Contractors Require Power

Which Makes Picking the Perfect Commercial Generator Imperative

Knowledge is power when picking the right generator for your portable power needs. Contractors, first and foremost, should look for a contractor-grade product, whether that means gas, diesel, hand-held, towable, rented or owned. They should assess their expected load requirements, taking inventory of the tools they will be operating with the generator. They should understand the variety of loads too — peak loads, motor loads, maximum allowable voltages, frequency variations and other power factors to consider. It’s always a good idea to understand any local power authority regulations that need to be met based on your application, as well as map out the daily power requirements hour-by-hour over a 24-hour period.

Regardless of one’s level of knowledge when it comes to generators, contractors should consult with a local sales representative to see what is new or effective in specific markets. Manufacturers constantly challenge each other to innovate better ways of getting the job done. Some focus on general areas such as reduced cost of operation, ease of use or improved reliability, whereas others excel at specific application-based offerings. To help explain those evolving technologies and trends, we’ve tapped some of the top generator manufacturers in the industry to help us pull together our August issue dedicated to portable power generation.

This month we cover the spectrum of generators from small, toss-in-the-back-of-your-truck gas units (from manufacturers like Honda) to big, trailered diesel sets (from the likes of Doosan Portable Power). There are many factors to consider when buying a portable generator, and customers are not alone to make that decision. Keep reading, and let us explain the variety of elements that will help pros find the right machine for their project and region.

Keith Gribbins is managing editor of Compact Equipment, based in Brecksville, Ohio.