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Commercial Generators: Why You Need Them and How to Choose Them

No business wants to lose money due to unforeseen power outages. But it makes no difference how much money you invest, to keep your business from functioning, sometimes things are out of your control, like load shedding.

Remember, in 2008 when load shedding first arrived, and then it returned in 2015, and again in 2019, and now it’s back in 2020. Load shedding is part of South Africa’s new energy reality, and experts reveal it’s not going anywhere. Experts warn of a looming electricity hike and waves of rolling blackouts that could go on for years. South Africans need to secure their energy if they wish to prevent the lights from going out, and this is where commercial generators can save the day.

Commercial Generators Pay for Themselves in a Single Outage

Every time the lights go out, you lose out on productivity and profits. Load shedding can be a massive and costly disruption for running any company, and it can also pose serious security risks. Commercial generators provide electric power and allow you to restore essential services quickly during an outage. It keeps your security systems and lights on; it keeps your computers safe; it does not interfere with customer service – which can negatively affect your brand, and it keeps the profits flowing in. Commercial generators will pay for themselves in just a single power outage.

Picking the Right Commercial Generator

You know that your company needs a reliable back-up commercial generator to reduce energy costs, protect your assets and secure future energy, but picking the right size unit is not as simple as it seems. There is a bit of math involved, which is why most businesses consult with generator experts, like PacB Group. Generators come in various sizes, and understanding your power requirements is the first step to the right machine.

Assess Power Requirements and Do the Math

What are you powering up: your computer, your office, or your building? Sizing a commercial generator is an involved process with many variables. Before you buy a generator, you must know how much power you need, because the generator must support all your applications. Calculating your total kVA and kW power requirements will narrow down generator size choices into a specific capacity range. To get the value in kilowatts, take the watt value of your items, add them together, and then divide the result by 1000. However, you do not want to make an enormous investment on a guess. Play it smart and speak to a professional to perform a professional sizing.

Fuel: Gas or Petrol?

While you will need to decide whether you require a gen-set for standby, primary, or emergency power and whether your power requirements call for a single-phase or three-phase unit, the fuel type is another big question. Do you want gas or petrol? The reason it’s so important is that each type of fuel has its pros and cons. Gas is useful, but it costs money, and it is not a sustainable option. Diesel is, however, more cost-effective for larger generators and used widely in remote areas. It’s safe, and top brand models are easy to operate.

Operating expenses do not stop just because Eskom does—but arming your investment with a commercial back-up generator can be the difference between a profitable and unprofitable business. But if you’ve ever purchased a home generator before, you already know how complicated it can be – generators come in all shapes and sizes and can meet a long list of uses. For this reason, chat with the renewable energy experts at PacB Group. Not only do we stock all the top commercial generator brands at excellent prices, but we can help you choose the right one for your commercial needs.