Generator Hire in Reading, Berkshire
Generator hire in Reading covers portable petrol sets through to large diesel generators. We supply power for a full site or business park development, sized to whatever load you are running.
Before booking a generator, list every item it needs to power at the same moment. Lights, tools and site cabins each draw their own share. This one figure decides the size you need.
Add Up Every Item Running at the Same Time
List everything that draws power from the generator at once, not across the whole day but at the single busiest moment. Add the figures together honestly, rather than rounding down to save a size. This total, in kVA or kW, is what decides the size you need. Guessing a figure that feels roughly right often ends in a generator that trips out once everything is switched on together.
Remember that some equipment, mainly large pumps and welders, briefly draws far more power the instant it starts than it needs once running. Flag anything like this when you book, rather than leaving it off the list. A little extra care at this stage saves a lot of hassle later, once everything is switched on together and the true load becomes clear.
Compare Diesel and Petrol on Our Collection Page
See our other Air Compressor Supplier services on the Reading Air Compressor Supplier page, and compare diesel and petrol generators side by side on the Generators collection. Diesel suits a job running for days or weeks, such as a business park build, since it burns less fuel for the same output over that time and copes well with steady running. Petrol suits a shorter job or a one-off event, since the unit is lighter and easier to move by hand.
Phone 0118 979 2828 and tell the team how long your job runs. They will steer you towards whichever fuel type suits the length of the work, rather than the type you assumed you needed.
Plan Fuel Storage Before the Generator Arrives
Work out how long your job will run before booking, then check how often the tank will need refilling across that time once work is under way. A larger tank means fewer trips to top it up, which matters most on a site with no one spare to check on it through the working day.
Store any spare fuel well away from the generator itself, in an approved container. Only refill once the engine has stopped and had time to cool down before handling it again. On a job running overnight, agree in advance who checks the fuel level through the night shift, so nothing is left unattended too long.
Describe the Site, Not Just the Load
Beyond the power figure itself, tell the depot what kind of site the generator will be used on. A business park build, an event in a public space and a site next to housing each need a different approach to where the unit sits and how the cable is run safely. Phone 0118 979 2828 with these details. The team will suggest both the right size and the best spot once it is really on site.
A generator running close to occupied offices or housing needs real care over noise. Mention this early, rather than once it is already delivered and running, when moving it becomes far more disruptive. This small amount of extra planning on the phone makes a real difference to how smoothly the first day on site goes.
Delivery Across Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell
Coppard delivers generators straight to site across Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell. Or you can collect from the depot yourself if that suits your plans better. Every generator is checked, fuelled and run-tested before it leaves us for delivery.
Call 0118 979 2828 to book a delivery slot. Flag any tight access, since a larger generator needs much more room to move into position than a small portable set would on a cramped site. The team will also talk you through refuelling and shutdown steps before you start work on your own. Either way, you leave with a clear idea of how to run the machine safely for the length of your hire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size generator do I need for a business park site?
Add up the power drawn by everything running at the same busiest moment, including lights, tools and site cabins together, and give that total in kVA or kW when you call. Remember that some equipment briefly draws extra power the instant it starts, so mention this separately to the team. Phone 0118 979 2828 with your list and the team will recommend a size with enough spare capacity built in.
Should I hire a diesel or a petrol generator?
Diesel suits a job running for days or weeks, such as a build or a business park fit-out, since it burns less fuel for the same output and is built for longer running hours. Petrol suits a shorter job or a single event, since the unit is lighter and easier for one person to move around. Tell the depot how long your job runs and they will point you to the right type for it.
How often will the fuel tank need refilling?
This depends on the generator’s size and how much power you are drawing from it at any given time through the shift. A unit running close to its full output burns fuel faster than one running well under it. Ask the depot for a realistic running time on the exact model you are booking, based on the load you have described, and plan refuelling around that figure.
Can a generator run safely near an occupied office building?
It can, if you plan around the noise beforehand rather than as an afterthought. A silenced unit runs much quieter than a standard generator, and placing it away from windows and entrances helps further still. Tell the depot if your site sits close to occupied offices or housing, and they will point you towards a suitable model and a sensible spot for it on site.
What UK guidance covers generator safety on site?
Employers’ general safety duties cover the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from petrol and diesel generators. This is a real and serious danger once exhaust builds up in an enclosed space without airflow. A generator must always run outside in the open air. Never run one inside a cabin, tent or any closed structure, and point the exhaust clear of anyone working nearby. Read the duty on legislation.gov.uk: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Looking for Generator Hire near me?
Call Coppard at 0118 979 2828 to discuss what you need to power and to arrange hire from the Reading depot.
