Industrial generators are in a league of their own because they’re built for demanding requirements. Dealing with industrial level energy supply requires industrial level knowledge from the right technicians for significant work like generator servicing in Brisbane and much more. Industrial units can often last for many years when properly maintained, but there may come the point in every generator’s life where it will be decommissioned. There are so many reasons why a disconnection is required. They can be as simple as wanting an upgrade to something as typical as a temporary industrial property shutting down. When the time comes for your generator’s disconnection, there are a few things you need to know about the entire process.
Who can disconnect an industrial generator?
Some industrial operations have in-house electrical experts that may be knowledgeable, but they won’t have the same range of experience as professional generator contractors. It’s always best to use professionally licensed generator service providers for the job because they will follow national regulations required for safe generator installations, connections, and disconnections. Below we’ve outlined examples and the various considerations that the technician must take into account to successfully de-install your generator set:
Reasons why a generator needs disconnection
When a generator is disconnected, it is also known as a generator decommissioning. The basic definition of decommissioning is the withdrawal of service, and that’s what happens to generators that go into decommissioning. There are many reasons that generators are decommissioned, and we’ve listed some of them below:
Power upgrades
There are situations where an industrial property will suddenly need to expand to accommodate more staff, extra equipment or additional electrical supply because of increased work demands. This requires that the industrial generator needs expanding too. Many generator owners will find that it is cheaper to disconnect their current system and install a larger generator than to add or improve the existing system.
Technology upgrade
Just how power supply needs may need upgrading, the technology built into generators is also constantly upgraded. New technology advancements now allow for remote monitoring and more effortless operation. It is a worthwhile investment for many generator owners to consider buying modern gensets because they have these advancements built-in—especially those who own older models.
Industrial facility shutdown
Industrial generators can be used for a range of uses, including properties that need generators for a limited period of time. This may be for recreational reasons, like a festival, and this means that the unit won’t be used for an extended period and will need disconnection once the purpose has been served. The property will be shut down, and therefore the standby power supply is no longer needed. A temporary power supply is only one of the reasons involved when discussing what a generator is typically used for.
How to disconnect an industrial generator?
There are many technical aspects involved when it comes to a full-service disconnection and removal. Backup or primary industrial generator units are made up of many parts, including automatic transfer switches, transformers, electrical wiring and fuel storage tanks. Each piece has to be handled carefully by a licensed electrician, and that’s stipulated in Queensland Electrical Safety laws. Below are a few steps that we’ll take as a professional generator operator before, during and after a decommissioning or disconnection.
Comprehensive inspection
Inspection should be one of the very first steps of the disconnection process. A technician will arrive at the facility to inspect, document and determine the most efficient method of removing your equipment. This is important to track the manufacturer’s specifications and the condition of your generator. The inspection will also calculate the accurate weight and dimensions of all more oversized items linked to the system that will need professional removal. We will then commence the following services:
- Automatic transfer switch removal
The automatic transfer switch is there to help automatically or manually transfer the source of power from the electrical grid to the generator in case of a power outage.
- Fuel and storage tank removal
Fuel can be highly flammable and potentially hazardous if exposed to people that aren’t very experienced at handling it. The technician will ensure that the tank is safely removed before complete disconnection.
- Electrical wiring removal
This is the point in the process where all the wiring between your property and the unit is disconnected. We will then disconnect power from the main breaker for all equipment involved. This also includes the proper termination of all close connections, plus the thorough re-labelling of everything
- Removal process
Once the unit is disconnected safely, we can arrange for a crane to arrive and load the generator and remove it. We may even coordinate removal details with the relevant authorities or vendors contributing to the process.
- Power grid restoration (if required) or new generator installation
We will then restore all systems so that they can operate using the conditions available to them prior to the installation of the industrial generator. The restoration process may include the upgrade of breaker panel labels at this point, and once power is restored, we’ll leave everything good as new!
Call a professional for generator disconnections
Even though we’ve painted a general picture of the entire process, this may differ on a case by case basis. It all depends on your current installation, the generator company you choose to employ and the power restoration plans. Even without that in mind, you can still see from the information above that a fair amount is involved in de-installing or decommissioning a large generator.
If you are considering the disconnection of your current industrial generator in the Queensland area for any reason, we are ready to help in assessing your options. Our professional team of generator experts has been working in the area for many decades and are pros for hardy industrial units. We have successfully de-installed individual generators of all sizes. Reactive Generators is available for a range of generator services in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich.
