Generator size mobile catering

[Highland girl]

Hello everyone. Can anyone give any advice on what size of generator I will need for my mobile catering van. I will have - 2 small fryers
- filter coffee machine
- 2 under counter fridges
- lights
- water pump
Everything else is gas.
Many thanks

 

[pentel]

Most of the kit you have listed will have a rating in watts. This information is essential to size a generator.

Probably best to look for a diesel generator. A lot of events wont allow petrol

 

[Highland girl]

Most of the kit you have listed will have a rating in watts. This information is essential to size a generator.

Probably best to look for a diesel generator. A lot of events wont allow petrol

My total wattage is 7560. I keep reading that I need that and extra. Would 8000 do?

 

[fisicx]

My total wattage is 7560. I keep reading that I need that and extra. Would 8000 do?

Go hire an 8kw generator, plug everything in and see what happens.

You might be ok but there isn’t a lot wriggle room.

 

[Bob Morgan]

Ideally, the Generator should be running at 80% of demand, meaning that it will be rated at 10 KW or above for nearly 8 KW of Load. Budget for a Diesel Burn of around 1 (UK) Gallon Per Hour. An 8 Hour Day will cost around £60 in Diesel (Including a 'Drop of Oil'). Hire Cost will be upwards of £50 Per Day - Dependent upon the Generator and Hire Duration.

 

[WaveJumper]

Thats going to be a pretty big generator to be hauling around, as mentioned above you will need diesel at most large venues (or run it on gas) if thats where your thinking of trading, and a lot will not allow generators at all and you have to pay to hook up to their power supply worth checking with the venues your thinking of trying to get in.

 

[Highland girl]

Thats going to be a pretty big generator to be hauling around, as mentioned above you will need diesel at most large venues (or run it on gas) if thats where your thinking of trading, and a lot will not allow generators at all and you have to pay to hook up to their power supply worth checking with the venues your thinking of trying to get in.

Thanks. We have been approved for planning at a particular site thats by the roadside so no neighbours.

 

[Highland girl]

Go hire an 8kw generator, plug everything in and see what happens.

You might be ok but there isn’t a lot wriggle room.

Thanks. Hadn't thought of hire.

 

[fisicx]

Thanks. Hadn't thought of hire.

You can then test and make sure everything runs, how loud it is and what size enclosure you need.

The Thai van we frequent runs everything possible off gas. Including fridges and coolers. That way he doesn’t need a generator, just a couple of chunky batteries for lighting.

Just looked on Google and you can get gas powered coffee machines.

 

[pentel]

Our local chip van uses gas powered fryers

 

[IanSuth]

Thanks. We have been approved for planning at a particular site thats by the roadside so no neighbours.

Are you leaving the generator there or moving it back and fwds, they are very very very knickable and a 10kva is not something you want to be lugging into and out of a van every day (c300kg) but light enough for a couple of opportunists to get into a white transit pickup

Generator 10Kva - Diesel Super Silent - 1st Hire

This Generator is suitable for Event & Site use. It is very quiet & capable of supplying 240v & 110v Voltages. Fitted with barrow style handle & wheels for easy maneuverability and an Automatic Voltage Regulator giving a clean and steady voltage. BS4343 Industrial sockets fitted. It is very...

www.1sthire.com

 

[fisicx]

@Highland girl - maybe you need to rethink your equipment strategy. Looks like gas is going to be a better option for you. If you can get away without using a generator at all it’s going to make your life so much simpler.

Where are you going to put a generator? If it’s by the side of the road a couple of tea leaves could block your door and have it away in seconds.

 

[Highland girl]

Wish I'd known about gas options before I got the refit done. The main flat top grill and bain Marie and rings are gas. The fryers came with it. Ah well.

 

[fisicx]

This still leaves you with the problem of what to do with the generator.

You need to build it into an enclosure. Most mobile trailers needing a generator build a box round the back with a lockable door and cooling fans. Needs to be done professionally or you can burst into flames. If you don't have room it needs to be mounted into the towing vehicle. There are many companies that can do this for you. Except of course you need a 10kva which is a chunky bit of kit. It also means the towing vehicle can't nip off to the shops to pick up some milk. And you can't leave the generator on the road as it will get nicked.

It's probably going to be cheaper for you to sell the electrical kit and replace with gas.

 

[UKSBD]

Company I do some work for hire out generators which are towable

8kva Generator Hire & 22kva Generator Hire Warwickshire Gloucestershire

We hire towable generators from 8KVA to 20KVA. They are super silent, electric start, diesel powered units. Power distribution also available.

fossewayhire.com

Judging by your nickname you are probably a bit out of their area, but give them a ring and they will happily advise on what size you really need

 

[fisicx]

Just called the chap I know who has a mobile workshop and he said it cost around a grand to install and fit out a generator in his van. But he's only got a tiddler.

 

[IanSuth]

Also be aware my mate who had a generator hire business just told me "I wish i was still in the game" he made a fortune from Y2K when loads of companies hired generators "just in case" - he set fees at the time so the 2 month hire from mid Dec99 to mid feb00 covered the cost of a new machine and completely updated and grew his fleet and says currently those clients are recontacting having sold the business as they want the same contingency for this winter "just in case", so generators are likely to go up in price quickly if they have not already.

