Tips to buying a generator for your business
While rolling Eskom blackouts have become the norm for South Africans, businesses are investing in alternative power solutions keep their operations running. In this article, we turn our attention to generators and to understanding how to go about selecting the correct industrial generator for your needs.
Here are our 7 tips to purchasing the correct generator for your business:
Size matters
The generator that you purchase for your business needs to service the electricity usage of the business. It sounds obvious, but is the single biggest reason that generator purchases go wrong: under-sizing.
Aside from damage to a generator in an under-sized scenario, your assets could be damaged in trying to draw power from the generator. Correct sizing requires an assessment by a compliant electrician, who will connect a voltage recorder to your power source to determine actual usage over a 48-72 hour period.
Generator type
Generator types are either closed or open set, with the former being housed in a weatherproof and sound attuned canopy. Open set does not have a canopy, but would generally be placed below a roofing structure or inside a building for protection. Whether you should choose open or closed set will depend on proximity to your business and whether noise reduction is a requirement for you.
Automatic or manual
Generators can be purchased to start automatically when loadshedding starts or require manual startup. Consider what will be most practical for you and your needs.
Load test
The load test certificate confirms that your generator is in perfect working order. Where your generator purchase is for a 2nd hand unit, this is even more important. Generators should be load tested at least annually to ensure they remain in good working order.
Recognized brand
Quality and technical service backup is key to ensuring your generator will last. Resist lesser-known brands, even if they are less costly at the outlay.
Quality backup support
Investing in a reliable unit is key – ensure you are getting top-notch quality, durability, and dependability. Take stock of the manufacturer’s reputation and backup service availability before making your purchase to guarantee maximum robustness with spare parts at the ready.
Financing
Finding the ideal generator for your business can sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Financing options are generally available from all large banks; meaning you don’t need to break the bank in order get access to a reliable power source that will help limit downtime and foster peak productivity.
At the MMS Group, we care about our customers and their businesses. If you would like to get to know us better and understand how we can be the difference to your audit, tax and accounting needs, feel free to reach out to us.