Generator monitoring
The importance of monitoring diesel generators and the benefits it offers
Monitoring specialists
Spook's award winning remote monitoring service called OmniWatch monitors diesel generator usage. Measuring key generator metrics; OmniWatch presents real-time readings in an easy to use real-time digital dashboard.
Spook and OmniWatch was voted Specialist Technology Company of the Year and Most Innovative Solution of the Year at the annual UK CIR Business Continuity Awards.
Improve generator performance
Monitor key generator performance metrics like - total energy produced, exact fuel consumption, the energy produced per litre of fuel (kWh/litre ratio), power quality and RMS parameters.
Prevent fuel theft
Generators are usually installed in remote locations due to their decibel (Db) rating whilst in use. Theft from generator reservoirs is increasing due to the high cost of fuel. Instantly detect if fuel is being stolen by monitoring realtime fuel levels in generator reservoirs.
Also, it is important to monitor and make sure that accurate fuel amounts are delivered to generators, this is especially important in times of continuous use.
Reduce maintenance costs
Realtime monitoring to check a generator's status, repairs to used parts, maintenance slots and refuelling schedules means you can reduce the need for costly service calls. This means staff do not need to waste valuable time in unnecessary site visits by the maintenance service providers.
Calculate efficiency
The efficiency of a diesel engine is calculated based on total energy produced, fuel consumed, and other parameters like temperature, oil pressure, etc. By monitoring these and perhaps introducing Spook smart sensors to help calculate additional metrics, efficiencies can be easily identified.
Power generation reports
Create power generation reports for any time frame. Key generator trend data is stored in perpetuity within OmniWatch making creating reports a cinch.
Run time remaining
Automatically calculate run time remaining automatically and receive realtime alerts when fuel reservoirs are depleting to dangerous levels.
Automated alerting
Generators provide a reliable source of back-up emergency power for long periods of time. Due to how a generator is used it is more often than not installed outside or in an area that is not normally accessed by staff.
By monitoring the generator you can be instantly alerted to any change in its operating state or detect mechanical issues that need addressing before they fail.
Using OmniWatch's 3-tier alarm escalation process ensure the right personnel is made aware of events and receive alerts via email, SMS and phone call via our UK call centre.
Avoiding potential damage
One of the most common causes of damage to generators is when they're under-loaded. That is, generators function most effectively when they're operating at high capacity. When they're used for low capacity tasks (such as powering 10% of the voltage load), they can start to build up carbon and internal glazing.
If this continues, eventually, soot and residue from unused fuel can accumulate and clog the generator's piston rings.
The longer this happens, the more pronounced the degradation of the diesel generator’s system. To avoid this, generators should have a capacity at approximately 70% of the maximum load.
Typical generator monitoring metrics
Generator running
Generator stop
Voltage
Frequency
Oil temperature
Battery condition
Emergency stop (EPO) status
Fuel levels
OmniWatch key features
Cloud based
OmniWatch is cloud based and is accessed via any internet enabled device.
Digital dashboards
OmniWatch dashboards provide interactive and intuitive access to sensor readings 24/7.
Scaleable installations
Totally scaleable from a handful of sensors to a global solution monitoring 1000s of devices.
Trend analysis
Sensor readings are held in perpetuity; providing accurate historical trend analysis.
Automated reporting
Comprehensive reports can be scheduled to be auto emailed daily, weekly and monthly.
We monitor our diesel generator to enable us to present key operating status metrics while it is in use. The generator is some distance from our IT department so knowing when it is running as well as identifying important information like fuel level, auto-start, low battery, at rest and fault are valuable data. Spook OmniWatch helps prove our fail over tests to support our departmental and achieve our Key Performance Indicators(KPI’s).
P&O Ferrymasters - European providers of tailor-made transportation and logistics services.
Spook monitors a wide range of power devices
New to monitoring
We help organisations start monitoring projects from scratch. We have a wealth of experience that is free and helpful in creating an informed approach to monitoring.
We are also resellers to industry leading sensor and equipment manufacturers and can recommend the most appropriate hardware and sensors to fit any size monitoring project.
We had been considering monitoring for a while but did not have the resource or the knowledge to fully understand how to go about doing things from scratch.
We approached Spook as they have lots of experience in looking independently at monitoring projects. They recommended and provided the most appropriate hardware and sensors for us.
The sensors arrived pre-configured and were implemented on OmniWatch by Spook before we installed them.
Additional monitoring
Many of our customers have tried monitoring for themselves.
This ranges from institutions that rely on equipment onboard data loggers and communications cards; to organisations that have started monitoring projects but need help to extend monitoring to new areas and/or implement a central monitoring solution.
We needed a remote monitoring service that did not require an on premise PC and was independent of our network.
Spook provided pre-configured cellular routers for each of our five locations across the UK. The whole project was a simple plug-and-play solution with no involvement from us.
We had been considering monitoring for a while but did not have the resource or the knowledge to fully understand how to go about doing things.
When we Googled the various areas of interest we got more confused.
We approached Spook as they have a different outlook to simply buying hardware and sensors. Thankfully we now have a fully installed, joined up monitoring solution.
We had a series of climate monitors installed in our server rooms. Due to a change in our security policy we needed a remote monitoring service that did not require an on premise PC and was independent of our network.
Spook suggested a technology upgrade and provided pre-configured cellular routers for each of our five server locations across the UK. The whole project was a simple plug-and-play solution with no involvement from us.
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Get in touch with Spook
Please contact us if you wish for further information on how Spook can help with your environmental and power monitoring needs.