Standby generators are permanently installed near a home or business and are used for emergency standby power. Mobile generators are towed to a location and used as prime power.

Standby power is intended to be used in emergency applications as a temporary power source (designed for 200 run hours per year.)

Prime power is the only source of power and must run continuously. Some have over 30,000 hours on them.

Mobile generators are used in rental applications such as construction sites and events. Occasionally, mobile generators are used in place of a permanently installed standby generator while it is being serviced.

A BESS is a mobile battery bank that is used in conjunction with a mobile generator to power equipment using battery power. The BESS is charged by the mobile generator when it runs low on power.

Tier 4 final is an EPA regulation in the United States for all on and off-road diesel engines. All of Generac’s mobile diesel generators are Tier 4 final.

Most mobile generators and light towers use diesel fuel. There are some gaseous (natural gas) mobile generators.

CSA is a Canadian regulation. All mobile generators sold into Canada must be CSA certified. All of Generac’s diesel light towers and mobile generators are CSA certified

kW and kVA are different measurements of power. kW is the measure of real power. kVA is the measure of apparent power.

PF is the measure of how effectively and efficiently power is being used. Mobile generators have a power factor of 0.8, whereas BESS units have a power factor of 1.0. The reason mobile generators are 0.8 is because a small amount of power is lost from the engine and alternator to the load.

When in single phase PF is 1.0 which means that kVA = kW.

kW = kVA * 0.8

MDE570

456 kW = 570 kVA * 0.8

Full containment is an option on mobile generators that holds all the engine fluids (coolant, oil, DEF) as well as all the fuel in the fuel tank.

110% containment is industry standard. More containment does not matter

This is required in environmentally sensitive applications. Local codes and laws may also require containment.

Mobile generators do not exercise on their own like standby generators do. Mobile generators must be manually started and connected to a load bank.

Yes, mobile generators can be wired to transfer switches. However, the neutral-ground connection on the lugs must be removed.

A PAS is required on oil & gas applications. 1-2% of sales opportunities require this option.

Auxiliary fuel and DEF connections are on the outside of mobile generators.

They enable connection to external fuel or DEF tanks for longer run time than the onboard fuel and/or DEF tank can provide.

Wet stacking occurs when a diesel engine is underloaded. This is mainly a concern with larger mobile generators and 20 kW light towers.

Wet stacking can be avoided by loading a mobile generator at least 30% of its rated load.

Lugs and camlocks are connections that are used to connect loads to mobile generators. Lugs are used with bare copper wires. Camlocks are quick and easy connections. Camlocks are optional.

Optional Generac SuperStart alternators allow for a larger inrush of voltage for starting equipment like large pumps.

Generac VFLEX 600V alternators are required in Canada only.

600V is an additional (4th) voltage setting.

Paralleling is an option that allows multiple mobile generators to be paired together to increase power output.

E.g. (2) MDE570 units paralleled together to make 1,140 kVA (912 kW)

An battery disconnect allows for the battery to be completely separated or turned off during storage.

This increases battery life and eliminates parasitic draws.

Most customer will simply disconnect the battery leads.

A voltage selector switch and/or link board (on larger mobile generators) changes voltage settings based on applications.

A buck transformer keeps the voltage at the receptacles at 120/240V no matter what voltage setting the mobile generator is set to.

Cold weather packages include items such as block heaters, battery heaters, oil pan heaters, and fuel filter heaters. They are needed in order to run units in arctic packages down to -40F.

e.g. standard light towers can operate down to 0 F

Cold weather light towers can operate down to -18 - -20 F depending on family.