Blog posts tagged with 'Emergency Power in UK'

Generator Changeover Switches' Function

A changeover switch must be utilised if a generator is installed in the home or place of business as a backup power source. When the power source fails, the switch makes sure the generator changeover switchgear is quickly activated.

Types of Switches for Generator Changeover

There are two main types of changeover switches: automatic and manual. Both differ in their traits and applications:

Manual Changeover Switch

To transition from one power source to the emergency power, manual changeover switches need human intervention. Usually, an electronic button or a lever is used to do this. Despite their affordability and ease of use, manual switches rely on human behaviour in the event of a power outage.

Uses

• Residential structures
• Small and medium-sized companies
• Systems for illumination and security

Benefits

• It is less expensive.
• It is easy to install.
• It is small.

Automatic Changeover Switch

Electronic equipment known as automatic changeover switches are equipped with controls that can recognise power outages or restorations and switch the power source without the need for human intervention. They have sensors and relays that keep an eye on voltage levels and turn on the generator as needed.

Uses

• Healthcare facilities, including hospitals
• Financial networks and data centres
• Important industrial operations

Benefits

• Quick reaction to a power outage
• Adaptable to user-specific settings
• There is no interference during the power transition.

The Operation of Changeover Switches

In the event of a failure, the changeover switch in an EPSS transfers the electrical load from the primary power source to emergency power. To avoid back feed and possible damage, the switch cuts the generator's connection to the main grid. For continuity and safety, the switch automatically returns the load when the primary source of power is restored.

Three-phase changeover Switches are especially intricate, controlling several electrical supply phases to guarantee dependable and balanced power distribution.

Manual Changeover Switch

When cost is a concern and an instantaneous power shift is not a top priority, manual transfer switches ought to be employed. These are easier and less costly, but they need to be operated by hand.

Automatic Transfer Switch

Automatic transfer switches are suitable for any setting where little disruption during a power shift is necessary and power continuity is crucial. Even if they are more costly, their dependability and autonomous operation are frequently justified, particularly in sectors where uninterruptible power is crucial.

Want to buy the top-quality generator changeover switchgear? Reach out to us at Blades Power Generation.

It is sad to say it, but we live in an age where electrical blackouts are becoming more common. While some 60% of power failures are the result of a violent storm, it is also the case that one third of them (34%) are caused by faulty equipment as a result of the fact that the grid is aging and is becoming overloaded.

One of the reasons for this is that the population of this country is increasing at an almost alarming rate. Net immigration last year – both legal and illegal – came to a record high of 906,000. That is close to one million more people who all use electricity in the same way that the rest of us do. So, the simple fact is that power outages are going to become more and more common.

Turn Off Appliances

If your power goes down, whether at work or at home, one of the first things to do is to turn off all appliances / computers. The reason for this is that when the power comes back on it can result in an electrical surge which can then cause damage to anything which is still switched on. It is OK to leave a light on as, apart from anything else, it will let you know when the power has reconnected.

It is well worthwhile checking with neighbouring businesses if their power has gone down too, because if not, the fault is within your own building or its’ wiring or appliances.

It is also a good idea to call 105, which is a free service that puts you in touch with your local supplier. You can gain information about the outage and when the power is expected to return.

For total peace of mind, the ultimate answer is to have your own standby generator which can automatically switch on when the power goes down and you need emergency power, thus saving you all the hassle. These are available in different wattages, so you can buy one that is the correct size for the power that you need. Depending upon your power requirements, a new generator can be fairly expensive.

However, you can also buy used generators in the UK. At Blades Power Generation, we always have some of these available. This is because many businesses that use generators are growing and then begin to need more power. So, they trade in their old generators with us. When you buy used generators in the UK from us, it can save you a considerable amount of money. You will also have the peace of mind that when you need emergency power, it is right there ready and waiting.

A transfer switch controls an electrical load between two power sources, such as main and backup. These switches enable the secure connecting or disconnection of various power sources to an electric load. Manual switches are controlled by humans, whereas automated switches are actuated when one of the power sources acquires or loses power.

Automatic Transfer Switch Working Principle

The operating idea of an automatic transfer switch is to automatically transition electrical energy between primary and backup power sources without human intervention. This switch is an integral component of an emergency power supply system.

These switches contain a number of relays as well as solid-state electronics that are used to monitor and regulate the incoming voltage. This switch acts as a monitor whether the incoming supply is smooth and over a certain threshold. Once the voltage lowers, a solid-state relay device detects it and generates a signal to start the generator.

An ATS connects the backup generator to your residence. In general, energy flows from the utility to your home's main electrical system, which powers all of your circuits. This switch functions similarly to the brain throughout the electrical system.

