Generator 101:

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Generator 101 Introduction to Generators James
Kerschinske Generac
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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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When would we need an emergency generator?

• Causes of Outages
• Weather lightning, wind, rain, snow, heat, cold
  and ice
• Utility Equipment problems and grid overload
• Fallen trees or tree growth
• Animal Contact
• Human Error Underground digging, cranes,
  traffic, vandalism, etc.
• Misc. Mechanical damage, construction error,
  fire, etc.
• Risks involved during a loss of power
• Loss of Communications
• Loss of Security
• Lost or Corrupted Data
• Lost Productivity
• Lost Confidence
• Continuation of Emergency Services

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When would we need an emergency generator?
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What is your emergency plan?

• Catastrophic Events and Weather cause us to
  question the reliability of our critical power
  systems
• What risks are real?
• What are the most common failures of emergency
  power?

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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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How does an emergency generator work?

• Generator and Automatic Transfer Switch
• Permanent or Rental Generator

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How does and emergency generator work?

• Emergency Generators are complex
• System Design, Installation, On-going Maintenance
  impact reliability.
• Single Generator designs have single points of
  failure
• Rental Power backup strategy
• Consider Integrated Paralleling Solution with
  multiple generators
• Fuel Reliability
• Natural Gas, Propane, Diesel, Bi-fuel
• How much fuel is enough? Is fuel maintained?
• Costs
• Fuel type, paralleled solution, enclosures,
  connectivity features
• What is the best solution for critical power?

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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Normal
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Utility failure
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Line interrupt delay
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Transfer switches signal generator to
start
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Transfer switches verify rated output
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Transfer switches transfer to generator
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Utility is re-energized
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Return-to-utility timer
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status The load is transferred back to utility,
generator cool-down begins
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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SEQUENCE OF OPERATION
Critical Transfer Switch
Status Generator shuts down
UtilityDistribution Panel
GeneratorDistribution Panel
EquipmentTransfer Switch
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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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What Planning Needs to be done?

• Full or Limited Operation?
• Standby Generator picks up selected loads
  automatically
• Orderly Shutdown?
• UPS backs up selected loads until they can be
  shut down
• No Backup?
• No power until the utility returns
• No services provided

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What planning needs to be done?

• Who will be in charge?
• Determine the loads to be backed up
• What is the Voltage and Amperage?
• Where will the generator be located?
• How will it be hooked up to the building? Who
  will hook it up?
• Have we scheduled a practice outage?

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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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What loads are powered by a generator?

• Lighting
• Computers
• Security System and Phone System
• Air Conditioning/Heat
• UPS/Data
• Pumps (fuel, water, etc)
• Other electrical equipment

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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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How do I properly size the generator?

• After selecting loads (Whole or Limited)
• What is the Voltage (single or three phase)
• What is the Amperage needed
• Oversize the generator by 25 to handle motor
  starting and unexpected loads
• Work with Engineer, Electrician or Generator
  Dealer
• Make a written plan for this if you are relying
  on rental power
• kW Volts Amps 1.732 0.8
• 1000

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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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Where do we get one in an emergency?

• Generator Dealers (Generac, Cat, Cummins, Kohler,
  MTU)
• Equipment Rental Houses (United, RSC, Hertz)
• Make prior arrangements with supplier
• Have a backup plan to your backup plan!
• In a weather related outage, the rental
  inventories are limited
• Have an electrician hook it up

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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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Should we Purchase or Rent?

• Done properly, and rental strategy could work
• Plan ahead
• Save costs
• Emergency power only when needed
• Guaranteed contract should be considered
• Electrician should hook it up
• Train personnel on operation
• Have a practice power outage

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Should we Purchase or Rent?

• Done poorly, it wont work
• Plan everything
• Who is trained on-site to operate the generator?
• What loads are backed up?
• Volts/Amps/kW Rating
• Who will deliver the generator?
• Dealer or outside service
• Are the roads blocked due to the storm?
• Where will the connections be made in the
  building?
• Who provides the cables?
• Where will I get fuel? Do I have a backup plan
  for fuel?
• How quiet is it?
• Is it sized properly?
• How will I pay for it?

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Should we Purchase or Rent?

• Purchase Automatic Standby Power
• Immediately available during an outage
• Maintenance Plan
• Exercise automatically, preparing you for an
  outage
• Very affordable at any kW size
• Diesel
• Natural Gas or Propane
• Bifuel
• Quiet

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Generator 101

• When would we need an emergency generator?
• How does an emergency generator work?
• What planning needs to be done?
• What loads are powered by a generator?
• How do I properly size the generator?
• Where do we get one in an emergency?
• Should we Purchase or Rent?

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Questions?James Kerschinske Generac