How to Size a Generator for Commercial Buildings
A generator can be a valuable asset for any business. These units ensure that you’ll always have electricity to power your machinery, office equipment, and more.
It’s important to know how much power you need before purchasing a generator. There’s no reason to buy a system that offers more power than you need, and you could run into a lot of headaches if your generator is too weak for your needs.
In this article, we’ll discuss generator sizes, how to calculate your power needs, and the top generator brands that deliver.
Generator Size Matters
Generators come in various sizes, from 20 Kilowatts to 2 Megawatts or more. Choosing the right generator size can be difficult if you don’t know what you need.
Buying a small generator could lead to power failures or equipment damage. Buying a large generator could be a waste of money and an inconvenience if you have limited space around your building.
Business owners should understand their power needs before making a purchase.
Calculating Your Generator Needs
It’s easy to take the right steps to calculate your electricity needs. With an accurate estimate of your power requirements, you can confidently shop for a good generator that suits your property.
Load Capacity
Every business has different electrical loads, and it’s important to know how much power your business needs daily. Assessing all your electrical systems and their typical daily output is the first step to understanding your load capacity needs.
It can be helpful to consider essential vs. non-essential systems, too. If the power goes out, which appliances and machinery do you absolutely need? The system manuals for these systems can help you determine how much power they typically use and how much power your generator should provide.
Power Measurement
Be sure to understand the difference between a generator’s kW vs. kVA abilities. kW, or kilowatts, is the amount of power consumed by a system, while kVA, or kilovolt-amperes, is the total power supplied to a system, whether consumed or not. The kVA of a generator multiplied by its power factor (between 0.1 and 1.0) will provide you with the kW you can expect while in operation.
It’s also important to know your generator’s running power compared to its peak power. How much electricity will the unit deliver when running at its peak demand? How much can it deliver at normal operation? These numbers can influence your purchase decision.
Size Calculator
When shopping for a commercial generator, be sure to consider a variety of factors. It’s important to think about:
- The total wattage of your essential systems
- How long you want to be able to operate during an outage
- If you want to consider two or more generators instead of a single unit
A professional electrician can discuss your power needs, examine your systems, and determine the generator size you may need.
Generator Brands That Are Perfect for Commercial Needs
It’s crucial to choose the right brand of commercial-grade generator for your business. Generator Services, Inc. installs top-grade generators from major brands that bring decades of experience and quality to the table. Our choice brands include:
We believe these are some of the best companies making the best generators today. With one of their generators on your property, you can rest easy knowing you’ll have the power you need during an outage.
Contact Us for Any Commercial Generator Needs
For over 30 years, GSI has been a leader in residential and commercial generator sales, installation, rentals, and service. Our licensed and insured technicians offer 24/7 repairs, same-day services, financing options, and upfront pricing. Trust us to ensure you always have power.
You can have peace of mind knowing that your business has a standby generator ready to go at a moment’s notice. Contact GSI now to schedule installation.
