People are highly dependent on electricity to run their daily chores. Be it home or office, power is critical to use various electrical appliances. This dependence on electricity becomes more pronounced when you are running a home business. When there is an unplanned outage, it can cost you time and money. Apart from that, it can also lead to difficult situations which are hard to recover from. To prevent all this there is a need to have a backup plan so that an outage has little or no impact.
Which Businesses are Affected by the Outage?
The effect of a power cut on your business is determined by the kind of business you run and the duration of the outage. A power outage affects a writer who only uses a laptop as an arsenal can survive for a few hours until the battery dies. However, if the work depends on the internet, laptop power alone wouldn’t suffice. If you are a graphic designer who uses a high-powered desktop run on AC power, you will not be able to work until the power is back. Likewise, individuals using power tools and machines will need a continuous supply of power. But the same cannot be said about an individual running a telephone-based business!
The fact that the businesses that you are running are at home and there is no way to escape to an office when there is an outage is a major point to consider. Hence, there is a necessity to have a backup plan to run the business smoothly. It is no rocket science to understand what the best backup plan is. Of course, it is a power generator. To know what you need, you need to understand what is there. Let’s take a look at the types of generators available today.
Types Of Generators
There are many generator types and depend on what you want to accomplish using it. Some of the popular options available in the market include;
Portable Generators
If you are looking for power then the portable generators are ideal power backups for you. It can be used in a job site, campsite or at home and offers reliable power. It is compact, easy to carry and use thereby ensuring you get power consistently wherever you are. These are not installed permanently and hence it can be moved anywhere, but it has to be started manually. The power of the generator is rated in watts and if you need to power up more appliances then choosing a higher wattage capacity can be considered.
The major advantage of portable types is that it is less expensive than standby models while being equally effective when there is an outage. These portable types come with power outlets, using which, the appliances or tools can be plugged in. If you plan to use powerful electrical tools, as well as appliances, then opt for more power and more outlet combinations.
Portable diesel models are preferred by most small businesses due to the economical advantage it offers. As per https://www.ablesales.com.au/diesel-generators-perth-melbourne-brisbane/, it is perfect for working on the go. Especially for mobile businesses, this comes in handy. It can be carried around with the mobile cart or vehicle to support a seamless power supply. Apart from value for money, diesel is relatively easily available even during tough times such as economic slowdowns and pandemic breakouts.
Standby Generators
Standby generators are used when the mains go down. These types immediately go up within a few seconds of a power failure hence ensuring that a power outage doesn’t impact your business. Depending on the budget you have set and the number of appliances you want to run, you can pick a generator based on its output capacity.
The major advantage of using a standby generator is, it is already installed to the mains and when there is an outage there is no need to manually switch it on. They sense the outage and power up your home automatically due to the self-monitoring mechanism of this type. There are various models of standby generators and are usually categorized based on the fuel. The fuel options for it are diesel, gasoline, liquid propane, and natural gas. Irrespective of the model or type you choose, it provides a great return on investment.
How to Determine the Generator Output?
Irrespective of the type of generator you opt for, it is essential to find the output that is needed when there is a power blackout. That will help to power up the appliances that you want to keep running when there is a blackout. Also, the cost of the generator varies according to the power output it produces and buying too little or too high does not provide value for money.
To determine the output, list the appliances that you have to run when there is an electric cut, find the power it requires and the wattage (can be found on the appliance). After listing all wattage, sum it and multiply it by 1.5. The result that you get is the minimum output that is needed by the generator. The reason for choosing 1.5 as a factor is that some of the heavy appliances like AC, refrigerators, washing machines, etc need more start-up power than to run it.
How to use Generators Safely?
A transfer switch is a safety device that ensures that the power generated from the backup device does not flow to the main power lines. It routes the generator power to the circuits of the appliances that you want to run during an outage.
Continuous supply of electricity is important for all businesses and the same holds true for home businesses. If for various reasons the main grid power blows, you can still work and meet your deadlines by using generators. The type of generator you opt for is based on power needs and usage. However, all of them are useful in providing backup power.
