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Generators for Office Use

One does not have to be exceptionally perceptive to realise that Eskom is in trouble. Eskom is in no position at the moment to supply power reliably and consistently to its customer base. André de Ruyter’s analogy, that it serves no purpose to change the jockey of a dead horse, in response to calls for his resignation, points to just how dire the situation is. Conventional wisdom says that if you become aware that you are riding a dead horse, it is best to dismount. Eskom is well on its way to making 2021 the worst year for load shedding on record. 2020, the current record holder, looks set to relinquish its title shortly.

Highlighting Eskom’s woeful state of affairs has very little practical value when one is sitting in the office in the dark without internet access or any functional office equipment. Eskom is going to be unreliable in the short to medium term at best, so companies are going to be obliged to look at alternative power to back up their operations during grid failures. Luckily, there are several generators for office use on the market that will put the lights back on.

Choosing Generators for Office Use

Whether you have a large corporate or a small home office, there is a logical process that needs to be followed to determine what size backup power is required to power everything you need. One can obviously choose to power everything in the office or only things that are considered essential. There are two ways that the load can be measured. A monitoring device can be fitted to the electrical distribution board, which will accurately measure power consumption.

This method may come with a cost but is typically better for large corporate offices. The other method is to make a comprehensive list of all the electrical equipment and appliances that are required when the power goes off. For the larger corporate office, some form of spreadsheet will probably make this process easier.

Sizing Generators for Office Use

It is essential to bear in mind that some devices are far more power hungry than others. As a general rule, anything that uses electrical resistance to make heat is likely to use a lot of power. This would include anything that has an element. Kettles, hot plates, electric stoves, ovens, toasters, and geysers are appliances that fall into this category. If a monitoring was done (also referred to as a power audit), the total power required will be known. Other useful information, such as peak demand and power factor, usually also forms part of the data set. If the list method was used, the fully populated list is added up to calculate the total power required.

Generators for office use are typically sized to run the entire load of a facility but can also be sized to run only essential services. Due to the cost of solar power storage (typically lithium-ion batteries), solar systems are more often sized to power only essential circuits. Fossil fuel (diesel, petrol, and gas) power backup generators have been and will continue to be, in the short to medium term, the most effective backup power sources with regard to cost and ease of deployment and use.

Accepted best practice is to make sure that the backup source is capable of providing at least 15% more power than the average use. The reason for the additional 15% allowance is to provide for certain appliances, such as fridges (more accurately the fridges compressor motor), which require a substantially larger amount of power than the power they use once they are running. Luckily, this peak in power usage only lasts for a few seconds. Generators for office use are manufactured to handle these brief surges in power demand, provided they only last a few seconds. It is wise to adhere to the manufacturers specifications and avoid overloading the generator. Once the total power required is established, engage with a supplier of generators for office use who has a good reputation and that specializes in the sale of generators. Resist the temptation to buy solely on price. Buying from a generator specialist may cost slightly more in some cases but it gives you access to real expertise, which is usually worth far more than the price difference.

Generators for Office Use – Which Supplier?

It is vital that you choose a reputable generator supplier when purchasing generators for office use. The larger the generator required, the more important doing so becomes. Smaller capacity generators aimed at residential and small commercial buyers are typically offered as a retail proposition. One can walk into a mass retailer or hardware supplier and walk out with a small, typically petrol-powered, unit. Chances are good that the salespeople on the floor will know little to nothing about generators.

They will have a brand they sell in a limited range of sizes. Reliance is placed on the customer to choose the unit best suited to their needs. The machines on offer are typically Chinese manufactured and have the sole attraction of being cheap. A Chinese unit on offer for around R9,000.00 would cost in the region of R25,000.00 for an equivalent Japanese brand name device. Why the huge price differential?

Chances are the sales staff on hand are not going to be able to answer this and other questions you may have. Residential consumers often view backup power as something they are forced to spend their hard-earned cash on due to Eskom’s poor performance. Most of them would rather buy a television or new mountain bike than a generator. Inconvenience and loss of productivity drive what is purely a grudge purchase.

For commercial and industrial users, backup power is not just a matter of convenience, the loss of business or production and the inability to service customers makes buying generators, for office use or to run production, an essential purchase.

Make the Right Choices When Buying Generators for Office Use!

Commercial and industrial buyers need real expertise when purchasing generators for office use. Generators need to be sized, specified, and installed correctly in order to deliver long, reliable, and cost-effective service lives. It is particularly important for commercial users to comply with safety standards to avoid costly civil liability should things go wrong. Any electrical installation can be dangerous and potentially deadly. Fuel must also be stored safely in an area with adequate ventilation. It is noteworthy that petrol is far more flammable than diesel is and is therefore more hazardous. Engage with a professional generator specialist, such as PacB and access the expertise that comes from years of generator manufacture and installation.