Every week, all over Australia we sell trade generators to; civil construction companies, farmers, builders, plumbers, mining companies, hire industries, government departments, rural stations and many other customer types...Because of this, our generator experts have been able to compile a series of helpful answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about trade/farm generators for sale.
So if you are in the market for a portable trade generator, then the following advice relating to real questions from tradies, farmers and business owners alike, will most likely be very useful:
1. I need to run a brick saw and pressure washer - what size trade/farm generators do I need?
It all depends on how much your appliances draw. You just need to find out what both the starting and running wattage requirements of your appliances are - this can be found on the product data plate, within the product manual or by contacting the manufacturer. It's particularly important to find out the starting wattage of the appliance, as often it can be 3 to 4 times greater (even more) than the running/continuous wattage. For example, a brick saw may take around 4500 watts to start, but then drop back to around 1800 watts to keep running.
First find out this wattage info for your tools, then you can do the sums to determine what size trade genset you'll need. To be sure you get the right sized generator for all the appliances you wish to run at any one time, we recommend you read our generators buyers guide which has a power calculator and takes you through a simple step by step generator selection process.
2. I am looking at 8kVA generator unit predominantly for the worksite, but also wondering whether it can be used to power my computer occasionally if required?
Because a computer is a sensitive electronic device, it requires cleaner power than what a regular trade/farm generators provides. We recommend you have AVR (automatic voltage regulation) fitted to your trade generator to provide the stable voltage output your computer requires.
Our most popular trade/farm generators is the Powerlite 8kVA Generator. This unit can be fitted with AVR for an additional $500, which will means you can safely run your normal work-site power tools as well as your computer. Many other units within the trade/farm generator range can easily be fitted with AVR.
3. I can see that some of the trade generator models use Honda engines, but are they legitimate Honda engines that can be serviced by Honda repair agents?
Yes. Our trade generators with Honda engines are built by leading Australian manufactures; Powerlite, Gentech, Dunlite and Advanced Power. These are 100% authentic Honda engines complete with a full three-year commercial warranty. You can have the engine inspected and/or serviced by any approved Honda service agent around Australia.
We are aware of some cheaper brands using imported "Honda" engines in generators and other power equipment, which are not authentic engines from Honda Australia. However, with the trade generator ranges from Powerlite, Gentech, Dunlite and Advanced Power, you can be 100% confident that you are getting a legitimate Honda engine and warranty.
4. What additions do I need to have on the generator to ensure it is Work Cover Approved?
There are three additional Work Cover features for a generator: Earth Leakage Protection, Weatherproof Outlets and Rollover Frame. The majority of the Powerlite, Gentech, Dunlite, Advanced Power and Crommelins trade generators come in both standard or Work Cover Approved models. Many Work Cover models will also have wheel and handle kits included. Explore the full range of Work Cover Trade Generators here.
5. What is the best trade generator in terms of warranty?
The Australian manufacturers (Powerlite, Gentech, Dunlite, Crommelins and Advanced Power) provide the best trade generator warranties - a full two year commercial warranty on the whole generator. For the engine its either a three year warranty on a Honda engine, or a two year warranty on the likes of Subaru, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Yanmar, Hatz and Lister Petter. The benefit of going with one of these brands is that because they use legitimate premium quality engines, it means you can have the unit serviced or inspected by any of the accredited service agents around the country.
6. Can I connect my trade generator to my house to provide backup power during a blackout?
For most standard trade generators, this kind of configuration needs to be done by an electrician. They aren't necessarily built solely for this application in mind, but an electrician can configure the wiring with a transfer switch to connect to your home. The more common approach is to choose a generator specifically designed for this, like a two-wire auto start generator in conjunction with an automatic mains failure (AMF) panel to. So if you're looking primarily for direct home backup power, look to the auto-start generator range for brands such as Pramac, Powerlite or gas options like Generac. In all cases, it's important to note that connecting your generator to your house needs to be performed by a qualified electrician.
More info?
For more information on Trade and Farm Generators, you can check out the full trade range at My Generator, or read the following articles regarding the best trade generators available:
DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.
