Energy Power Systems

The only way to be sure that your facility’s backup generators are ready and able to supply power generation in the event of a grid failure or downtime is to perform comprehensive testing of your system. Here’s some insight into load bank testing and how to perform it for your facility, from the specialists in commercial and industrial diesel generators . What is a Load Bank Test for Diesel Generators?   A load bank test is when you bring a set load onto your backup generators, bringing the engine up to optimal performance temperatures. Essentially, you are checking the ability of your backup generators to handle all your necessary power generation needs in the event of a blackout. This is an important test not only to ensure that you have the right diesel generators onsite, but it also ensures the engine’s ability to run at full load effectively.  How to Perform a Load Bank Test   This test should be performed by a trained team of technicians, pre...

When you run a business or a facility, a power failure is more than an inconvenience. It disrupts production, halts business in its tracks, and can even put lives in danger – unless you have a backup generator . With the right temporary electrical power solution, you can switch seamlessly from the grid to independent power with no disruption to critical systems. Here are some examples of when commercial generators become essential, from CAT rental specialists.  Emergency Preparedness  There are many reasons for the grid to go down but one of the most severe is a natural or manmade emergency. Having an emergency plan in place is an essential part of effective risk management, allowing people, essential systems and data to be properly protected within your facility. Your backup generator system will be an integral part of your emergency plan, supplying temporary electrical power for lighting, system backups, keeping critical systems online, and ensuring emergency...

Airports are a critical transport and logistics hub in the modern world, and we rely on them for everything from business and leisure travel to expedited cargo. The reliability and services of an airport set the standards for a city, and many run 24 hours a day, every day of the week, throughout the year. As a result, backup generators are non-negotiable for airports, ensuring sufficient power generation for seamless air travel services. Here are some insights from the CAT rental team.  What Happens if a Blackout Occurs and There’s No Backup Generator?  Because airports operate 24/7, 365 days of the year, blackouts are inevitable – whether they are due to damage to infrastructure, flooding, maintenance on the grid, a blown connection at the airport or even wildfires. If this occurs and there is no working backup generator on-site, the consequences can be severe, even at smaller facilities.  Outgoing flights will be canceled, leaving passengers and carg...

Overheating is a risk with industrial equipment , including air compressors , generators, and fluid chillers. In the summer, extreme heat increases this risk, making breakdowns and facility downtime more likely. Here are some tips to prevent overheating, from the leaders in industrial equipment and portable electrical power solutions. Symptoms of Overheating in an Air Compressor Overheating in air compressors presents with certain symptoms, including stalling during start-up, requiring longer than usual rest periods between cycles, poor performance, strange noises during operation (creaking and crackling sounds), and even the smell of burnt oil. Common Causes of Overheating in Air Compressors Certain factors can contribute to the likelihood of overheating in industrial equipment, including Age – Older compressors, especially those in high-use environments, are more likely to overheat due to wear-and-tear. Older systems may also lack the tech and design features that make ...

When you want to hire a generator , you’re going to find yourself knee-deep in industry jargon that can make the process a bit confusing. The last thing you want is to hire the wrong diesel generators for your needs, so it’s important to know certain terms in order to make the process easier. Here’s some insight from the CAT rental team. When you ask about diesel generators, the first thing a salesperson will enquire about is the size you require for your commercial or industrial project. Generator size is measured in kilovolt-amperes (kVA), but it’s a term that isn’t well-known outside the industry. Usually, when people hire a generator, they know how much power they need in terms of kilowatts (kW) but not kVA. What is the Difference Between kW and kVA? kW are a unit of real power and a kW rating of diesel generators is how much power they can output based on the horsepower of the engine. Essentially, it is how much power the generator actually has. kVA is a measure of ...

If you own a yacht or boat, you’ll know just how important it is that you have a reliable power generator onboard to supply you with electrical power when you’re at sea. Here are some essential tips and advice on how to get the best performance from your marine generator. Tip #1 Good habits are key to keeping a boat or yacht in great condition, keeping you in touch with the boat’s systems as well as helping you spot maintenance issues early. Add these items to your list to include your marine generator: Oil level check Coolant level check (at the pressure cap) Water pump belt/alternator check Leak check Tip #2 Always turn off the shore power breaker on the dock before switching on your marine generator. If your power generator connects to the shore-based electrical power supply for even a moment, it will result in a life-threatening and high-risk event. Tip #3 Switch your AC load breaker or switch to the off position before starting your marine g...

Commercial power generators , also known as gensets , are critical to many commercial and industrial applications, supplying reliable, clean standby power when the grid goes down as well as to remote locations. Load management is a critical process that ensures your generator stays online and is not overloaded by demand. What is the process of load management? Every standby power generator has a set capacity and cannot supply power above that limit – this is called it’s load capacity. When the generator nears or reaches that limit, it will start shedding the load by cutting off power to equipment/utilities or shutting down completely. Load management is a process of monitoring the demand on the power generator and preventing too many high-demand loads from operating at one time, thereby preventing an overload. This is usually achieved through a mart controller integrated with an automatic transfer switch and external relay modules which allows the controller to turn loads on a...

Backup generators  are very useful equipment for homes, businesses, and industrial sites, providing clean, reliable power when the grid isn’t available. However, they’re not always in use, so it’s important that they’re stored correctly until they’re needed again to ensure that they stay in perfect working condition.  Here’s some advice from our team who  hire generators  and sell  diesel generators  for commercial, residential, marine and industrial use.   Short-term storage for diesel generators   If you know that you’ll likely require your generator throughout the next few months but that it may sit idle for a week or so in between use, then storage is a relatively simple thing. Simply clean any dust or debris off the unit after use and store it somewhere with easy access where it is protected from the environment. Keep in mind that diesel starts to deteriorate after about 10 days, so if you leave it for more than 3 weeks ...

For businesses, access to reliable  temporary electrical power  through a  backup generator  is essential in the event of a power outage or natural disaster like a flood, fire or severe storm. Not only does a stable power source allow the business to continue (if possible), it also protects data, your premises, and staff.  Here are some insights into this type of  power generation  as part of your disaster plan.   Know what your backup generator will power   Generators can power everything from a few computers to entire buildings and worksites depending on their size and load capacity. Before buying a generator, it’s essential to work out exactly what needs to be powered within your premises (including computers, servers, routers,  refrigeration and more ) in order to ensure that you have the right size backup generator on hand.   Security regulations stay in place   Safety compliance is vital regardless ...