I'm studying meteorology in the hopes of someday becoming a weatherman, and I have obviously been following the latest news about the hurricane very closely in my classes and free time. One thing I've heard a few newscasters discuss in their coverage is how businesses that intend on continuing business or require electricity to remain operational need a backup generator as a precaution. How exactly does a backup generator work, and why would businesses need them if they are located somewhere where hurricanes occur?
You're absolutely right that if you live and operate a business somewhere where hurricanes are common, you'll likely want a backup generator. While some companies can get away with not having a backup generator, if your business requires refrigeration, like a restaurant or grocery store, you'll likely want something to help power your appliances in the case of inclement weather. A power outage from a storm like a hurricane can also be detrimental for businesses like software companies that rely on electricity to power servers, hospitals, and the TV stations that run the news you watch during the storm. Just imagine how bad it would be if a television studio that was delivering important weather reports during a major hurricane lost its power; the results would not be good.
As you may have already been able to infer, a backup generator can be one way to address this issue. Backup generators run on other forms of power, such as gasoline or diesel, instead of requiring electricity to power your main power grid. Welland Power is one of the world's leading manufacturers of diesel generators, and has built an international reputation for crafting high-quality generators that are as reliable as they are well-built. Backup generators are designed to automatically start up when a building's main power is lost. In less than a second, power is rerouted to the backup generator so that it powers the critical appliances and fixtures in a business, while a team of technicians and engineers can work to restore power to the main generator. Unlike prime generators, a backup generator cannot run continually or be put into overdrive. That being said, they still play a vital role in keeping businesses operating in severe storms. When a standby generator isn't in use, it routinely runs small tests to ensure that it is still functioning properly. This can alert a business' engineers to any problems that might need to be diagnosed and resolved before a storm hits.
In terms of choosing the right size of standby generator, you'll need to do some math and think about which aspects of your business are critical and need to receive power. If your business is open to the public or will have employees working during an outage, you'll also need to have a few circuits powered no matter what. For example, emergency lighting, elevators, powered doors, and exit signs all require power from a standby generator. Factor each of these systems into your equation as you figure out what size standby generator to purchase. Consider both the running Watts and volt amps of all of your business' needs when choosing the kilowattage of your generator. You'll also want to keep in mind that your standby generator or generators will need to be connected to an automatic transfer switch in order to reroute electricity during a power outage. If you have any questions on how to run this kind of math or need advice, an electrical engineer will be able to help you out.
If your business operates in a country where hurricanes are common, you'll definitely want to figure out what sort of standby or backup generator will be most beneficial to your business. Choosing a trusted brand like Welland Power and consulting with local regulations and an expert can help you make the right decision and keep your business, customers, and employees safe during a storm.