When it comes to Hurricane Season, you can’t afford to procrastinate. Living in a hurricane zone means that you need to be prepared for a storm. One of the most important steps you can take when preparing for Hurricane Season is to purchase a hurricane generator. Waiting to purchase such an important item is not a good idea for a variety of reasons. One, you may not be able to find the best generator for hurricane season in the short window before a hurricane is due to make landfall, and two, you won’t know how to use a generator during a hurricane if your purchase is brand new.
Don’t Be Left In The Dark – Shop Now!
Hurricane Generators are generally in short supply immediately before or after a hurricane. During that window of time, you will most likely not be able to find one at your local hardware store or big box home improvement store. If you aren’t proactive, you may be left in the dark. Get ready for the inevitable storm by contacting a reputable retailer, who can help you pick the best generator for hurricane season and explain how to use a generator during a hurricane.
Learning More About Hurricane Generators For Commercial Facilities
Hurricane generators for commercial facilities need to be large enough and provide enough power to keep your facility up and running during a power outage. To ensure that you purchase a hurricane generator that can do this, you will need to decide what systems must remain up and running if grid power fails. You can do this yourself, using one of the two methods explained below, or you can work with a reliable and experienced professional to get the proper calculations.
Method One: Calculate Full Load Capacity
- Estimate the wattage you need to keep your facility running by calculating the amount of electricity you use during peak run times.
- Divide the total amps used by three for three-phase current, and by two for single-phase current, then multiply that by the supply voltage, and again by 1000 for Kilowatts (kW) Required.
- Add the power in kilowatts used by each emergency safety system to obtain the full load measurement.
- To get 100 percent power, add your full load of kilowatts to your reserve capacity to get the required wattage needed.
Method Two: Calculate The Square Footage
While the above method is often best left to the professionals, the following method can give you a starting point in your generator search. This method has two simple steps:
- For a retail application: 50 kilowatts + 10 watts per square foot = wattage needed.
- For a commercial application: 50 kilowatts + 5 watts per square foot – wattage needed.
Although the second method is a good starting point when you are looking at hurricane generators, the best thing you can do to ensure that you purchase a generator that is powerful enough to keep the lights (and other important systems) running at your facility during a grid-down scenario is to consult with a professional generator retailer. A professional will be able to calculate the wattage needed by taking the measurements listed above and completing the required calculations for you. Enlisting the help of a professional means you won’t be left in the dark with an underperforming generator after a hurricane strikes.
Generator Safety Tips
With power outages comes an increase in people using generators. That means an increase in possible hurricane generator-related accidents, too. Learning how to use a generator during a hurricane also means learning about generator safety. Here is a generator safety checklist for a permanently installed generator:
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- Periodically check electrical connections and make sure they are not loose.
- Check and fill fuel and coolant so that it is topped off before running the unit.
- With the generator is turned off, look at the monitor and check the coolant temperature and battery voltage.
- With the generator turned on, check the monitor and look at the oil pressure, coolant temperature, and battery run voltage. If fluids are low, add as necessary.
- After running the generator’s engine, look for leaks. If a leak is present, schedule a service call as soon as possible.
- Check the belt tension and look for frays and cracks. Follow all suggested maintenance schedules for replacing parts.
- Make sure that the fuel line’s connection from the fuel tank to the engine is secure.
- Make sure the air filter indicator is green. If not, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to replace it.
- If you have a natural gas generator, make sure there are no cracks or holes in the hoses. This will prevent gas from escaping.
Keeping The Lights On During Hurricane Season
The time to protect your business from a hurricane is now – not during hurricane season! To purchase the best generators for hurricane season before they are no longer available, contact a reliable generator dealer now. Make sure you take the time to create an emergency disaster plan for your business and be sure this plan includes power backup with a hurricane generator!
