Powering Your Food Truck Business
Opening a food truck business can be an amazing way of realizing the American dream! Compared to a traditional restaurant, the start-up costs and licensing fees are relatively minimal. What’s more, if one location isn’t working out, you can always move on to another and try your luck there. The mobile nature of food trucks can make them a very attractive option to people trying to get their foot in the door of the food service industry. However, this mobility also necessitates the use of a generator in order to power your equipment.
Here’s what to look for in your food truck’s generator:
Power
First and foremost, you want to ensure that the generator that you choose will be capable to powering all of the equipment you have on your food truck, for the number of hours that you plan to be in business each day. This includes your cooking equipment, refrigeration, warming lamps, and air conditioning. Ideally, you want to get a generator capable of an amperage slightly above what you need for base operations, to account for variances in day-to-day power use.
Type
The type of generator matters and will influence your costs. Here are a few options to consider:
Open Frame
These are the most common type of generator for food trucks and are generally the least expensive. However, they are very loud, and heavy, and cannot be used safely with delicate or advanced electronic devices.
Portable Inverter
These are less powerful than their open-frame counterparts but can be used safely with sensitive electronics. If your portable payment system requires charging during the day, these may be the generators you’ll want to consider. They have the distinct advantage of also being quieter to run.
Built In
If your truck is large enough, you may want to consider a built-in generator component.
Regardless of the generator you choose, it is important that you NEVER RUN YOUR GENERATOR IN THE WORKING AREA. This is due to the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning from the generator’s exhaust.
Noise levels
Noise is a very important consideration. Generally, especially in the summer months, people are going to want to sit around the food truck in picnic areas to eat the food that they’ve purchased. If your generator is excessively loud, this won’t be a very attractive option. Additionally, it may make it difficult for you to hear your customer’s orders over the excessive noise. This can lead to frustration and reduced business. You may also be barred from operating in locales with noise limits by laws. You should check local regulations prior to making your decision.
Fuel
Unless you’re using a built-in generator, you will have to make the choice between natural gas and diesel for your generator. Generally, diesel is viewed as a better option due to the cost of refueling and efficiency, but depending on your local regulations, you may need to use natural gas due to environmental regulations. Check with your municipality.
Installation
Most generators are straightforward to install, but that doesn’t mean that the services of a professional aren’t warranted. At GenTech, our trained technicians can help you not only choose the best generator for your business, but we can also help you to install it in such a way that maximizes the efficiency and lifetime of your machine. Contact us today to learn more!