and as a result, noise restrictions are placed on them. So, if your business is smack bang in the centre of a residential area, you may have a few complaints because of your generator. An easy way to combat this noise is to put your generator in its enclosure. A generator enclosure simply allows the generator’s noise to be trapped within a room, reducing how the noise travels. Likewise, this will help you manage the fumes from the generator.
Maintenance
Finally, you’ll also need to factor in maintenance. Diesel generators must be serviced every 6 months for every 400 hours. The good news is that diesel generators are reliable and easy to service. Since they are made with high-quality materials and generally have a simpler design with fewer parts that need regular changing, diesel generators are easier for technicians to work with, allowing for easier upkeep.
Finding the right generator
Finding the right generator isn’t as easy as walking into a store and buying one off a shelf. No, with industrial generators, there’s a lot to consider. Contacting experts like Renteca could help you find the right generator at the right price. As professionals in the industry, Renteca technicians know exactly what generators work for different businesses. You can find diesel generators for sale here or contact Renteca for guidance on buying the right generator.
Final Thoughts
Power needs, fuel efficiency, run time, generator size, noise, and maintenance are all important considerations before buying a generator. After considering these factors, you should be one step closer to equipping your business to run around the clock without interruptions!
