Cost factors when hiring or purchasing a generator
With variations in power supply from the main grid, it's always a good idea to hire or purchase your own generator. Having a generator handy gives you the independence you need to power your important functions. This is especially true for industrial applications. If your plant is located far away from the grid, a generator may be your only reliable power source.
One of your most important considerations of a generator hire or purchase will likely be the cost. With many different types and sizes of generators available, it's important to identify the highest-performing machine at the most affordable cost. Keep in mind the following cost factors while you're out shopping.
How much power do you need?
In most cases, higher-capacity generators will be more expensive to hire/purchase. This is because they can produce more power during use and thus can handle many different pieces of equipment. When determining how much power you need, simply add up all the machines that will be connected to the generator at any given time.
You may be able to save on costs if you won't need to connect everything at once. By spreading usage times of individual machines, you can get away with a lower-capacity generator at a lower cost.
Home vs. industrial generators
Generators for home use are often more affordable than those for industrial use. Most homes require power between 3000 and 6500watts, while industrial supplies often consume much more wattage. It will depend on the specific machines being hooked up to your generator. Use this useful guide to estimate how much power your industrial machines will be consuming.
Running time
Running time is a measure of how long your generator can operate before it requires refuelling. This applies mostly to petrol generators, which will need to have the fuel tank refilled if it runs out.
Generators with high running times and a higher tank size will often cost more than those with lower running times and smaller tank sizes. However, there's always a sensitive balance between power and running time. High power output usually means that more petrol is being consumed, and it may eventually result in lower running times.
You will have to determine what works best for your situation. For example, if you don't mind frequently refuelling your tank, you can get a high-performance generator with a smaller tank size (where you can save on the tank size cost). And if you don't need a high power output, you can strike a bargain by getting a lower power generator with a larger tank size.