Once this switch is connected, they will be able to automatically switch between utility and generator power. When this switch detects a power outage at home, it sends generator power to your house; when the power is restored, it detects it and returns utility electricity to your home.

The benefits of an automatic transfer switch include the following.

• The key benefit of this switch is that it immediately transfers the load's electricity to the generator.
• This switch has built-in sensors to detect any variations in the main power supply's frequency and voltage.
• These switches use a time delay mechanism to protect both the generator and your electric circuits from power fluctuations.
• These switches are dependable, easy, and secure.
• These switches are essential for an uninterrupted power supply.
• These switches are useful for effectively switching to generator power.

The automatic transfer switch has the following uses.

•      These switches are used to secure telecommunications and data networks, industrial processes, and important installations such as financial transaction centres and healthcare facilities.

•      These switches transmit electrical power between two power sources, such as the major utility and a secondary backup power source.

Thus, this is an outline of an automatic transfer switch and how it works with applications. The control mechanism for these switches is quite intricate. This switch can control between two power sources in as little as a few seconds. It also aids in the automated start-up of a standby generator when the main power source fails.

ATS is a key component of an emergency power supply system. Blades Power Generation focuses on quality, customer needs, reliability, and wide product offerings, setting us apart from competitors. Check out our website and get yours now.

Electricity is the silent engine driving progress, from the glow of streetlights to the hum of servers. Electricity is quietly enabling the conveniences we often take for granted. Yet, this dependency becomes most apparent when the lights flicker and the familiar hum falls silent. Power outages disrupt the rhythm of our lives, which is why it’s important to have the best emergency power source in the UK with us.

A survey revealed that 66% of UK residents have experienced local power cuts, with 23% facing annual occurrences and 10% dealing with cuts every six to ten months.

The frequency of power outages paints a portrait of vulnerability in the UK accustomed to the reliability of its infrastructure. Unpredictable weather emerges as a formidable adversary. The complexities of technical issues silently challenge the stability of the power grid.

The Importance of an Emergency Power Source

Emergency power sources transcend mere convenience. It is now a must-have for stability when the unexpected disrupts the natural order.

1.   Preserving Continuity:

Emergency power sources ensure uninterrupted functionality when the regular power supply falters. Whether at home or in the workplace, they become the reliable force that keeps the lights on and appliances humming, preserving the daily rhythm.

2.   Vital Lifelines for Critical Services:

Beyond personal convenience, these power backups become indispensable for critical services. Hospitals and emergency services, where a moment of darkness is not an option, rely on these sources as a constant lifeline, ensuring uninterrupted care and response.

3.   Economic Guardianship:

The impact extends to the economic realm, where businesses find themselves vulnerable during power outages. Emergency power sources become economic guardians, shielding businesses from potential financial losses, preserving operational stability, and safeguarding profit margins.

4.   Ensuring Personal Safety:

Beyond the numbers on a balance sheet, the importance of emergency power sources touches the core of personal safety and well-being. In times of crisis, having a reliable power source becomes paramount for security, providing comfort and assurance to individuals and families.

5.   Adaptability to Diverse Needs:

You've got a range of options when it comes to emergency power solutions, from portable generators to fancy uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. This flexibility lets you customise your power backups to suit your situations. You can pick just what you need for any situation.

Choosing the right power source is a strategic decision shaping the efficiency and resilience of your energy infrastructure. Considerations like scale, environmental impact, and reliability play crucial roles in this decision-making process.

Make sure you get the best emergency power source in the UK by choosing Blades Power Generation. 

An emergency backup power source, mostly in the form of a backup generator, plays a crucial role in various sectors due to its ability to provide essential power when the primary power source fails. Especially in the UK, where power supply can sometimes be spotty, it is a necessity. Here are some of the major areas for which they are absolutely necessary. Furthermore, at the end of this article, you will find our recommendation on what the best emergency power source in the UK is.

Safety and Security -  Backup power sources are vital for maintaining essential safety and security systems. They ensure that emergency lighting, fire alarms, security cameras, and access control systems remain functional during power outages, helping to protect lives and property.

Preservation of Critical Data - In the digital age, the loss of power can result in data corruption or loss. Backup power sources, especially in data centres and server rooms, keep servers and storage devices running, preventing data loss and ensuring data integrity.

Healthcare and Medical Equipment -  Hospitals and healthcare facilities heavily rely on backup power to operate life-saving medical equipment, cold chains for medicines and vaccines, and maintain a suitable environment for patients during power failures. Here, an automatic changeover switch is also needed to ensure no interruption in medical procedures.

