Power outages are not merely inconvenient — for data centres, food processing facilities, hospitals, aged-care homes, and critical infrastructure they represent regulatory obligations, financial exposure, and in some cases, genuine safety risk. VoltCity Surge engineers standby generator systems that integrate cleanly with your existing electrical infrastructure, maintain compliance with AS/NZS 3000 and AS 2789, and are tested under real load conditions before the handover certificate is signed.
Generator Sizing and Specification
Undersized generators fail under load. Oversized generators suffer wet-stacking and premature failure from chronic light loading. Our engineering team conducts a full load analysis of your facility, identifying essential and non-essential circuits, motor inrush current demands, UPS interactions, and harmonic loading from variable-speed drives. We specify diesel, natural gas, or LPG prime movers from Cummins, Kohler, Caterpillar, and Perkins, matched to the correct alternator rating, power factor, and transient response characteristics your load profile requires.
Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
An automatic transfer switch is the intelligent interface between mains supply and generator output. VoltCity Surge installs open-transition and closed-transition ATS panels — the latter allowing momentary parallel operation for facilities where even a sub-second break in supply is unacceptable. We program transfer time delays, exercise schedules, and priority load sequences, then commission the complete transfer sequence under live conditions with your operations team present. All ATS installations are documented with single-line diagrams and functional test certificates.
Installation, Cabling, and Civil Works
Generator installation requires coordination across trades. VoltCity Surge manages the complete electrical scope, including supply cabling from the switchboard, earthing and bonding to AS/NZS 3000 requirements, generator control wiring, fuel system integration where permitted, exhaust routing, and acoustic enclosure electrical penetrations. We coordinate with civil contractors for concrete pad construction and with mechanical engineers for exhaust and ventilation design, ensuring a single point of accountability for the electrical installation.
Load Testing and Commissioning
A generator that has never been run under load is an untested generator. Every VoltCity Surge installation concludes with a witnessed load test using a calibrated resistive load bank, verifying voltage regulation, frequency stability, transfer timing, and thermal performance across a sustained run at 100 percent of rated capacity. We also test the ATS transfer under simulated mains failure conditions and document all results in a commissioning dossier. For critical applications we offer ongoing load test contracts to satisfy insurance and compliance requirements.
- Full load analysis and generator capacity sizing
- Diesel, natural gas, and LPG prime mover supply and installation
- Open-transition and closed-transition ATS panel installation
- Main switchboard integration and essential services sub-board wiring
- Earthing, bonding, and protection relay coordination to AS/NZS 3000
- Witnessed load bank testing at 100% rated capacity
- Commissioning documentation, single-line diagrams, and compliance certificates
Ongoing Maintenance and Compliance
AS 2789 requires that generator sets used for emergency and standby duty are maintained in a serviceable condition and periodically tested. VoltCity Surge offers preventive maintenance contracts covering engine oil and filter changes, coolant top-up, battery float voltage checks, control panel inspection, and quarterly no-load exercise runs logged to your maintenance register. For facilities regulated under the National Construction Code (NCC) or Queensland's Fire and Rescue Service Act, we provide the maintenance records and test certificates your certifiers and insurers require.
Frequently Asked
How long does a commercial generator installation typically take?
For a standard open-frame or acoustic-canopy generator up to approximately 200 kVA, the electrical installation scope — including ATS panel, switchboard integration, and commissioning — typically takes two to four days on-site, assuming civil works and fuel connections are complete. Larger or more complex installations are scheduled on a project basis after site assessment.
Do we need council approval or a building permit for a generator installation?
Requirements vary by jurisdiction and installation type. Permanent fixed generators on concrete pads generally require a building approval for the civil structure, and the electrical installation requires a compliance certificate issued by a licensed electrical contractor. We manage the electrical certification process and can advise on building approval requirements for your specific local government area.
Can a generator be connected to work in parallel with solar and battery storage?
Yes, with the correct system architecture. This is increasingly common in microgrids and off-grid systems. Generator-solar-battery hybrid configurations require careful design of the ATS logic, inverter grid-forming settings, and protection coordination to prevent equipment damage and ensure safe islanded operation. VoltCity Surge designs these hybrid systems and manages the full electrical installation.