Remotely Monitoring Your Generator

A generator can give you peace of mind should the power fail at your facility. During a power outage, one of the last things that you will want to worry about is losing productivity—even if the power is out for a short time, the interruption in business processes can cost you. Investing in a backup generator with a remote monitoring system can ensure your electrical systems remain operational so that you won’t experience financial losses in the unexpected event of a blackout. When the power cuts, the generator will kick on and keep your facility running smoothly.

But what happens if your generator won’t turn on at all? It has a problem you didn’t know about, and now you have to halt production until the power returns or you can get a technician out for a repair. You may be able to avoid this scenario entirely by catching problems early through a remote monitoring system for your California generator.

What is remote monitoring?

 

Remote monitoring is a system that allows you access to your generator’s settings without actually having to be in physical contact with it. You can stay nice and warm indoors and still be able to check things like the generator’s battery and fuel levels via a remote generator monitoring system. All you need is a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access it. You’ll be able to see your generator’s status whether it’s running, doing an exercise, or shut down.

What are the advantages of remote monitoring?

 

1. On-the-Go Support for Your Generator

When you’re away from your facility and the power happens to go out, you might not be able to check in on your generator right away. Remote monitoring allows you to control your unit from anywhere at any given time. Via remote monitoring software, you can receive real-time data from your generator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without having to go out of your way to do so.

2. Virtual Control of Your System

Your remote monitoring system will give you status updates of your generator’s condition so that you always know how it’s performing. You can also use it to change the settings on your unit. You’ll be able to:

• Run complete system tests
• Get maintenance reports and run-time reports
• Access common generator parameters
• Monitor the generator’s readiness status
• Check and correct any system errors
• Catch generator problems early
• Start or stop the generator remotely

Best of all, you’ll be able to adjust settings without having to venture out into poor weather conditions.

3. Instant Status Alerts

One of the best things about remote monitoring is that your system will let you know when your generator needs something. If there’s a problem present, generators will often shut down, but with a remote monitoring system, you will be able to catch issues before this happens and address them fast to avoid any possible production downtime. You will get an alert anytime your generator requires some attention. With a remote monitoring system, the most common alerts include:

• Engine run-time
• High engine temperature
• Little to no fuel and low oil pressure
• Low coolant level
• Low battery
• Dead battery
• Generator running
• Generator shut-down
• Failed exercises
• Voltage

4. Early Diagnosis of Issues

Remote monitoring can help you keep your generator in peak condition because you’ll know immediately when it needs care. You won’t have to wait until a problem progresses enough for you to notice. This will allow you to be proactive in your generator’s maintenance, which can result in needing fewer repairs later down the line. Without remote monitoring, you might not be aware of any problems until your next maintenance inspection, which could cost you big if a small problem becomes a larger one. Even knowing about an issue a month earlier can make a big difference in terms of how your generator operates.

Imagine this: It’s only been a month or two since you did a maintenance check, and your generator was fine at that time. Suddenly, the power fails, and your generator won’t kick on because it has an undiagnosed problem. This will result in financial losses as you wait for a repair. A remote monitoring system will detect equipment failure early on so that you can get it fixed promptly. This couldpotentially save you thousands of dollars in downtime.

5. Fewer Disruptions in Your Day

24/7 remote monitoring means you won’t have to take time out of your day to inspect your generator just for there to be no problem with it. You can deal with issues as you are alerted about them, resulting in fewer trips to the generator during a power failure.

6. Cost Savings Overall

You might be asking yourself: Is a remote monitoring system really worth the investment? Generally, you have to pay for the system as well as pay a substantial annual fee to use the software. However, you should keep in mind that it only takes one outage for you to experience significant financial losses should your generator not function as it should. The system will more than pay for itself by alerting you of generator problems before it shuts down. Handle them promptly, and you can ensure your facility stays operational during an unexpected blackout.

7. Reliability

Remote monitoring systems give customers valuable information they can use to stay on top of their generator’s needs. This reduces the risk of a power disruption by as much as 95 percent! This makes remote monitoring systems extremely reliable in catching those key issues that lead to shut-down failures.

Valley Power Systems of California

 

A standby generator is an investment in your business—protect it with a remote monitoring system in California. Valley Power Systems is your source for all things power, and we have everything you need to stay up and running. You never know when the power might go out, and it pays to be prepared. Ready to learn more? Ask our team about remote monitoring. Our knowledgeable staff can help you find a system that’s compatible with your generator. Contact us today to get started.