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Generator Suppliers in South Africa

South Africa has one of the biggest markets for generators in Africa, which has resulted in a vast number of suppliers emerging to try and service the market. A Google search for generator suppliers in Gauteng alone returns over 300 000 hits. Not only is there a vast number of companies offering generators for sale, but the array of different products on offer is huge – petrol, diesel, or gas powered. You also get two stroke and four stroke engines. There are generators capable of running a small home and ones that can run a small town.

If that is not confusing enough, all sorts of features are available that enhance the basic functionality of the chosen generator. Features, such as automatic start in the event of a power failure are common. Data logging of generator statistics, such as run time, fuel level, starter battery voltage, and run temperatures to list a few, is also possible. Remote access to generators is available, including the ability to start-up and switch off the generator from anywhere on earth.

Choosing the right machine is not as simple as it may seem. Generators in principle are simple enough but selecting the best fit for one’s particular needs can be extremely nuanced. Perhaps a low-priced petrol option from a mass market store will work for some individuals and sites but these vendors have no real expertise with regard to generators at all. Anyone going this route will have to do their own research about the suitability of the machine purchased. The buyer would need to understand a multitude of considerations.

What to Look for in a Generator Supplier

Choose from suppliers who manufacture generators and do not simply import and sell them. Look for a company that offers installation as well. Turnkey solution providers are accountable for the satisfactory performance of the whole system. It is always better to have a single company responsible for your generator (one that understands electrical installations generally) rather than a vendor and separate installer.

There is a real risk that, in the event of problems, the vendor blames the installer for installing incorrectly while the installer blames the equipment. This leaves the end user between the two parties unsure of who is responsible. Look for suppliers that offer in-house maintenance, not those who sub-contract their maintenance out. Once again, you want a single point of responsibility if possible.

Why are Professional Suppliers the Best Route to Ownership?

There are many considerations to take into account when buying a generator. These include issues, such as:

• Where will the generator be situated?
• What is the total expected load?
• Is three- or single-phase output required?
• What voltage and frequency are needed?
• Does the machine need to start automatically on grid failure?

Some residential estates do not allow generators to be installed in terms of the estate rules. If they are allowed, there are typically maximum noise level standards that need to be complied with. Safety and compliance requirements also need to be met. Most homeowners are not qualified to install their own generators.

Generators are not a DIY project unless the homeowner happens to be a certified electrician. These machines need to be correctly installed and connected to the building via a suitable and approved change-over switch, including installation of an over current protection circuit breaker in the main distribution board. This has to be done by a certified electrician and a certificate of compliance has to be provided.

A reputable supplier will know and understand all of these considerations and quote up front for the cost associated with installation. Vendors that simply sell generators as a retail proposition leave this to the purchaser who then discovers that there are substantial additional costs that need to be added to the initial price of the machine. These costs can come as a nasty surprise that is only discovered after the initial purchase.

There are many illegally connected generators in South African homes! The homeowner often takes the view that the installation is working for them and that is good enough. Incorrect installations can, however, be extremely dangerous. Occupants of the home run the very real risk of electrocution and uncompliant installations are often the source of fires that can have fatal consequences and/or cause huge financial loss. Even if no one is killed or injured, insurance companies will have the option of repudiating claims where installations were not compliant.

Bigger is Not Always Better 

There is a commonly held misconception that having a bigger machine than required is acceptable or even desirable. Diesel generators do not like to run for extended periods on very light loads. Running at 75% or a higher load is the preferred range of operation. Running at loads in the 25% to 50% range may lead to cylinder glazing and other costly damage to the diesel engine of the generator. It goes without saying that a machine that is significantly bigger than required will not be running at its best efficiency, costing the operator more than it should in fuel.

The addition of a battery pack will allow for a higher apparent load, resulting in higher operating efficiency by using more of the generators capacity and storing the energy to be used while the machine is not running. This allows for generator “off-time” and can prolong intervals between maintenance. Counter intuitively, remote sites where no grid connectivity is required can run at higher system efficiencies. Knowledge of the load is important in order to determine the most efficient operating point for fixed-speed running.

Technically competent and ethical suppliers understand generators on a fundamental level and would be quick to point out that oversizing a generator is not a good idea. Reputable suppliers take great care to get the sizing correct. They often conduct power monitoring at the relevant site and base their recommendation on site-specific data as opposed to guesswork. Reputable suppliers will not sell a substantially oversized machine because they only have that particular capacity generator in stock. Good reputations are built by acting ethically as opposed to acting expediently.

Choose Only Suppliers with Impeccable Reputations 

We have the answers to all of the questions surrounding power generation and particularly diesel-powered generators. With a team of internationally qualified experts, we at PacB provide superior expertise and class-leading, in-house technical support derived from a large portfolio of successful projects.