Shopping Guide: How to Choose a Generator

From emergency and portable power generation to supplemental or temporary power needs, Sunbelt Rentals has a reliable generator for your job site or facility, along with a full line of accessories, cable and distribution equipment. We can make sure you have a dependable source of backup power to fully support your preparedness plan or help you meet outage situations. Our power experts will come to your rescue with primary or backup power generation that provides consistent and reliable power even under difficult conditions, or provide temporary power solutions for special events or live entertainment.

It’s important to know how to choose the appropriate generator that will effectively meet your requirements. To do that, consider the following:

●Voltage needs: Inventory of all the power needs of your business or site to understand the correct generator voltage category necessary to safely power your electronics, machinery, and equipment. 

●Fuel source: Determine if you need a diesel- or gasoline-powered generator. There are different benefits and cost structures specific to either type of fuel. 

●Noise level: Learn about the noise ordinances in your area. This will help guide you in the choice of the best generator and muffler grade. Concerned about noise? Sunbelt Rentals offers noise reduction barriers to help contain sound levels. 

●Service and maintenance: Renting a high-quality generator that meets your exact needs is easier when you work with an experienced equipment provider. Choose one that has knowledge of different generator brands, dedicated technicians who provide expert service and maintenance to keep your generator running at top performance level, and an inventory of power generation accessories.

What is a generator?

Generators make it possible to have power in remote locations or in the event your business or event experiences an outage. They can be used as a primary or backup power supply for commercial buildings or serve as a source of power at an industrial facility. In instances where unwanted noise can ruin an experience and where a reliable power source is required, generators can also serve as a quiet-yet-dependable source of power, such as at movie sets or live entertainment events. Additionally, a generator can simply power essentials for a short period or provide power for a larger, longer-term need. 

How does a generator work?

Conventional portable generators have fuel-powered engines that convert energy into power through an alternator. Inverter generators run similarly to conventional portable generators. These generators convert energy into DC voltage and then invert that voltage to alternating current (AC). In this way, an inverter generator will run higher or lower to meet the power demands placed on it. That improves efficiency and means you will use less fuel. Inverter generators produce lower emissions and are quieter than conventional generators. 

The amount of power that a generator can produce is rated in kilowatts (kW). It’s important to understand not only the wattage your job site or facility needs, but to remember that starting a tool or appliance requires more watts than running the device – up to three times the amount. Check for the generator’s rated power (the amount of power it can produce over time) and its maximum power (the most power it can produce in a short time).

What are the different types of generators?

Sunbelt Rentals offers a wide range of containerized diesel generators, towable generators, and gas-powered generators to meet your high-performance power needs.

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Rent a generator from Sunbelt Rentals

You can rely on Sunbelt Rentals for all your power generation solutions, including generators and accessories. Count on us for 24/7 support – even in an emergency – as well as efficient service, equipment pickup, delivery, installation, and teardown.

Look to Sunbelt Rentals for these generator brands:

• Cummins
• Doosan
• Honda
• Kohler
• Mi-T-M
• MQ Power
• Multiquip
• Wacker Neuson

Need help scoping power requirements on your next project? Our experts are available 24/7, request a consultation or give us a call at 866-704-2501, or download the Sunbelt Rentals App on App Store or Google Play to quickly find, rent, and schedule generator delivery directly to your jobsite.