Generators for Agriculture & Farm Use

There are many ways to determine the correct size generator for your needs. Basing it on all the loads you plan to run will give you a good idea of how many kW you could consume. Most times, the electrician will size the utility service a bit larger than your actual need and can give us a good idea of what kilowatt you should have to cover in an outage.

You can provide standby power to multiple locations if sized correctly and with the correct circuit protection.

Knowing who will support you if your generator fails is essential when purchasing a generator. At HooverTec, we have a dedicated service team that provides service for our products. With 3 locations, we can cover a relatively large area in central PA and provide prompt service when needed.

HooverTec offers a range of sizes and configurations. We will install the generator and switches, connect them, and test them. The electrician will hook the service into the transfer switches.

Most contractors require each livestock building to have its dedicated Automatic Transfer Switch. Some contractors require redundancy to prevent total loss of electricity in case of failure. It is also advisable to have a manual double throw if the generator fails to start; you can borrow the neighbor’s tractor and PTO generator to get you powered up again.

This will depend on the size of the generator and the load it is powering. We recommended a tank big enough to get you through the most prolonged expected power outage. However, fuel stored for long periods can degrade and lose its value. A plan to refresh the fuel once a year will help eliminate failure because of poor-quality fuel.

Enclosed stand-alone generators can save space and eliminate the need for a large mechanical room. However, an open, skid-mounted generator inside a climate-controlled mechanical room is much easier to service and can save time.

You must determine if the reduced purchase cost offsets the increased maintenance and repair costs. Ensure to include the added risk of equipment failure during a power outage. Is it worth the risk?

No. Hoses, seals, wire, and cable coatings can deteriorate with age, even if operating hours are minimal. An aged, low-hour generator often needs multiple repairs or modifications to fit the new application.

You can reconnect 3-phase generators to 1-phase, but this reduces the output rating by 33%. You will need to install a 1-phase breaker. The engine will now be oversized for the electrical output, limiting overall efficiency.

Depending on the power category, many diesel engines have a mechanical or high-pressure common-rail injection system; however, aftertreatment is unnecessary.

Used generators have some seemingly obvious advantages over new ones.

• More economical upfront price
• Wide selection available
• Decreased wait times

Attractive advantages? Yes. And when building costs are higher than expected, you might need to cut corners somewhere. But, before you buy, carefully analyze used versus new. You can find the generator that will keep your power on by carefully weighing the pros and cons.

1. Used generators leave you in the dark.
   We’re not just talking about a power outage here. When you buy a used generator, you often won’t know its history.
   1. How much was it used?
   2. How well has it been maintained?
   3. Who maintained it? Were they skilled experts, or did problems go unchecked?
   4. Has it been upgraded to include technological updates since it left the factory?
      With used generators, your investment is risky because you often don’t know the answers to all these questions. You could funnel the money you “saved” into escalating repair costs and untimely breakdowns.
2. New generator = Many years of reliable service
   A new generator will often last more than double the time of a low-hour, 15 – 20-year-old unit. We know the bitterness of an unreliable generator purchase will remain long after the satisfaction of a low price has been forgotten.
3. Warranties win over worry
   Warranties are always worth it. It is never a good idea to buy used equipment that doesn’t have a warranty. Combine an unknown history with a partial or no guarantee, and you could have severe, unexpected costs. Even if it has a warranty, you must confirm that it transfers to you.
   New generators come with a manufacturer’s warranty for each core moving part. With each minute part in mint condition, you won’t need to stress about breakdowns. But if they happen, your warranty has you covered.
4. Unreliability = Expensive
   When the lights go out, will they come back on?
   If you manage a farm or a grocery store, it’s not just lights that need to come back on. Your animals depend on all those whirring machines to keep them alive if you’re a farmer. A generator that fails when the power is out means your animals could die.