Can my new generator safely run my office?

they used to make fine lawn mower engines :)

the specs, such as they are:

is this just for an emergency or all the time?

most desktops and servers like nice a stable power source. they tend to lock up a lot whrn the power burps.

lap tops just charge a battery usually. they don't mind shaky power much.

the total load should be your main concern. if you office is in place now look at the monthly electric bill. divide kilowatt-hours by the number of hours in a month to get kW. then multiply by 2 to get the size generator you need.

i was at a tent sale this summer where a car dealer was trying to run copiers, credit card machines, and coffee pots from small generators like this. it sure kept the office equipment repair guys busy.

| the specs, such as they are: |

Why not use tinyurl.com to make a shorter one, and in parallel with that, send a complaint to the webmaster that they have made a very poor choice of web application software that is detrimental to people wanting to make referrals to their products.

Without answering anything just yet - How do you plan on connecting this generator to the building's electrical system or will it be separate? John

You are in over your head. Asking for advice in a newsgroup is like using a bomb to remove a tumor. Get a qualified electrician involved ASAP.

Laser printers in particular, and computers and other electronics in general tend to be picky about power quality and generally don't like surges, sags, spikes, over & under voltage variations and switching transients.

The old original Apple Laserwriter printer was famous for requiring almost pristine-quality power in order not to cause grief...

Most pros would look at your load and specify individual UPS units or one big UPS to power the whole thing, and then perhaps a generator to supply power to and charge the UPS. A voltage regulator, conditioning and surge protection would be desirable on the output of the UPS.

I myself would never connect a el-cheapo generator directly to such a load unless I was quite sure that the generator had good, and I mean damn good regulation. The risk is burning out all your expense electronics in one glorious moment is just too great!

Beachcomber

You didn't mention heating or air condition for your office. Don't you need power for that also?

| You are in over your head. Asking for advice in a newsgroup is like using a | bomb to remove a tumor. Get a qualified electrician involved ASAP.

You willing to wager money that the bomb would NOT remove the tumor?

It's the side effects that people need to be worried about.

Thanks for the advice, but that's the clincher - the qualified electricians where I'm at are few, or just out to make money. Thanks though.

| Brian wrote: |> You are in over your head. Asking for advice in a newsgroup is like using a |> bomb to remove a tumor. Get a qualified electrician involved ASAP. | | | Thanks for the advice, but that's the clincher - the qualified | electricians where I'm at are few, or just out to make money. Thanks | though.

There aren't very many electricians that do work for free where I live, either. Most of the ones around here have to eat, support a family, pay a mortgage, and of course have a means to buy all the stuff they install in offices and homes.