Temporary generator for home office

Chiorino

Currently working from home like so many others but we've been told our power is going to be cut off for period, potentially a whole day, next week. We work from a separate building from the main house, though the power feed does come from the meter in the house. What options are there in terms of temporarily hooking up a generator to the office building so we can keep things running? It's not the first time this has happened and can't really afford to be out of action for a whole day and don't have the option to work from anywhere else.

Henry...

How much/What type of equipment as are you talking about

2011

You may be able to rent a small generator.
It may be easier to run an extension lead to a neighbor assuming they have power? Ensure the cable is not going to be damaged or become a tripping hazard if doing this.

Henry...

2011 wrote: »

You may be able to rent a small generator.
It may be easier to run an extension lead to a neighbor assuming they have power? Ensure the cable is not going to be damaged or become a tripping hazard if doing this.

This would be best imo

Chiorino

Small office setup, two pc's, phones, printers, backup server etc. Nearest neighbour would be over 500m away (quite rural) so no chance to run a cable to them. In all likelyhood, they'll be off too anyway

Car99

Internet connection via modem in the main house?

Chiorino

Car99 wrote: »

Internet connection via modem in the main house?

No, standalone separate internet connection for the office.

Henry...

What would that be about 1.5 KVA max ?

You need the right type Genny , think it's an inverter true sine wave type, I forget the details somebody else prob knows

2011

Chiorino wrote: »

Small office setup, two pc's, phones, printers, backup server etc. Nearest neighbour would be over 500m away (quite rural) so no chance to run a cable to them. In all likelyhood, they'll be off too anyway

Ok, running an extension lead sounds like it would not make sense.

Although your load is very small my concern would be that a small generator may have bad volatge regaultion. This is not an issue for many appliances but personally I would be nervous with expensive sensitive electronic equipment.

Can you work somehwere else for one day?

2011

Henry... wrote: »

What would that be about 1.5 KVA max ?

You need the right type Genny , think it's an inverter true sine wave type, I forget the details somebody else prob knows

yes, somthing like this is a good option but could be difficult to rent.

Henry...

2011 wrote: »

Ok, running an extension lead sounds like it would not make sense.

Although your load is very small my concern would be that a small generator may have bad volatge regaultion. This is not an issue for many appliances but personally I would be nervous with expensive sensitive electronic equipment.

Can you work somehwere else for one day?

I forgot that bit

True sine wave with AVR

There must be a Genny available that does this

10-10-20

Not sure if a building-site genny is the right option if you'll have PC's running off it, as who knows what shape/frequency the waveform will be.
https://www.hss.ie/g/41506/6kVA-Silenced-Diesel-Generator.html
If they were all laptops, then I'd say it's fine.

salmocab

I wonder with power being out will your internet be affected, is there any electronics in the mini pillars that might lose power?

Henry...

I never liked them for electronic equipment

I wouldn't be hooking them up to the board anyway, don't like that either

Connect the equipment direct

Car99

Chiorino wrote: »

No, standalone separate internet connection for the office.

Then rent a generator , silenced generator if available and a few good quality exterior leads. You could with proper wiring get a back up generator wired in but a rather expensive option.

Chiorino

Working somewhere else isn't really an option as I wouldn't be able to access my database or server if the power in the office isn't active. I don't believe there is any issue with the internet being affected if I can maintain power to the router (internet is via satellite dish)

afatbollix

You will also have to sort out getting the power to the items as you would have to run cables to them all and then unhook them once your power is back on.

You're better off buying a bottle of wine and asking a friend to use a spare bedroom for the day. If that fails a nearby hotel room for the day and expenses it.

Henry...

afatbollix wrote: »

You will also have to sort out getting the power to the items as you would have to run cables to them all and then unhook them once your power is back on.

You're better off buying a bottle of wine and asking a friend to use a spare bedroom for the day. If that fails a nearby hotel room for the day and expenses it.

