Why test your generator?
At the chicken coop, a ventilation failure can cause heat and humidity to rise quickly, especially during hot periods or when the poultry house is very full. The generator must therefore be available and operational before a power cut occurs. Seeing it start once is not enough: you must also check that it can power the necessary equipment.
Carrying out a test in the right conditions
Choose a time when you can monitor the installation and ask an electrician for help if you are unfamiliar with the connection or the electrical panel. Start the generator in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, then check that the fans intended to operate in an emergency do start up. Also check the alarms and other priority equipment in your poultry house.
A test with a load close to the intended use is more informative than starting it with no load. However, have the connection and transfer between the mains and the generator carried out by a qualified person. Never connect the generator directly to a socket in the poultry house: an improvised connection can cause a dangerous backfeed, damage the equipment or expose someone to electric shock.
Observe its operation for several minutes: unusual noise, excessive vibration, abnormal smoke, a leak or shutdown are signs that you should stop the test and request a technical inspection. Note the date, observations and actions to be taken in a logbook.
Maintaining and securing the equipment
Follow the manufacturer's schedule for checking the oil, air filter, battery, connections and fuel system. Keep the generator clean and accessible, without storing sacks or other items in front of the grilles. Use suitable fuel, stored in a container intended for this purpose, closed and kept away from flames and heat sources. Avoid refuelling when the engine is hot.
Place the unit outdoors, on a stable surface and sheltered from the weather, with the exhaust gases directed away from doors and air inlets. Never run it in an enclosed space or near the birds. A designated person must know where the controls are and how to start the emergency procedure without improvising.
Preparing the switchover
Display a simple instruction near the electrical panel: who is responsible, which equipment takes priority and who to call in the event of a fault. Before periods when power cuts are more frequent, carry out another supervised test and make sure the fans respond correctly.
Action to remember: schedule a load test this week, record the result and have any fault corrected by a qualified technician.
--- *Source: NEXTEKCI — In-house expertise — summary and analysis by NEXTEKCI.*