Miami Generator repair and serviceIs your company looking for an ethical generator service and repair company in Miami and surrounding area? ACF Standby Systems may be the company for you. The Miami area is a tough market to serve with many options for you to choose from. You’ve also been probably disappointed with the level of service you may have received. Our motto is: “The ACF “Do unto the customer as you want to be treated as a customer!” Let us earn your trust today in Miami and throughout the state of Florida! Locations in Miami, Coral Springs, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville. Call us today for your generator maintenence needs. Major, minor, loadbank, fuel polishing, ATS repair and troubleshooting, etc. |
Rust Tune Up on Your generatorFlorida weather can be brutal on outdoor equipment. Protect your investment with a weather proofing check up. Let ACF Standby Systems give you a free estimate on removing rust, repainting and changing out rusted hinges and screws on your generator. Call Mike Skrypek at 800-282-5359 x 119 to schedule a FREE visit. |
Winter Back-upWhen we think about the Sunshine State and electricity consumption, we are inclined to picture high demand for energy on a steamy July afternoon. It seems logical to pay special attention to safeguarding your business from power outages during the summer months. While it is important to make sure that energy demand on an exceptionally hot and humid summer afternoon doesn’t stop your workday, winter demand can be just as high. As Floridians we get cold when the temperature drops much below 70°. You’d be surprised how many space heaters and electric blankets get turned on in our state, not just up north in Jacksonville but down south in Miami and Melbourne also. In fact TECO and Progress Energy, the utility providers for the majority of central Florida, report record single-day electricity usage records as being the result of a cold front in January of 2010, not one of our notoriously hot summers. Winter Electricity Demand As always, record demands can easily lead to blackouts. Power outages caused by high demand for energy tend to happen at the beginning of the day. Think about it: demand will be high all night when thermostats are set to warm the house along with other heating elements. Then everyone wakes up and turns on televisions, radios and hot water heaters that all need even more energy without turning off the heat. This surge in demand can cause the utility provider to scramble to supply enough power and often results in multiple power outages to start the day. By the time the utility provider has mobilized their staff to fix the first outage, several others likely pile up, leaving some without power for the entire day if not longer. That is why electric companies make pleas to the community to limit consumption on a cold day. Think about it: power companies sell electricity for profit, so if they are asking you to use less electricity, they are basically admitting an inability to cover demand and warning that you will likely experience some form of disruption in power supply. Can your business afford to be put on hold for a day? Especially at a time of year where vacations are likely, so you need to get as much work done in a day as possible. Or at a time of year where your sales increase to the point that you become profitable? The bottom line here is that at some point, your bottom line will depend upon your ability to produce electricity, at least for a limited amount of time. To do this you need to have a standby system or set of generators on hand that can handle your electricity demands. Don’t confuse winter months and lack of electrical demand. Yes, we are lucky enough in Florida to be able to turn the air conditioner off during many winter days. Don’t forget the peak days that create surges for the utility providers and ultimately everyone who needs electricity. We will leave you with a couple of facts. Florida Energy Facts
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Related Posts: |
Who Should Maintain your Generator?Generators and standby systems are necessary pieces of equipment for most businesses. Weather and utility company failures can cause power outages in any season, so being prepared means having a backup plan for your power needs. It might sound like wordplay, but realistically you need a backup plan for your backup plan. What we mean is that you need a generator maintenance plan to ensure that your system is ready to help you when you need it. Some companies prefer to forego purchasing a sound maintenance plan and choose to handle this necessary activity internally. Their argument is that if a company has staff on hand who already know how to work with engines, they can save money by performing maintenance themselves. Most often this happens with facilities that purchase diesel fueled generators or standby systems as some companies have mechanics on hand with experience fixing and maintaining these types of engines. While we will not tell you that it is impossible for someone with little to no generator experience to perform these duties, bear in mind that your mechanics likely have other duties; if your team is caught up fixing a fleet of vehicles, generator maintenance can easily end up on the back burner. After all, no one will notice until the power goes out. Basic Maintenance Necessities
In reality these points of maintenance are just the tip of the iceberg. Other things must be done and the entire unit must be inspected to ensure that it is in working order. If you feel that your internal staff can handle such a task, then doing it yourself might not be bad option for you. Keep in mind that it takes time and that standby systems’ engines are not exactly the same as the engine in a vehicle or a piece of heavy machinery. If your maintenance technicians don’t not know what they are looking for, they can easily miss some basic yet important issues that need to be addressed in order to keep your unit running. The city of Lake Wales made a specific effort to budget for their generators and standby systems to be maintained. The same foresight is needed for larger areas such as Miami and Tampa as well. Sources: |
A Variety of Generators for a Variety of NeedsWhen it comes to power needs every building or complex is different. Your facility might need an entirely different standby system than another facility of equal size, depending upon what you actually do and what your electricity needs will be when the utility provider cannot help you out. In order to help you get a handle on what type of system would best suit your needs, it is beneficial to understand what your options are.
