Did you know that losing power for just one hour causes the average American commercial customer over $1,800? Considering that power outage in the United States lasts nearly 198 minutes, this could be a huge cost burden.

Blackouts and power outages are often a result of a myriad of causes that range from unintended human errors to works of God.

For an average business, according to bestofmachinery.com, a power loss can cripple operations and bring an enterprise to a standstill. However, with the right generator, you don’t need to worry about power loss.

Here’s how to buy a generator and escape the inevitable cost implications that follow power interruptions. Read on for tips on buying a generator that’s right for you.

Power Requirements

The average residential utility consumer in the U.S. used around 914 kWh of electricity every month. This consumption rate is certainly much higher for a commercial customer.

When buying a generator, your power requirements for your business should matter.

While a backup generator should be able to take care of the most critical processes in your business, it should also be powerful enough to support other basic functions such as lighting. The 600 KW generator is a perfect choice for your commercial needs. This backup option has a voltage of 208 to 600 volts of standby power.

With the 600 KW generator, you no longer have to worry about power outages. This option is among the best generator alternatives you can ever consider for your business when it comes to power output.

Budget

Everything in the course of running a business’s operations depends on proper planning.

Buying a generator should equally depend on proper budgeting. While a generator is a vital part of your business, you still want to understand the cost implications before making the purchase.

Ensure that you consider the cost benefits for each option when choosing between the different types of generators. Consider beforehand what you are willing to spend vis-à-vis the various options in the market.

Consider Fuel Options

If it’s your first time buying a commercial generator, you certainly have all sorts of questions on how generators function.

Most people don’t know that generators have varying fuel options depending on the types. Your standby generator may either be liquid propane or a diesel-fueled backup.

Most commercial generators, including the 600 KW generator, run on diesel. This is partly because diesel has greater levels of efficiency compared to other fuel alternatives. Further diesel is relatively safer for use by your employees.

You’ll also have an easier time accessing diesel fuel when it remote locations.

With diesel, you also get to experience greater extent ease of use, given that it’s cheaper than natural gas. Diesel is also easy to store on-site, which makes it a preferred choice in most commercial settings.

Type of Generator

Generators come in different types. You can opt for standby generators, where the installation is permanent.

Most commercial standby generators run on natural gas or propane and turn on automatically in case of an outage. While this option serves the purpose, it has a fair share of limitations.

On the other hand, you can consider portable and inverter generators. These generators are often diesel-fueled. Unlike the permanently installed standby generators, the inverter or portable option can be useful as a power backup in the remote sites.

Depending on your intended use, you can choose between portable and permanently installed generators. While making a choice, it would help to consider the cost implications for each option.

Features

Additional features should matter when buying a generator.

Have you been wondering how to buy a generator that serves your every need? The inbuilt features should be a deal-breaker when making this choice.

Safety features are among the most important considerations.

The best generators in the market have an automatic CO shut off feature that shuts down the system if the sensor detects high levels of the gas.

The best generators should also have an automatic start sensor, which ensures automatic backup in case of an emergency. The automatic start has a similar alternative feature, which is the electric start.

Most stationary models have these two features to keep the system running in case of power outages. Ensure that your generator has such critical additional features when buying one.

Cooling

Cooling is an important process when running a generator. This is especially so if your generator runs longer during an outage. You can either consider a liquid or air-cooled generator.

An air-cooled generator cools itself by blowing air through the generator’s cabinet and over the engine. Most air-cooled generators tend to shutdown often due to overheating, especially in hot climates.

Small businesses with limited power need to consider air-cooled standby generators as a perfect choice.

Liquid-cooled generators, on the other hand, require manual cooling. These generators function pretty much like automobile engines where a radiator and a reservoir supply a liquid coolant to the system.

Consider the specific generator cooling needs when buying one.

Fuel Efficiency

Buying a generator is one thing. However, keeping the generator running is another matter altogether.

The running cost of a generator depends on fuel efficiency in the long-term. A typical generator consumes about 0.75 gallons per hour.

Depending on the running time, this rate of consumption might be higher or lower. The 600 KW generator consumes around 148.8 L per hour operating at a 100% load. With a tank capacity of 1620L, this might be a perfect choice when running power-intensive operations.

This Is How to Buy a Generator for All Your Commercial Needs

Buying a generator isn’t among ordinary activities. This is a one-off purchase, with high-cost implications. As such, understanding how to buy a generator requires a keen focus on varying factors to avoid disappointments.

If you want to settle for the best generator in the market, consider factors such as the cost, the fuel options, and the running expenses. Further, it would also help to consider the types of generators in the market, their inbuilt features, and their cooling process. The 600 kW is among the best generators in the market you should consider.

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