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Know the Difference Between kW and kVA When You Hire a Generator

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 ...

Tips and Advice for Owners of Marine Generators

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...

Reasons Why Your Standby Generator Could Fail

Diesel generators are the leading choice for residential, commercial and industrial off-grid power generation for good reason. They’re renowned for their durability, minimal maintenance, and efficiency, as well as their ability to provide enough power to meet high industrial and commercial demands. If you have a diesel generator for standby power , then you’re one of many home and business owners who have the ultimate peace of mind in the event of a power outage – but this doesn’t mean these machines are incapable of failure. Here are the most common reasons for diesel generator breakdowns.  Common reasons why diesel generators fail to start automatically. The switch was left in the “Off” position rather than the “Auto” position. The starter batteries are worn out and/or very old. The fuel filter was clogged due to old fuel or water in the fuel. Air in the fuel system. To meet today’s emissions requirements, there are closer tolerances within the fuel system t...

A Guide to Load Management for Your Power Generator

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...

Tips for Storing Your Backup Generator

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 ...

Preparing a Disaster Plan for Your Business

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 ...