Ya lol there's about 3 options

Run a lead

Hire a Genny

Move your equipment somewhere

Chiorino

Henry... wrote: »

Ya lol there's about 3 options

Run a lead

Hire a Genny

Move your equipment somewhere

Can't move the equipment and the lead isn't a runner so looks like a genny will have to be hired and a few extension leads bought. I can get a 2kva Honda inverter genny like this https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Honda-EU20i-Petrol-Portable-Generator/dp/B000VDFQDW local enough for small money. Would that be suitable?

Henry...

Chiorino wrote: »

Can't move the equipment and the lead isn't a runner so looks like a genny will have to be hired and a few extension leads bought. I can get a 2kva Honda inverter genny like this https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Honda-EU20i-Petrol-Portable-Generator/dp/B000VDFQDW local enough for small money. Would that be suitable?

I don't know sorry, without spending half the afternoon researching

There's a poster here Sir Liamolot that knows a lot about this stuff

247music

Do you plan on making tea at some point? Only capable of 1.6kw, most kettles would be 3kw and that's before you add in the load of all your other equipment...

If your dead set on a Jenny, then your best option is to find a hiring company that have a larger Kva invertor generator.

Chiorino

247music wrote: »

Do you plan on making tea at some point? Only capable of 1.6kw, most kettles would be 3kw and that's before you add in the load of all your other equipment...

One of the previous posters suggested 1.5KVA but 2 KVA seems to be the smallest available to rent to any degree. What potential issues would I have by getting one that's larger (other than the cost)?

punisher5112

Chiorino wrote: »

One of the previous posters suggested 1.5KVA but 2 KVA seems to be the smallest available to rent to any degree. What potential issues would I have by getting one that's larger (other than the cost)?

The larger the better as less risk of not having enough to power what you need as mentioned cup of tea or whatever.

So if you take into account say load is 2kw then you would be best with 3kw to be safe.

listermint

Genuinely.

Book a holiday off. I mean that in all seriousness.

Car99

listermint wrote: »

Genuinely.

Book a holiday off. I mean that in all seriousness.

I'm guessing it's a self employed person.

Chiorino

Car99 wrote: »

I'm guessing it's a self employed person.

Correct. I'd love to be able to just take the day off but it's not possible at the moment.

Henry...

As far as I can see all you need is an inverter type generator

I wouldn't know too much about them but they seem to have the clean sine wave and voltage regulation built-in

punisher5112

Henry... wrote: »

As far as I can see all you need is an inverter type generator

I wouldn't know too much about them but they seem to have the clean sine wave and voltage regulation built-in

Yes but I would still suggest to use the extension leads with the protection on them also to be safe....
If doing work that if not saved can be lost, constantly save, save and save....

Henry...

punisher5112 wrote: »

Yes but I would still suggest to use the extension leads with the protection on them also to be safe....
If doing work that if not saved can be lost, constantly save, save and save....

Seems to be as simple as that for small sensitive loads if I'm reading it correctly on the gennys

Pete67

I have a Honda EU20i for exactly the purpose you are describing. I have used it several times to run 2 desktop PC's, a couple of laptops, router, modem, network switches, printer and a few lights. It's fairly quiet especially on low loads as the auto throttle adjusts engine speed to meet load. It's an invertor generator so output voltage and frequency are stable. I've also used it to run the sound board and a couple of 500W amplifiers at smaller outdoor events and it had no problem doing that either.

I use it with a camping power cable like this which adds RCD protection. You can either change the plug for a 13A one or use an adapter like this, or any 13A extension with RCD built in would be fine too.

A couple of 5l petrol cans will keep you going for the day. Just make sure no exhaust can get into the building through an open window etc, maybe consider a carbon monoxide alarm.

Outkast_IRE

Small UPS might be the best option here once you keep an eye on your usage.

Chiorino

As an update, nowhere seems to have any small inverter generators available. Spoke to one crowd and they suggested that all their generators have built in automatic voltage regulation so they'd be fine to use with pc's and the like. I'm skeptical.

Henry...

Chiorino wrote: »

As an update, nowhere seems to have any small inverter generators available. Spoke to one crowd and they suggested that all their generators have built in automatic voltage regulation so they'd be fine to use with pc's and the like. I'm skeptical.

