Creating access to Backup generator technology was probably one of the most helpful technological advancements credited to World War II. Even though emergency power supply systems weren’t initially advanced enough to start automatically, with time and advancement in technology, generators have become self reliant.
If there is a power blackout, an emergency generator would start automatically without having anybody run towards the main switch board. But after all a generator is a machine and you can’t rely on it without monitoring it regularly. To make sure that your generator is going to work just fine and provide your estate with uninterrupted power supply in the absence of electricity, it’s important that you maintain it properly.
Generator maintenance is essential in order to allow smooth and uninterrupted functioning. If you slack off and don’t keep checking it every now and then, chances are that in the time of need, it will malfunction. And you don’t want a backup generator to fail to provide backup in case of a power outage.
Before diving into the technicalities of how a generator starts automatically, let’s first discuss some important prerequisites that you must perform before actually starting a generator.
There are three ways of checking if your generator is working fine.
- Battery Mode Start
- Hydraulic Start
- Automatic Start
When it comes to monitoring a generator, it’s important to test it in three ways. Firstly, start it weekly on battery to ensure the efficacy of the batteries installed. You need the batteries to be in the best state to make sure that they don’t leak or dry up in the emergency electrical system.
After the weekly check up come the hydraulic start and the automatic start. Before actually switching the load over, check if the generator is actually starting when you manually start it and when you cut the power source.
Once the generator passes all the testing procedures then you can be sure to actually make changes in the wiring system so that the generator starts automatically when needed.
There are two power supply boards in a building’s electrical system. One is the emergency switch board and the other is the manual switchboard. A breaker connects the two and due to the interlock we can’t supply from both the sources together.
Hence, the breaker is disconnected from the tie line either from the emergency switchboard or the manual switchboard. Opening the breaker allows the generator to start automatically with the support of batteries and that supplies power to all the connected utensils.
For turning the generator off, the breaker is attached back to the tie line, that is, it is closed again. And then the interlock the generator becomes off load. Turn off the switch and shut the generator off.
Final Thoughts
A backup generator makes good sense for any business, especially in those areas where power outages occur regularly. At Odyssey Power, we assist our clients in implementing power solutions that are reliable and efficient. As the only third-party service provider in California with both UPS and Generator technicians, we are uniquely suited to assist you in finding the right critical power solutions for your business. Contact us today for more information.