What is a Battery Powered Generator?

You may be looking for a “battery powered generator” is there such a thing? Well the answer is yes and no but let’s start by defining what a generator actually is:   

An “electric generator” by definition is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. This generally has to be driven by some type of fuel or force whether it be wind, gas, or gasoline (petrol) etc.

A battery by definition is a group of connected cells that convert chemical energy into electricity with chemical reactions, which can be recharged by passing a current through them in opposite direction of its discharge.  Being there are no “mechanical” parts in a battery you really can’t technically call a power source that gets its power from a battery a generator.

What you might be calling a “battery powered generator” might actually be a UPS or uninterruptible power supply.   An uninterruptible power supply is a device that senses loss of utility power, it then transfers its load to draw from a backup storage battery bank until either utility power is restored or the batteries capacity is depleted. 

Because a UPS systems run time is limited to the size of its battery bank, they are typically not used for home standby power.  Generally UPS systems are used to support mission specific critical equipment and/or equipment which requires a cleaner electrical current (than generators can produce) or contains sensitive electronics that require extra protection.  UPS systems are most commonly used supporting IT equipment and computers.  Being that UPS systems are uninterruptible and providing backup power immediately, they are often used alongside a generator to bridge the time lapse between the power loss and the time it takes for the generator to kick on.   

There are many industries use sensitive equipment such as; Hospitals and Medical & Surgery Centers, Laboratories, Companies that Manufacturer Electronics or Pharmaceutical, Banks & Finance, Telecommunications, Data Storage Centers, Companies that house Vaccine Refrigerators and more.  Some of the equipment that is used in these industries just cannot be without power even for a few seconds. 

One of the reasons you may be looking for a “battery powered generator” is that simple fact that you cannot budget the cost of fuel powered generator installation.  Many of these industries are located in spaces that cannot accommodate fuel powered generators therefore battery power is the superior alternative in such circumstances.

Not all Uninterruptible power supplies are equal, they all contain battery banks that need to be calculated for the load they are supporting.  Also the size of the transformer and durability of the electronics can play a large factor in how much power output they can produce.  Mediproducts can help design, recommend and build an alternative power source that will best accommodate your needs.