My understanding was that you still need the inverter type for the clean sine wave

Henry...

Have you no way of working off mobile devices for a day

Chiorino

Henry... wrote: »

My understanding was that you still need the inverter type for the clean sine wave

My understanding too. I'd actually leave everything off before I'd take the chance of frying it all.

Henry...

Chiorino wrote: »

My understanding too. I'd actually leave everything off before I'd take the chance of frying it all.

I wouldn't be hooking up a standard generator with AVR

Chiorino

Henry... wrote: »

Have you no way of working off mobile devices for a day

The main problem is access to server/database which I won't have if the power is down. I can do very little without this, other than reply to emails/calls to tell clients there's nothing I can do until the following day. If that ends up being the case, I might as well leave it to auto reply and voicemail.

Henry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Honda-EU20i-Petrol-Portable-Generator/dp/B000VDFQDW

That one referenced above the Honda EU20i looks about right to me anyway

con747

Not sure if any use to you but Aldi have this https://www.aldi.ie/scheppach-1200w-inverter-generator/p/806491470899400 on sale on Thursday.

Chiorino

con747 wrote: »

Not sure if any use to you but Aldi have this https://www.aldi.ie/scheppach-1200w-inverter-generator/p/806491470899400 on sale on Thursday.

Unfortunately it would be too small and the day after it's needed but thanks. I'll keep looking but I think I'm close to running out of options and am just going to have to literally pull the plug for the day. Thanks for all the input and advice folks.

con747

Your local tool hire place will have a suitable one.

Outkast_IRE

Chiorino wrote: »

The main problem is access to server/database which I won't have if the power is down. I can do very little without this, other than reply to emails/calls to tell clients there's nothing I can do until the following day. If that ends up being the case, I might as well leave it to auto reply and voicemail.

Even medium to large commercial businesess just get an appropriate size UPS for this type of backup. We do work for a large global tech company and for their comms and server rooms on site they use a battery UPS . Thats the avenue you need to be pursuing they are not big or bulky at all for reasonable size loads.

Chiorino

con747 wrote: »

Your local tool hire place will have a suitable one.

I would have thought so but I've rang a half dozen and no joy. A couple hadn't even a clue what I was looking for.

Henry...

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Even medium to large commercial businesess just get an appropriate size UPS for this type of backup. We do work for a large global tech company and for their comms and server rooms on site they use a battery UPS . Thats the avenue you need to be pursuing they are not big or bulky at all for reasonable size loads.

How long will they allow you to operate the PCs and equipment here

2011

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Even medium to large commercial businesess just get an appropriate size UPS for this type of backup. We do work for a large global tech company and for their comms and server rooms on site they use a battery UPS .

These tend to have an autonomy of 15 minutes, rarely as much as 30 minutes. Generally a UPS is just used to bridge the gap until the generators kick in.

Thats the avenue you need to be pursuing they are not big or bulky at all for reasonable size loads.

They will be large and expensive option if you want to keep everything going for 24 hours on just one occasion.

Henry...

2011 wrote: »

These tend to have an autonomy of 15 minutes rarely as much as 30 minutes. Generally a UPS is just used to bridge the gap until the generators kick in.



They will be large and expensive option if you want to keep everything going for 24 hours one just one occasion.

That's what I assumed as well

Can you not move the server off site or something and access it remotely, then use tablets and mobiles to work
I dunno

I would be veering toward the inverter generator if no other options

You have it for backup again

Outkast_IRE

Henry... wrote: »

That's what I assumed as well

Can you not move the server off site or something and access it remotely, then use tablets and mobiles to work
I dunno

I would be veering toward the inverter generator if no other options

You have it for backup again

All depends on load and UPS . But likely to work out an expensive option alright if you wanted 8 hours backup or similar, much more expensive for 24hrs backup.

2011

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

All depends on load and UPS

……and the required autonomy. I would not think that there is any UPS rental option either

But likely to work out an expensive option alright if you wanted 8 hours backup or similar, much more expensive for 24hrs backup.

I think it would be far cheaper to buy a suitable generator.