Float Switches for Generators
How Float Switches & Generators Work
There are some places that just can’t afford to lose their electricity. If there is a disruption to the power supply from the grid, it could have serious implications depending on the location. For this reason, you’ll find backup generators in all manner of different settings. You can find them in hospitals, shopping malls, hotels, factories, data centers, gas stations, cell phone towers, water treatment facilities and more.
If the power goes out at one of these locations, the backup generator is there to ensure that normal operations can continue or to guarantee the safety of individuals that may be on the premises. It can also be used to protect vital assets in the event of a power outage. Since the power supply is important at these locations, you also have to ensure that the generator can work reliably, and float switches play a role in the reliable operation of these generators.
A facility or business will have a backup generator so that it can be turned on in the event of a power outage, and this will protect against the loss of resources or potential dangers that may occur when the supply of power from the grid is interrupted. In some cases, the generator might be able to power the entire facility, and in others, it might be set to only power vital systems where a power outage could result in great losses or hazardous conditions.
One of the most important things that float switches can do for a generator is to assist in the management and monitoring of fuel. If a backup generator could be important for protecting assets or the lives of individuals on the premises, you need to know that it has enough fuel and you also need to protect against overfilling. Float switches can be applied to both of these concerns.
In many applications, the backup generator will need float switches to alert for both high-level and low-level conditions. The high-level switch will be there to provide feedback when the tank is full. This tells the operator when to stop filling the tank and it can prevent overfilling or spillage. Low-level sensors are there to alert operators when it is time to refill the tank. For many applications, it will be necessary to have a low-level sensor to indicate a need for more fuel, and then an additional low-level sensor to alarm for a condition when the tank is critically low.
Depending on the type of generator and its fuel, different types of float switches might be necessary. Different generator designs might require different switching capabilities, and the material of the switch might vary depending on the type of fuel and the operating conditions. You may also need multi-level float switches for some applications. For these reasons, it might be necessary to have the float switch customized to meet the specific requirements of the generator and the application for which it is being used.