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Machines & equipment
Power & Site Utility Equipment
Making a site workable before the permanent supply arrives.
Overview
What this covers
Generators
Sized by starting load, not running load.
Compressors
Sized by air consumption of the tools.
Pumps
Sized by head, flow and solids.
Equipment
Machines in this group
Marked by how we normally hold them. Availability is confirmed at quotation.
Generators
Site power where there is no supply.
Inverter generators
Cleaner output for sensitive equipment.
Site lighting
Working after dark and in enclosed spaces.
Distribution
Getting power safely around a site.
Water pumps
Moving water on site.
Dewatering
Clearing flooded excavations.
Compressed air
Running air tools and cleaning.
Applications
Typical work
- Powering tools where no supply exists
- Lighting a site for evening or enclosed work
- Distributing power safely across a site
- Clearing water from excavations and basements
- Running air tools
- Supplying water for wet cutting and cleaning
Who buys these
Trades and teams
Power
Power and drive options
Generator sizing is the question most often got wrong. Motor-driven machines draw several times their running current at startup. A generator matched to running figures will stall when a mixer or compressor starts.
List everything that may run at the same time, note which items have motors, and we will identify options against manufacturer specifications. We do not publish a sizing rule, because it depends on the specific machines.
Comparison
How the options compare
| Standard generator | Inverter generator | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Suits tools and motors | Cleaner, more stable |
| Sensitive electronics | Less suitable | Better suited |
| Noise | Higher | Lower |
| Fuel efficiency | Lower at part load | Better at part load |
| Typical use | Site tools | Electronics, hospitality, quieter settings |
| Availability | Supplier-confirmed availability | Source on order |
Choosing
How to choose
- List everything that runs at once. Not the biggest item — the total, at the same moment.
- Flag every motor. Motors are what determine the starting load, and starting load determines the generator.
- For compressors, add up air consumption. Each air tool consumes a stated volume. Continuous demand is what matters, not peak.
- For pumps, state head, flow and water condition. Clean water and water carrying solids need different pumps.
- Plan distribution as well as generation. A generator without adequate cable and distribution is unusable and unsafe.
Accessories
What goes with it
Accessories
Consumables and wear parts
Safety equipment
Ownership
Maintenance, spares and service
Generators and engine-driven equipment need oil changes, air filter cleaning and fuel management. Fuel left standing for months causes more starting problems than any mechanical fault.
Compressor tanks need draining of condensate regularly. Water accumulating in a receiver corrodes it from inside, and that is a pressure vessel.
Price
What affects the price
- Output rating
- Standard or inverter
- Fuel type
- Run time and tank size
- Pump head and flow
- Compressor output and tank size
- Brand
- Warranty terms
- Spare parts availability
- Quantity
Availability
What affects availability and lead time
- Lighting, extension boxes and distribution move fastest
- Generators, pumps and small compressors available through the supplier network in limited quantity
- Larger generators, inverter units and large compressors sourced on order
- Specific outputs and three-phase models need supplier confirmation
- Larger units need transport and offloading planning
Quotation
What to send with an enquiry
- A list of everything that will run at the same time
- Which of those items have motors
- For compressors, the air tools and their consumption
- For pumps, head, flow and whether the water carries solids
- Fuel preference
- Quantity and preferred brand
Avoid
Common mistakes
- Sizing a generator on running load and ignoring startup
- Running a generator in an enclosed space
- Leaving fuel standing for months
- Never draining a compressor tank
- Undersized distribution cable causing voltage drop
Questions
Frequently asked
How do I choose a generator for site work?
Size it on total starting load, not running load. Motor-driven machines draw several times their running current at startup, so a generator matched to running figures stalls when a machine starts.
Send a list of everything that may run at once and flag the motor-driven items. We will identify suitable options against manufacturer specifications.
How do I choose a portable air compressor?
Add up the air consumption of the tools that will run simultaneously, and match the compressor to that continuous demand rather than to peak. Tank size affects how long it can meet a burst; output determines whether it keeps up.