How to Choose the Best Food Truck Generator

Once upon a time ice cream trucks where the only “food” trucks available. Today a new breed of food trucks carrying hot dogs, tacos, burgers, and other appetizing meals are wheeling around town. It turns out this is partly because of the increased affordability of power generators.

While most restaurants are connected to a power grid, food trucks today rely on generators to travel from point A to B and distribute food. However, finding the right generator for a food truck can be a daunting task. So, in this post we’ll give you a few pointers that will assist you in finding the right generator for your food truck.

Buying Guide To Find The Best Food Truck Generator

Purchasing a generator can be costly. That is why as a food truck owner it’s essential that you follow specific guidelines to avoid financial loss and/or electrical hazards. Here is what you need to do:

1. Know what appliances you intend to connect to the generator
Knowing what type of appliances and equipment will be powered by the generator can help to prevent overload and interruption to your food truck operations. Bear in mind that some appliances will require more power during start-up than what it’s required for general operation. Once you know what appliances you intend to use you will be able to know what size generator to purchase.

2. Calculate the power consumption of each appliance
All generators are designed to produce a specific amount of power. As such it’s essential that you choose a model that will meet the power requirements of your food truck. Calculate the power requirement of each appliance to find out what wattage generator you need.

The power requirements are usually found on the nameplate, stamp, or data tag and is usually listed in amps. Add the power requirements of all appliances that will be connected to the generator at the same time.

3. Find the best type of generator for food trucks
You can purchase an inverter or conventional generator for your food truck. Both are good choices but most food truck owners prefer inverters because they are generally quieter, easy to transport, and most importantly they have a cleaner smoother energy output. The only problem is that they usually cost more than conventional units.

4. Ensure that the generator has a long run time
The generator you purchase should carry a runtime of at least 10 hours at half load. This will ensure that you will not run out of power while on the road, which can result in spoilt food which can be expensive to replace. Additionally, the longer the runtime the less often you will have to refill the fuel tank.

Once you have found the right generator for your food truck, contact a licensed professional and allow him/her to install the unit safely. Ensure that the generator is properly grounded and turn off all appliances before powering down the generator at all times.

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