Industrial Processes -  In industrial settings, power interruptions can lead to equipment damage, production delays, and safety hazards. Backup power sources are essential to prevent these issues and maintain production continuity. In facilities that house sensitive equipment or materials, backup power ensures that environmental controls like temperature and humidity remain stable, preventing damage or spoilage.

Emergency Response - Backup power sources are crucial for emergency response teams, enabling them to operate communication equipment, deploy resources, and coordinate disaster response efforts effectively.

Natural Disasters -  Backup power sources are particularly important in regions prone to natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. They provide a lifeline for affected communities until primary power is restored.

Critical Infrastructure - Many critical infrastructure components, such as water treatment plants, transportation systems, and sewage treatment facilities, rely on backup power to prevent disruptions that could affect public health and safety.

An emergency backup power source is indispensable in ensuring the continuity of operations, safety, and security across these sectors, which could otherwise have disastrous consequences. If you are looking for the best emergency power source in the UK, it's hard to go wrong with Blades Power Generation, who have the best prices, quality and service in this highly competitive market. Click here to get started!

Do you remember the summer, when the days were non-stop sunshine, and it didn’t rain? It suddenly seems like a very distant memory, doesn’t it? Here we are, in the depths of winter, although as yet it hasn’t got really cold in some parts of the country. However, in the last few days, some places in Scotland have been around minus 15C. That’s no fun whatsoever if it happens that you also have a power cut.

Unfortunately, the possibility of power cuts is also on the cards. What with the shortage of gas and the horrendous increase in the cost of electricity, those bills are going to get ever bigger. If you think that is only temporary and the price may come down, think of this: when was the last time you saw prices of anything going down? Never mind electricity. Once they go up, they stay up.

This is why more and more people are thinking of investing in their own generator as the best emergency power source in the UK. And not just as an emergency power source, but as an alternative. Let’s face it: it is going to be a lot cheaper to run your own generator rather than pay inflated electricity bills. So rather than using a generator as the best emergency power source in the UK, a lot of people are considering saying goodbye to those bills by using one all the time. And why not?

Similar To Using Your Own Car

It is similar to having your own transport. Rather than using the trains (if you are lucky enough to find one running!), it is cheaper and far more convenient to drive your own car. And once you have your own car, you don’t need trains or buses. Goodbye, Mr Lynch.

If you invest in a generator, you will need a transfer switch. You have a choice of a manual or automatic transfer switch, but although a bit more expensive, an automatic switch is the way to go. If you have a manual one, you have to go out into the garden and fire up the generator yourself (no fun if it’s pouring with rain) before you can manually switch over to the generator from the mains.

An automatic transfer switch does it all for you. Fires up the generator as soon as the power goes down, and then when it’s up and running switches over to it. The lights will be back on in seconds – and you won’t spoil your dinner cooking in the oven. 

The answer to that question is “it depends”. A emergency generator is not a cheap item, but if you have a power blackout it will kick in within seconds and bring power back into your home.

To some extent, whether or not you need an emergency generator is a matter of personal opinion. For some people, even suffering a single power outage can justify the expense, but if you live in an area where there are frequent blackouts or out in the country in a remote area, then a standby generator is more of a must. 

There is also the fact that we are heading towards the use of electric vehicles becoming far more common. While that may be a good thing for the environment, it also means that a lot more people will be charging up batteries. So, you could see a huge surge in the amount of power required at the end of the working day when people get home and plug in their car to charge it. That may well lead to more and more power outages.

What Is The Best Type Of Generator?

So, what is the best emergency power source in the UK? Well, there are two types of generator, those powered by diesel, or they can be powered by natural gas or LPG. They can also be air cooled or liquid cooled. Air cooled are generally less expensive, and smaller, but they are also louder than liquid cooled generators.

You also need to consider the size of generator that you require. A common mistake is to buy the biggest that you can in order to power the whole of the home. In many cases, it would be more sensible and less expensive to buy a generator that produces sufficient power to run the essential circuits in your home – lighting, heating, cooker, water heater, security system if you have one, and the TV and laptop. Also, your electric vehicle if you have one, so that you are not trapped at home.

When you are looking for the best emergency power source in the UK you need to calculate the anticipated electrical load, and you really need an experienced electrician in order to do this. You want a generator that will provide you with the power that you require, but you need to consider the expense involved since there is no point in having a generator that is too large.

An emergency power source in the UK is an independent source of electrical power that can provide security and safety to important electrical systems and apparatus in the event of the mains supply failing for one reason or another. A standby power system can include batteries, a power generator, and so on, and they are there to protect life and property in the event of the mains power supply being broken. 

Places such as hospitals rely on a constant supply of power in order to provide medical support to patients and to be able to continue an operation if, for instance, the mains power supply fails in the middle of the procedure. Other places which rely on a constant supply of electrical power include scientific laboratories, computer systems, telecoms, radio and TV stations, and many more.