Once you have decided what your power needs are, what type of fuel will be best for you, and how you intend to use your generator or standby system, you are ready to pick the type of unit that is best for you. We hope that this list helps you to better understand the different varieties that are available. For more information on these types of units please visit us online. Related Posts: |
Power Outage 101A lot of people are willing to gamble when it comes to backup power. They feel that power outages are rare occurrences that don’t really pose a significant threat. But ask anyone who operates a data or manufacturing facility that has lost power for say, more than five minutes, if power outages do not pose a threat, and you are likely to get a response that uses stronger words than “significant.” The truth is that power outages cost thousands of dollars for every minute that a medium or large facility goes without power, and that they are more common than most people tend to think. Why Does the Power go out? Let’s begin by reviewing the most common reasons for power outages. According to information from some actual power providers the top causes of power outages include:
These are the most common reasons for disruptions in power. While other factors can play a role, more often than not the culprit is on the above list. What about Blackouts in the Future? As our population grows in numbers and the use of electrically powered technology becomes an increasing part of everyone’s lives, it would be unrealistic to think that increased power outages are not going to be a probable side affect. More people, who all have increased demand for energy, will likely cause problems for utility providers. Currently the energy industry is looking into new ways to create electricity that is both better for the environment and able to meet upcoming demands. The truth is, those sources of electricity are largely in experimental stages and are not widely adopted. If you disagree, look at the bottom of your next power bill. It lists how your utility provider sourced electricity during the previous billing period. You will see that the majority of our power still comes from fossil fuels and coal, not new technologies. Recently CNN reported on the findings of a team of researchers out of the University of Minnesota. These researchers studied power disruptions and blackouts. They found that over the past 20 years power outages that are not caused by natural disasters but do end up affecting at least 50,000 people are up 124%. This evidence shows that our demand for energy is currently increasing faster than the utility companies’ ability to provide power. What Can We Do about It? This is not the easiest question to answer. Some would argue more funding for research and development of new technologies, while others would back finding ways for each individual to use less power. In the end it will probably be a combination of both ideas. Regardless of what happens, everyone who values energy, or who values their business that needs energy to operate, can purchase insurance. The insurance we are talking about isn’t an intangible contract sold to you by someone who will likely try to argue you out of payment when you need it. This type of insurance is a tangible piece of proven machinery that when set up correctly can power parts of your business, if not the entire facility. The other benefit is that this “insurance policy” does not necessarily cost you more based on location. An identical standby system costs the same for a data center in Jacksonville as it does for a manufacturing plant in Orlando. Sources:
Related Posts: |
Why Buy BaldorThere are a lot of different brand names when it comes to backup power. Making a purchase decision for a generator or standby system means that you have to choose out the brand as well as the specific unit. While it is true that many manufacturers make quality products, not many manufacturers incorporate quality into their entire product line. One company might make great portable gas generators, but poor quality immobile standby systems. This is not the case with Baldor; they make products that they expect to put to work in the field. Product quality is a priority for this manufacturer. Industrial Equipment Many manufacturers make generators out of lesser quality parts. A lawn engine motor might work for a generator that only gets used twice a year for a couple of hours, but industrial equipment needs to be ready continually. Baldor knows this, so they make sure that the majority of their products are built around your need to work. They incorporate multiple exceptional features:
