Generator Works - Important Aspects

A generator installation must only be carried out by a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced in this field. Essential criteria for successful installations include:

• Necessary ventilation
  
• Electrical connections to be carried out by a qualified experienced electrician
  
• Phase balancing is important on a 3 phase unit, as unbalanced phases can cause damage to the Generator.
  
• The set must be properly earthed
  
• The unit must be tested on load to ascertain that the set is of sufficient size to take full load.
  It is important to use the correct, suitably sized cables between the Generator and the main distribution board. Cables that are too light are dangerous and will cause damage.
  
• Electrical motor loads are an important part of any installation such as a factory, a garage, a supermarket or restaurant with refrigerators and exhaust fans, it is absolutely essential that a proper professional assessment be done by a knowledgeable electrician.
  
• Electrical motors draw may times the rated running current (amps) to start up. Single phase 230V motors can draw up to seven times more that the running current just to start. Three phase 380V motors also draw substantially more than their rated running current to start up; the situation also changes in requirement from direct on line starting to automatic star/delta installations. Motor starting currents are sometimes severe and as a result are critical on electrical motor-driven borehole pumps. The same applies to motors on compressors etc.