If you run a business, it is important for you to have a commercial generator onsite. A commercial generator is essential to ensure all businesses in your building have power even if the power grid goes down. When setting up a back-up commercial generator, there are a few things you need to do to ensure the generator operates safely.
Install Carbon Monoxide Monitors
When you install a commercial generator, it is connected to either a natural gas supply line or to a propane tank. The gas will provide your generator with the fuel it needs to power your commercial building regardless of what is happening with the power grid. Natural gas lines don't rely on power to operate, nor do they require power.
Since commercial generators use gas as a fuel source, it is important to have carbon monoxide monitors set up around your property as a safety measure. That way, if there is a gas leak, which is a slim possibility with a generator, you will be alerted right away to the presence of carbon monoxide and can take precautionary steps.
Install an Automatic Transfer Switch
Next, you need to make sure the generator has an Automatic Transfer Switch or ATS. An ATS switch is designed to turn on your generator within a few seconds of the power going out. When the power grid goes back up, the generator will turn off and allow the primary power source to kick back in.
Having an ATS switch is essential with a commercial generator. Without an ATS switch, you will have to manually turn the generator on when the power goes out, and manually turn the generator off when the power comes back on.
It is vitally important to turn your generator off as soon as the power grid power back up; not doing this can cause back feeding, which can be dangerous to individuals working the power line. An ATS switch is the safest way to run a generator.
Know the Power Ratings
Finally, you need to know the power rating that your generator can support. You don't want to put more stress on your generator than it can handle.
You should have an idea of how much power your building uses every day and purchase a generator that can handle that amount of power. If your generator can't support the power needs of your entire building, you need to have a plan on what needs to be turned off to avoid overheating the generator.
When you install a commercial generator to power your building in the event of a power outage, you need to make sure an ATS switch is installed to regulate the generator. You also need to install carbon monoxide detectors to keep you aware of a potential gas leak. It is important to know the power output of your building and to make sure you don't exceed the power rating of your generator when it is in operation. Talk to a commercial generator installation service to learn more.
