Generator Rental

When you need a generator rental for your project, it’s easy to overlook some specifics associated with your power needs. A generator is more than a simple add-on accessory, and it’s important to factor what you need and how you will need it in advance to ensure that you have adequate power to complete the project on time. In this article, we will look at four top tips to get the ideal power generators on rent that you need.


1. The Importance of Advance Planning

It’s essential to plan ahead when you're in the earliest stages of a project, and this must include your power requirements. If you don’t carefully consider your power needs, it will be harder to get the generator rental that will ideally suit your needs. Any hire company will have a lead in time on equipment; if you’re lucky they will have a generator that you need, but no project manager should be relying on luck. Availability is key, if the hire company that you want to use knows that you need a certain hire generator for rent at a specific time, they can ensure that your needs are met.


2. Consider Cabling and Accessories

Many project managers place the focus on the generator alone, and they overlook the need for cables and other accessories. Some of the heavy duty generator rental units require specific cables to deliver the power safely. Always check the supplied cables and make sure each of the following four criteria is met for safer power delivery.
  • The supplied power cable must exceed the amp capacity of the generator.
  • The power cables need to be correctly rated for the amperage and voltage.
  • The cables must be long enough to connect up the tie-in points.
  • Each cable should be inspected for any defects before its used on the job site.
When you use a good generator rental company, it’s likely that these four criteria have already been addressed. However, it’s always a good idea to double check everything mentioned above, after all, human error can occur and it’s easy to forget to send a cable for any supplied generator.


3. Consider Using Parallel Generators

Many project managers simply get the largest and most powerful generator that falls within their budget, and this isn’t the best strategy. It may make more sense to use a number of smaller generators if you have a larger job site where people are working in isolation to each other. It may be a good idea to run several smaller generators in parallel with each other to make more power available for multiple applications. Check with your hire company, using a number of smaller generators may be a more cost effective option compared to hiring a single larger generator.


4. Don’t Overload Your Generators

Every generator should be operated according to the manufacturer's recommendations. When you hire a generator, make sure that it’s capable of meeting your energy needs and avoid the temptation to overload. The kW capacity must be carefully gauged, and you will need to understand the duty cycle capabilities of the generator. This will allow you to plan your workday, can the generator run 24/7, or would you need to use it on specific shifts? This will also help you to plan how many generators you need and if you need any coverage for maintenance, refuelling, and other downtime requirements.

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