A Committed Company Have you ever noticed that the way a company feels about their business plays a big role in how well they operate and directly cues product quality? So have we. We have chosen to be a certified Baldor dealer throughout Florida because of the company’s commitment to making quality products. We carry their products in all sizes, from 2.5 kilowatt units all the way up to 2.5 megawatts. We have based our product line around Baldor because of their commitment to the industry. They think about their customers and product quality every step of the way. They can manufacture and deliver custom motors and drives in three weeks or less. This means that they are willing to give their customers exactly what they need in a reasonable amount of time. Baldor representatives also spend countless hours every year talking to their customers. They want feedback so that they can continually improve and make sure that customers who depend on them for power get exactly what they need. We feel that customers should be provided the best products that are customized to their needs as well, so it made the decision to focus our product line on their gensets a no-brainer. When you are committed to your customers, your industry and quality you will surely rise to the top of your industry just as Baldor has. Sources:
Related Posts: |
The Power to Save LivesToday’s post is dedicated to the ability that generators have to save lives. Yes, they can absolutely save businesses money, but in many instances they can do more. Think about all of the facilities that people depend on for life sustaining services. In addition think about all of the ways that backup or portable power can help reduce casualties. Hospitals Hospitals are the first type of facility on the list when it comes to saving lives. Patients who are in surgery or critical care units could literally die if the hospital goes without power for even a few moments. Patients hooked up to ventilators would not be able to breathe, while others who are on operating tables would not receive proper care and would lose blood if the power is discontinued. Hospitals save lives on a daily basis, and electricity is just as vital a tool for a hospital as doctors and scalpels are. Water Treatment Water treatment facilities clean water and oversee its distribution to the community. The overwhelming majority of citizens receive their water from water treatment facilities. Without the electricity that they need to operate, people would go without one of the most important things that our bodies need on a daily basis. It would not take long for stores to be out of bottled water. Soon enough people would be resorting to less clean sources of water which is one of the easiest ways to spread disease. Power Plants This is an interesting thing to think about. When the power goes out, the first entity to be blamed is the power plant. While it is true that providing power is their responsibility, from time to time they experience technical difficulties. If they have proper standby systems in place, these difficulties will be far easier to overcome. Not only will they still be able to provide power (likely on a limited basis), but they will be able to operate inside the facility effectively so as to be able to fix whatever has broken. Power plants supply large geographic areas with electricity. TECO provides more than just the city of Tampa with power, but many of the surrounding communities. The same can be said about Florida Power or any of the other large entities that are involved in powering the state of Florida. Even the power company needs a generator. Military The military currently uses generators and is thinking about new ways to incorporate them. Generators can restore utilities and provide field hospitals with power that can save lives. They are also looking into generators that run off of non-fossil fuel sources to use in the field. It is dangerous and costly to send units back and forth between bases and field outposts with fresh supplies and additional fuel for vehicles. Generators that run off of solar power or rechargeable batteries can be used in the field to provide lighting, electricity for computers and a variety of other things. These new-age generators will keep our troops safer, while giving them the tools they need to do their jobs. The technology that the military is currently developing and using will likely become available to consumers in the future. Their innovations could be the future of our business. Standby systems and generators are useful to almost every person on the planet. Very few people choose to live without power. Between the need for lights and the climate in Florida, electricity is a must. If you want to ensure that your power will always be available, feel free to visit us online to find out about the products and service packages that we offer. Sources: Department of Environmental Protection-Florida
Related Posts: |
Determining Capacity: How Much Standby System Do You Need?Considering that tens of thousands of dollars can be lost every minute that a large facility goes without power, standby systems are not just recommended; they are necessary. In essence a standby system or series of generators can be considered to be a tangible insurance policy. Instead of paying out in the event of a disaster, they save you from losing money. The issue becomes which standby system to buy. The decision involves thinking about what you need and what you want, and then doing a little bit of math. Some would tell you that you are “sizing your generator set” when you are making this decision because you are deciding how much capacity your system must have in order to keep your facility going.
