How Important Is Generator Size?

If you’re shopping for a new industrial generator, there are a number of factors to consider. One of these is size—sizing your generator properly is essential for ensuring that your business can continue without disruption during a power outage. If your generator has too small of a capacity, it won’t be able to keep up with your power requirements, so you’ve invested all this money into a system that won’t be able to perform the way you need it to.

Properly sizing your generator can help you avoid the following issues:

Capacity Overload

The amount of power that a generator can deliver is rated in watts. Continuously operating the generator at or above this capacity will soon cause the system to overload. Overloading the unit can make it deteriorate very quickly. Signs that your system may be overloaded include:

Loud noises coming from the generator
Fans running frequently to cool down the unit
Excess heat emitted from the system
Reduced power output
Sporadic shutdowns or complete system failure

Increased Wear and Tear

Using a generator that can’t keep up with your power needs will put a lot of unneeded stress on the equipment. As the system is forced to work harder and harder, it will experience excessive wear and tear and become less efficient, resulting in increased energy costs for your business. As the system degrades, it will require more maintenance than usual and may even result in complete system failure.

Shorter System Lifespan

Underestimating the size of your generator can adversely impact the lifespan of the unit. A generator is a sizeable financial investment, so you should take care to ensure that your system will last as long as possible. Having a generator that is properly sized will help you avoid premature breakdowns that can set you back thousands of dollars when you have to replace the power system.

Electrical Issues

When you have electronic devices that rely on your generator, they must each have a sufficient amount of power to operate the way they should. If they don’t get enough power, they could short circuit or experience other electrical problems. This could lead to safety hazards for you, your employees, and others who might be inside your facility.

So, How Do You Select the Right Size?

To find out what size generator you need, you should start off by making a list of all the items in your facility that the generator will need to power. Write down all of the starting and running wattage requirements for each of these electrical systems. You can usually find this information either on a label that’s been printed on the equipment itself or in the original manufacturer documentation.

Once you know your wattage requirements, you’ll need to convert them into kilowatt (kW) hours. For example, if the sum of your equipment requires 100,000 watts, you would divide that number by 1,000 to get 100 kW hours. That means you would need a generator capable of running 100 kilowatts each hour.

The knowledgeable technicians from Valley Power Systems can also help you determine your power requirements and help you select the right system. Our goal is to ensure that all of our clients have the power they need when the unexpected happens so that they can keep their operations running without any significant disruption.

Maximize Your Generator’s Lifespan With Regular Maintenance

Once you have selected the right generator, you will want to keep it in tip-top condition with periodic maintenance. Commercial generators are designed to last for many years—with the right care, you can expect to utilize a standby system for a decade or even longer, depending on the model and the frequency of use. However, if the power system isn’t maintained properly, it will begin to show signs of wear much faster than it should. Parts will begin breaking down, resulting in costly repairs. Eventually, these costs can outweigh the expense of purchasing a new replacement generator.

At Valley Power Systems, we want to make sure that your new commercial generator will last you as long as possible. That’s why we provide a wide range of generator services for our clients in California. Our factory-trained technicians are able to handle minor repair needs and more complex issues, like complete engine overhauls. To help prevent problems, we also offer the maintenance services you need, like:

Oil and filter changes—Your oil and filters need to be changed frequently to ensure your system can operate efficiently. Fresh oil will keep your engine clean, cool, and lubricated, and clean filters will prevent dirt, debris, and other small particles from damaging its internal parts.
Coolant and fuel check—Our techs will look at coolant and fuel levels to make sure the unit will run the way it should when you need it most.
Battery inspection—Over time, your battery may begin to wear down. You may notice that it’s draining quickly, which will eventually cause power disruptions. Our team will inspect your battery to make sure it is performing optimally.
Leak inspection—Leaks can be difficult to detect, especially if they’re minor. But even minor leaks can cause problems for your system. Our team is trained to identify the smallest leaks in a power system and provide prompt solutions so that our clients don’t have to worry about unexpected efficiency issues.
Engine test—We will run your generator’s engine to test it for performance issues. If we notice any problems like slow startup or reduced power output, we’ll let you know so that you can address them right away.

Discover Your Power Options Today

Using the right size generator will help prevent issues like unexpected mechanical failures and capacity overload while guaranteeing optimal performance and maximum system longevity. At Valley Power Systems, we work with businesses across California in need of alternative power solutions. We offer a wide range of commercial systems from today’s top manufacturers. To learn more, contact our sales team today and discuss your power needs.

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