 

[Bob Morgan]

Also be aware my mate who had a generator hire business just told me "I wish i was still in the game" he made a fortune from Y2K when loads of companies hired generators "just in case" - he set fees at the time so the 2 month hire from mid Dec99 to mid feb00 covered the cost of a new machine and completely updated and grew his fleet and says currently those clients are recontacting having sold the business as they want the same contingency for this winter "just in case", so generators are likely to go up in price quickly if they have not already.

Hundreds of Army Mobile Generator Sets are currently being recommisioned in Cheshire . . . Just in case

 

[WaveJumper]

Hundreds of Army Mobile Generator Sets are currently being recommisioned in Cheshire . . . Just in case

Interestingly took our beast into the local Honda dealer the other day thinking we should get it serviced only to find about a dozen people seemed to have had the same idea.

 

[Bob Morgan]

Paraffin Heater shortage towards the end of October?

 

[UKSBD]

Paraffin Heater shortage towards the end of October?

With the people who I do some work for, Calor gas has been on a swap only basis for some time now (you have to have an empty cylinder to exchange for a full one).

 

[IanSuth]

Paraffin Heater shortage towards the end of October?

There is still a pink panther pump on the side of a hardware store near me but dont think it is live

 

[The Byre]

Right - task number one is to get rid of the fryers and the coffee machine. Those three will account for at least 6kW on their own! Then buy a far smaller genny and gas-fired fryers and a gas kettle. The net result will be far, far cheaper.

Thanks. Hadn't thought of hire.

Don't! Hire is too expensive (HSS in Inverness charge £80 for day one and £33 plus VAT for every day after that for a 6kVA suitable for a 4kW load and you will need a separate tool hire insurance). The others around Inverness charge about the same. 10kVA rates are higher - £120 and £50 plus VAT! A 10kVA Diesel machine weighs between 300 and 400kgs - so you'd need a forklift to move it! (The one @IanSuth listed weighs 365kgs!)

Get shot of the fryers and that coffee machine and you can pick up a 3kVA Böhmer petrol generator for £300 brand new. More importantly, you'll be able to move the damn thing! Don't buy used as they do wear out with time.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

Right - task number one is to get rid of the fryers and the coffee machine. Those three will account for at least 6kW on their own! Then buy a far smaller genny and gas-fired fryers and a gas kettle. The net result will be far, far cheaper.


Don't! Hire is too expensive (HSS in Inverness charge £80 for day one and £33 plus VAT for every day after that for a 6kVA suitable for a 4kW load and you will need a separate tool hire insurance). The others around Inverness charge about the same. 10kVA rates are higher - £120 and £50 plus VAT! A 10kVA Diesel machine weighs between 300 and 400kgs - so you'd need a forklift to move it! (The one @IanSuth listed weighs 365kgs!)

Get shot of the fryers and that coffee machine and you can pick up a 3kVA Böhmer petrol generator for £300 brand new. More importantly, you'll be able to move the damn thing! Don't buy used as they do wear out with time.

Great advice, but take the Bohmer KVA ratings with a pinch of salt. Despite the name they are Chinese, not German. Thinking about it, I'd not even consider one for daily use. The Honda copy engines are good but I'd not trust the windings long term. I have a 10KVA one, it was OK but not brilliant.

Get the big stuff on gas and then get yourself a nice silent Honda generator.

If you insist upon keeping it all electric, and therefore need a large diesel generator (and remember, commerical use has to be fully duty paid white diesel now) then as stated, you will need some way of moving it. They are big.

 

[The Byre]

Yes, on reflection, the Böhmers are a bit too cheap-n-cheerful!

Honda is used on film sets because they are (a) quiet and (b) reliable. They also do ultra-quiet LPG-driven models for boats and film work. But the small Hondas are very expensive - as in four times the cost of a Chinese model. I had one for a few decades - until some idiot broke it while being drunk! It never failed to start.

The small DeWalt is quite good but I don't think they are sold in the UK anymore. I have no idea if the Hyundai is any good, but it gets reasonable reviews.

 

[IanSuth]

Yes, on reflection, the Böhmers are a bit too cheap-n-cheerful!

Honda is used on film sets because they are (a) quiet and (b) reliable. They also do ultra-quiet LPG-driven models for boats and film work. But the small Hondas are very expensive - as in four times the cost of a Chinese model. I had one for a few decades - until some idiot broke it while being drunk! It never failed to start.

The small DeWalt is quite good but I don't think they are sold in the UK anymore. I have no idea if the Hyundai is any good, but it gets reasonable reviews.

The guy I know built honda gen sets into super super silent versions a lot for use on film sets (originally in the SW then in Spain), he laos has a licence to produce his own biodiesel which his machines are tuned for

DeWalt is part of the same company as black and decker - i platy rugby with a guy who is a product manager there if anyone actually wants me to find out if they still do own brand generators

 

[UKcentric]

Have a chat with them at https://www.wbpsltd.co.uk/. They know all about mobile catering equipment!