You will need to find out how much power all of your chosen equipment needs to run. Basically all of the equipment you have has its own version of a continuous rating (the voltage it needs to run is usually referred to as “rated power.”). When it comes to equipment with motors, you will need to factor in the additional voltage required to start the equipment. In an ideal world you would add up all of the equipment on your list, come up with a total and pick your favorite system. In the real world you will add up the amount of power that it takes to run your equipment and increase your total to allow equipment to start. If you want to purchase one large system or several small systems, you can save yourself some math by purchasing a standby system large enough to handle a single step load. This may require that you organize several smaller systems (a generator set) that can hook up to selected equipment to share the load. If you do not want to do this, then you will have to plan for step starting. A safe capacity estimate for step starting calculates how much voltage you need to start your piece of equipment with the highest start up needs while everything else is running. Then add about 20% to accommodate added equipment as your facility grows (every business want to get bigger right?) and momentary losses in power output that your generator will experience as additional equipment starts up. Once you have this figure, you will have a good idea of how high the continuous rating of your system should be. If you opt for step starting, as many facilities do, you will need to have multiple transfer switches installed. The transfer switches will be set up to turn on particular equipment in a specific order, so that all of your chosen equipment can ultimately be turned on without overworking your system. Being too conservative with the continuous rating of your system or neglecting to start equipment in an order that your system can handle is not recommended. You will not want to find out which straw broke the camel’s back. The good news is that a properly sized and maintained standby system can make sure that your facility never shuts down due to lack of power. You will need to make the decisions about what gets power and what doesn’t and obtain the power ratings for the equipment. A good standby technician or salesperson can help you determine your capacity needs after that. Sources: Scribd-Sizing Gen Sets for Large Motor Starting
Related Posts: |
A Little Pro-activity Goes A Long WayManaging a business takes a lot of work and attention to detail. If you are starting a new business or changing the location of your current business you have a lot of bases to cover. One of them is an emergency plan. Emergency plans are your go to guides when something unexpected arises. It might be a natural disaster, like one of our famous Florida hurricanes, or a man made mistake that affects your business. It really doesn’t matter what causes the shift from normal operation, you must be prepared to recover as quickly as possible and get back to business. Power needs will be an issue. Every business needs electricity to function. You can guarantee yourself power with a standby system. Not every commercial property that you rent will already have one installed, in fact most won’t. This is because, as necessary as they are, standby systems represent an expense to your business. It’s understandable that you are trying to keep your costs down but every business needs insurance. You take out worker’s compensation insurance for your employees; you might even pay a monthly premium for disaster insurance for your business. Think about a generator like tangible disaster insurance that won’t make you fill out a million forms when you need it to get to work for you. In order to properly plan for a disaster you should make a standby system a part of your business plan from the beginning. Expect to include it in your financials so that you can budget accordingly. Yes, you will pay for the equipment up front but ask your accountant how he or she plans to depreciate it. A generator is an asset and depreciation means that you can allocate the cost of the asset over the useful life of the equipment. In realistic terms this means that every month, you can reduce your taxes a little bit by reporting that you spent a portion of the cost of the standby system. It will take a little longer for you to realize the tax benefits but remember you are investing in your business. Once the equipment is part of your financial plan you will see how easily it becomes a part of your disaster plan. Plan what you will need to have powered and make sure that your generator is hooked up to the breakers that power those areas. You will need to decide what is most important to your business. If you have a data center you will obviously need to make sure that your servers do not go down. Beyond that you will want to consider:
If you think about it, your emergency plan is next to useless without power. You will have to wait for the utility company to restore power in order to get back to work. Unless you are a gas station along an escape route, a hospital or a government building don’t expect to be near the front of the line to have your utilities put back on line. Sources:
Related Posts: |
