Frequently Asked Questions

Our engineers are specialists in critical power and provide a full range of services from installation through to aftercare, maintenance and repairs. We offer expert advice and site surveys, load bank testing and assistance at every stage of your generator or UPS journey.

We offer 24-hour support and service across the country, so you can contact us round the clock for your critical power needs.

Visit our Contact Us page for all the information on how to get in touch with the Vital Power team. Or call our 24-hour support line on +44 (0)3339 960 886 for emergency help.

We offer a complete nationwide service across Britain.

We offer a range of generators for industry and businesses of all kinds. Our blog offers a range of information explaining the different generators available, and our team is happy to provide a quote and site audit to help find the right set for you.

Yes, we offer diesel generator installation and support.

Standby power, also known as backup power or emergency power, is a secondary source of electrical power that becomes operational when the primary power source fails or experiences an interruption (for example when the mains fails or there’s a power cut).

The primary purpose of standby power is to ensure continuity of critical functions and services. Standby power keeps your important devices and equipment online to keep you up and running and minimise data or revenue loss.

Prime power refers to a continuous and reliable source of electrical power that is used as the primary source of electricity for an extended period. It’s usually used in situations where there is no access to the utility grid or when grid power is unreliable.

Unlike standby power, which is designed for backup and intermittent use during power outages, prime power systems are intended to provide ongoing, continuous power for an extended duration, often on a 24/7 basis.

Prime power systems are commonly in remote locations, off-grid communities, industrial facilities, and areas with unstable or unreliable grid connections.

Diesel generators are used to generate electricity by burning fuel. They’re often used by businesses as part of a backup or standby power system.

Essentially, diesel generators convert chemical energy into mechanical energy. The generator engine then uses mechanical energy to generate electrical power output.

Many UK businesses have diesel generators onsite as part of their emergency standby power system. The diesel generator is kept ready for the event of an electrical power failure or power cut. Unfortunately, power cuts are not uncommon in the UK, but with the right diesel generator you can keep your business online and avoid downtime.

Diesel generators are used to keep vital equipment online – this can include computers, data centres, medical equipment and more. That's why we provide generators for hospitals, university backup generators and more.

You’ll need to know your power requirements to know what size generator you need. Our team can help quote a size based on an audit of your requirements, and will help find the right option for your business.

If you are unsure as to the grade and purity of the fuel that you have purchased to power your diesel generator, you can use fuel sampling to help find out. Fuel sampling or fuel testing is vital if you want to maintain your diesel generator’s capacity to operate at an optimum level.

Vital Power offers fuel sampling alongside a host of other generator fuel services. These include fuel polishing, generator refuelling and more. Our fleet of vehicles means we offer true UK-wide service, year-round.

Confusing KW (kilowatts) and KVA (kilo-volt-amperes) is common. KW is the common way in which to refer to kilowatts – this is the unit that is used to describe the real power of a generator.

Conversely, KVA, the acronym of kilo-volt-ampere, is used to describe apparent power. A KVA is, simply, 1000 volt amps. Volts are units of electric pressure, while amps are used to measure current.

Vital Power offers load bank testing and other help to find the size of generator you need. To learn more, read our blog on how to choose a diesel generator.

Having an ATS isn’t required, however it’s generally recommended for ease and efficiency. The ATS helps smoothly transfer power to the generator when required, and will then transfer back to mains power when the supply returns.

As a minimum, you need to make sure you’re having a generator service yearly - or after 500 hours of usage (whichever comes first). Regular maintenance and preventative servicing will also help your equipment last longer and will ensure smooth backup power supply for your business.

UPS stands for uninterruptible power supply. UPS devices and systems provide battery backup power in the event of a power outage or if the voltage drops to a lower level than adequate to keep regular power levels.

UPS systems can provide instant backup before a backup generator kicks in, and are vital for many industries to ensure no interruption of power supply. There are many types of UPS system that can power everything from a singular device to entire factories, offices or data centres.

Load bank testing is a test that assesses a generator’s or UPS system’s operational capacity and performance. During a load bank test, a generator or battery is placed under various load conditions to ensure it can support the required output.

Vital Power offers load bank testing along with a host of UPS and generator services to ensure your power system is ready to go when you need it. Diesel generator maintenance is complex, and therefore we advise that this is undergone once a year at a minimum. With the input of Vital Power’s adept team of technicians, you are able to avoid major generator issues with ease, and at a price which is competitively-yet-affordably priced.

A UPS constantly monitors the incoming power supply from the grid or mains. If your UPS detects irregularities (for example drops or surges) or an outage, it will switch to internal power (battery). This means you’ll have a seamless source of power for all your connected devices - either until the power comes back from the mains source, or until your backup generator starts up.

Typically there are three main types of Uninterruptible Power Supply. These are Offline (Standby), Online and Line Interactive.

Offline supplies switch to the battery supply only when there’s a failure of the main power source. Online UPS systems use an inverter to provide a constant source of power for the most protection against outages. A line interactive UPS has a constant, continuous regulation of voltage levels and switches to battery power when required.

UPS supplies are designed to be used with critical devices and machinery to maintain a source of power. These can include things like servers, routers, medical equipment, computers and industrial machinery and equipment.

How long your UPS can stay online will be impacted by a range of factors - including the capacity of the system, how much load is connected, and the overall battery capacity. In typical circumstances, UPS systems will be able to provide a source of emergency backup power for anything from a few moments up to an hour. This enables the user to shut down important devices safely, or power up a backup generator.

Choosing the right Uninterruptible Power Supply will require careful consideration of things like the power requirements of all your critical devices, how much total load will need to be protected, and the type of power support you need.

You’ll need to calculate the VA (Volt-Ampere) or Wattage requirements and choose a system with the right capacity to ensure UPS efficiency. Conduct a UPS load test to find the right size system.

A regular schedule of UPS maintenance should include battery tests, cleaning, connection checks and overall system function tests.

Yes, a typical UPS system has surge protection to guard your devices against mains power surges, voltage fluctuations and other spikes in the supply.

UPS batteries will usually last around 3 to five years with normal usage. To extend life and maintain battery health, make sure to avoid deep discharge (allowing it to run down completely), keep an eye on storage temperature, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance and replacement.

In the unlikely event a properly connected and maintained UPS fails, there can be a risk of damage to your devices, a shutdown of operations and data loss. To protect against this, we recommend having secondary backup power sources - such as standby generators - and to conduct regular testing.