How Many Kilowatts (KW) Do I Need for My Manassas VA Commercial Backup Generator?

When it comes to electricity requirements, no two companies are alike. Differences in clients and staff and operating hours may significantly impact how much electricity a business consumes, even if the product or service is the same. So, doing your calculations before investing in a commercial generator cannot be overstated.

Importance of a Backup Generator in Your Business

There is no doubt that most firms would be forced to shut down if they didn’t have a backup generator. This is because during a power outage, most businesses need backup power for their heating systems, freezer units, computers, security systems and other powerful machineries. If your business doesn’t have such a backup generator, it can turn out to be economically disastrous for your business, especially when a critical deadline is approaching.

For example, a commercial generator can avoid losses that occur during protracted power outages. However, this is possible only if the generator is adequately scaled for the business’s demands.

So, if you’re asking yourself, “How Many Kilowatts (KW) Do I Need for My Manassas VA Commercial Backup Generator?” we’re here to provide you with the most accurate response to your inquiry.

How Many Kilowatts (KW) Do I Need for My Manassas VA Commercial Backup Generator?

Commercial generator selection is more complicated than selecting one for a residential purpose because, in commercial scenarios, more power and more storage are required. However, as it turns out, sizing up isn’t too tricky. Here are a few methods for doing this.

Method 1 – Maximum Load

Grab your calculator and follow these steps to determine the proper size of a commercial generator:

1. Total amps consumed should be calculated from measurements of full-load current taken at a period when demand is highest.
2. For a single-phase or three-phase current, divide the total amps by two and three, respectively. Next, multiply that amount by the voltage supply and multiply it by a thousand to obtain the total kilowatts.
3. Refer the National Electrical Code website to find Full Load Capacity of your business.
4. Calculate the Reserve Capacity by multiplying the Full Load Capacity by 0.25.
5. Now, multiply the total amps with Supply Voltage/1000 to get Full Load Kilowatts.
6. As the next step, sum up the Reserve Capacity and Full Load Capacity. This will provide you the generator size you need for your business.

Square Footage – Method 2

This is a more straightforward approach that requires two steps:

1. Estimate 50 kilowatts + 10 extra watts per square foot for retail uses.
2. Estimate 50 kilowatts + 5 extra watts per square foot for commercial use.

Your business facility may need an additional backup generator, but you don’t know how big it should be. Please get in touch with Power and Systems Integration for help in such cases. You can fill out the contact form on our website, and one of our experts will get in touch with you soon. Whether it’s sizing, installation, maintenance, or repair, our experts can help. As long as you have our staff on your side, your company may never be affected by power outages.