Wondering what type of generator you need for your next large project? We can help! Check out the different types of generators below.
Towable Generators
Professional High-powered Generators
These generators provide power for large machinery. They’re ideal for powering material handling machinery, concrete machinery, and earth movers. These heavy-duty machines are manufactured to withstand the harsh conditions of a construction site and produce stable power for extended shifts.
You’ll need a high-powered generator if your construction site is large, like commercial buildings, warehouses, and roads.
Did you know? High-powered generators like this one can have power outputs of more than 500 kVAs. At a power factor of 0.6, that’s 300,000 watts!
Medium-powered Generators
These generators produce power for smaller construction work, like small road construction, single houses, and low-rise apartments. They can easily power circular saws, concrete mixers, and compressors. In fact, a 25 kVA generator can typically power all three at once!
These units usually have heavy-duty engines and more durable components than portable units.
For more information on what medium-powered generators can power, check out this article from Generatorist.
Portable Generators
These generators are designed for easy transportation and can be carried around your jobsite. They’re sometimes measured in watts, not kVAs, and can range from 3000 to 12000 watts! They’re a vital part of construction sites because they function as backup.
Choosing a Generator
Now that you know what each generator can do, follow these steps to ensure you choose the right one.
Assess how much power you’ll need
To figure out how much power your jobsite needs, list all power tools and electronic appliances you will need to use at the same time. Once you have them listed, follow these steps to create a reference table.
- Look at the equipment tags for the required starting and running watts for each tool.
- Add all the running watts required to run your equipment.
- Find the item with the highest additional starting watts.
- Add this to your total running watts.
The final number represents the total number of starting watts your generator must provide to run your jobsite.
Consider your average output capacity
Now that you have your total starting and running watts, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll be using that amount during the whole project or only for short periods. If you’ll mostly be using only half of your total watts, you can consider going with two smaller units that can function as a single large unit.
If your power output is consistently low, shutting down one machine can help you save on fuel costs and gives you an easy backup if one generator needs maintenance.
You can use this calculator to determine kW/kVA amperes and fuel consumption loads at an 80% power factor.
Contact Hugg & Hall’s Utility Services Department
For more information on what size your generator needs to be to run your equipment, you can send an inquiry to our Utility Services Department.