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Installation & switching

Generator Installation Services

A free quote from electricians and generator installers across South Africa. One job card, no obligation.

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A newly installed canopied standby generator on a concrete plinth beside a South African house, with conduit running to the wall
IN-01
Rated output
3 to 500 kVA
Fuel
Diesel, petrol or LPG
Output
Single phase 230 V or three phase 400 V
Service
CoC on completion, first service at 50 hours
Turnaround
Site visit in days, install 1 to 3 days for homes

Generator installation services turn a generator from an extension lead in the garage into a proper backup supply wired into the building. With GeneratorRepair.co.za you send a single request and independent electricians, generator dealers and installers quote you directly. We are not an installer and there is no fee for using the service. A good installation covers sizing, a plinth or mounting, exhaust and ventilation, fuel supply, earthing, a changeover switch or automatic transfer switch, and a Certificate of Compliance signed by a registered electrician.

Home backup generator installation

A home backup generator installation usually means a 5 to 20 kVA petrol, LPG or diesel set feeding selected circuits: lights, plugs, the fridge, the gate motor, the alarm and the borehole pump. Electric geysers, stoves and pool pumps are often left off to keep the set small. Remember that kVA is not kW: at a 0.8 power factor a 10 kVA set delivers about 8 kW, and motors such as pumps and compressors need two to three times their running power to start. Installers will ask for a load list or check the board on site.

Siting, plinth, exhaust and fuel

  • Plinth and siting: a level concrete plinth, away from windows, doors and neighbours, with space for servicing
  • Exhaust and airflow: fumes piped away from living areas, never in a closed garage, and a canopy that gets cool air
  • Noise: municipal noise by-laws and estate or body corporate rules may require a silent generator or an acoustic enclosure
  • Fuel: diesel stored safely in an approved tank, and LPG installations done by a registered gas installer who issues a gas CoC
  • Security: a cage or anchor bolts, since generators and cables are stolen often

Earthing, wiring and the Certificate of Compliance

Under SANS 10142-1, a generator connected to fixed wiring must be installed by a registered electrician and certified with a CoC. The changeover must stop the generator from back-feeding the grid, which can kill municipal and Eskom linesmen working on a line they think is dead. The installer also sets up the neutral and earth arrangement correctly, so earth leakage protection still works on generator power, and adds a surge arrestor where lightning is common.

Generator installation prices and lead times

As a guide, wiring a portable generator to a manual changeover and inlet costs R3,500 to R9,000. Installing a fixed 10 to 20 kVA standby set with a plinth, ATS and cabling runs R15,000 to R45,000 excluding the generator, and commercial three phase installations from R50,000 upwards. Most homes are done in one to three days once equipment arrives. If you still need a set, see generators for sale.

What to include in your request

  • List what must run on the generator
  • Say whether you already own a generator
  • Send photos of the distribution board and site
  • Mention estate rules, noise limits or HOA approval
  • Say whether you want manual or automatic changeover

Generator Installation for different sites

  • Homes: a standby set on a plinth wired through a changeover switch to selected circuits
  • Estates and complexes: an HOA-approved silent set feeding gates, lifts, lighting and booster pumps
  • Farms and smallholdings: a diesel set wired to the farmhouse, borehole pump and cold room with long cable runs
  • Shops, offices and restaurants: a canopied standby set with an ATS keeping tills, servers and fridges running
  • Factories, mines and sites: a large three phase installation with fuel tanks, synchronising panels and bunding
  • Lodges, venues and events: a quiet, screened set at a lodge or venue sited away from guest rooms
  • Clinics, schools and towers: a compliant standby installation for a clinic, school or pump station with full certification

Frequently asked questions

Will GeneratorRepair.co.za install my generator?
No. GeneratorRepair.co.za is not a contractor. Use the form once and your installation request goes free to independent electricians and generator installers in your area. They visit or ask questions, quote in their own name and do the work directly with you, and you may turn every quote down.
Do I need a CoC for a generator installation?
Yes, whenever the generator connects to the fixed wiring of the house or building through a changeover switch or ATS. The registered electrician issues the CoC. Insurers and buyers of the property may ask for it, and a set plugged into a wall socket is illegal and dangerous.
Can I install a generator in an estate or complex?
Usually yes, with body corporate or HOA approval first. Most estates set rules on noise levels, running hours, placement, fuel storage and the look of the enclosure. Get the rules in writing and share them with installers so they quote a set and enclosure that complies.
Is a generator or an inverter better for load-shedding?
A battery inverter is silent and switches over instantly, but covers fewer hours and less load. A generator runs as long as there is fuel. Many homes combine both, with the generator charging batteries during long outages. Installers can quote on the combination.

Generator Installation by province and city

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Installation & switchingGenerator installation, automatic transfer switches and changeover switches

Buy & hireNew, diesel, inverter, silent, three phase and used generators, and generator hire

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Generator details

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