We also want a constant supply of electricity in our homes. This may not be a situation which is life-threatening, but it can be a nuisance if electric power goes down in the middle of cooking a meal or even just watching a programme on the TV.

More Homeowners Are Considering Installation Of A Standby Generator

This is why more and more homeowners are considering the installation of a standby generator so that everything can run as usual even if the mains power is not available. For instance, a homeowner may also be a lover of tropical fish, and these could be lost if mains power is not available for several hours and the water in the tank goes too cold. An emergency power source in the UK in the form of a standby generator can kick in almost instantly when the mains power goes down, especially if an automatic transfer switch is in operation.

Indeed, a transfer switch is a legal requirement if you have a standby generator because there could be danger to electricity supply employees endeavouring to restore power, and there is also a risk to the generator if there is no transfer switch.

Mains power can be lost for a number of reasons, often because of downed lines as a result of poor weather. However, there may also be a malfunction at a sub-station, planned downtime for repairs, or even a grid-wide failure.

Emergency backup can include batteries, and some larger buildings have a gas turbine, but this can take between five and thirty minutes to achieve full power. So, a standby diesel generator is the most common form of backup in the event of mains failure. 

Almost every home in the country has electrical power, and most of the time we don’t even think about it and how it works. When we need light, we press a switch. When we need to cook, we press another one and turn some more on the cooker as required. That’s it. Simple.

However, in outlying areas the electricity supply can be intermittent on occasion, and although we don’t think much about it, if at all, power outages can happen anywhere at any time for any number of reasons.

Some of us are old enough to remember the 3-day week in 1973/1974 when the miners were on strike at the same time as there were oil shortages. There was insufficient fuel to run the power stations and Prime Minister Edward Heath announced that the lights would go out at certain times of day, and we can remember refusing to be crushed by the miners while we were decorating and continued to paint the lounge walls by candlelight in the evening.

The Christmas No 1 in 1973 was “Merry Christmas Everybody” by Slade, which was ironic, but we buckled down and got on with it. Comedian Bruce Forsyth said on TV “It could come to this”. He struck a match and announced: “Match of the Day!”.

Well, we survived all that, but there is still the possibility of power outages today, nearly 50 years later. This can cause problems ranging from inconvenience because the TV is not on and we can’t watch Corrie or East Enders, to serious issues where power is needed continuously such as in hospitals, for example.

This is why many people invest in stand-by generators so that if the power goes down the lights don’t go out – well only for a few seconds at most.

At Blades Power Generation we provide the best emergency power source in the UK with our range of generators which can be operated either manually or with the use of an Automatic Transfer Switch, or ATS.

When you use a manual switch, it obviously means that you need to be on the premises when the power goes down in order to switch over to the generator.

Using an ATS is the answer if you need to keep the power on even when you are away from your home or business, because it will automatically switch on the generator, which is the best emergency power source in the UK, and the lights are on again as soon as it is up and running, in a matter of seconds.

Not everyone will remember the Great Storm of October 15th/16th 1987, but this writer remembers it only too well. At the time I had a flourishing business that operated nationally and managed to achieve what is many people’s dream – the big house in the country.

I lived in a small village (pop. 2,000) in Kent in a large Victorian house built in 1882 surrounded by fields and woodland. In the summer the fields were full of young bullocks and in the winter full of sheep. I remember the Great Storm vividly because trees were felled all over the village and we couldn’t get out to drive to work. My wife and son were away in our seaside apartment.

The bad news was that all our power went down. There were not enough electricians to carry out all the repairs, so after three or four days, many were shipped over from Northern Ireland to help out. The freezer was full of food, but that all had to be thrown away very quickly. But never mind, we were promised that power would be restored soon.

Gradually, homes from the outside of the village on my road running into the village centre got power back on. So did homes running from the village centre down towards mine. But there were about ten of us still with no power.

And so it was for thirteen days! The nights were drawing in and we were sitting in the dark. No TV. No washing machine. No electric cooker (fortunately we had an Aga as well).

If I had only known about – or even thought about – getting an emergency power source in the UK. But it never occurred to me. Certainly, we did get occasional power outages from time to time, but only for a few hours, so nothing too serious. But thirteen days!

It turned out that the electricians working from the village centre towards the other lot working from outside the village had somehow between them missed out our ten houses in the middle!

Speaking from experience, I wouldn’t recommend anyone to be without an emergency power source in the UK. At Blades Power Generation you can find a generator that will kick in automatically when your power goes down, and there are also other models that need to be started manually. But don’t find yourself stuck out in the sticks with no power for nearly two weeks!