ForConstructionPros.com

Size really does matter - at least when it comes to matching portable or towable generators to the tools on the job, and the extension cords used to connect them.

"Contractors may not be optimally sizing their generators for their applications," states Todd Howe, generator product marketing manager at Ingersoll Rand. "They tend to either overload the generator or underload it, and waste money by purchasing a larger unit than they need."

David Brown, vice president of MQ Power, agrees, noting, "Misapplication is the most common mistake we see contractors making. Proper selection considers the application, duty cycle and load. All three factors are important to proper generator selection."

According to Tim Sheehan, industrial sales manager of the power equipment division of Yamaha Motor Corp., "Contractors generally under-size the generator because they want to purchase the smallest wattage generator for the least cost possible."

"The problem is that contractors don't always consider all the equipment that could possibly be running at once, or they don't build flexibility into their generator selection," explains Derwin Pepper, product manager, Generac Power Systems. "Sometimes conditions on the actual jobsite require different equipment than expected. That really becomes a problem when larger tools demand more power."