Tshwane and Generator size regulation

F

FJRLK

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Hi Guys,

I only learnt last week that the Tshwane Municipality has regulations on the max power rating of the generator.

According to the rep that came to see me, after my neighbours complained, it is 10kVa. I asked the rep to send me the regulations as this was news to me and everyone I talked to, and could not find any such regulations online. The rep did send me 2 files, which I have attached. None of them mentions the 10kVa limitation, the 'pamphlet' says that people that want to use generators over 10Kw need to get approval from the Municipal Health Services before they may use it.

I have a 12kVa/9Kw 'Silent' generator, which I have been using during load-shedding when needed. The rep wants to take legal action as I did not want to stop using my generator. I am still trying to find the actual regulations where it states the actual size limitation. I have tried to explain to the rep that the pamphlet mentions 10Kw and not the 10kVa they are talking about and that kVa is not the same as Kw.

Does anyone know what the actual regulations are and where I can find them?
 

Attachments

FJRLK said:
I have tried to explain to the rep that the pamphlet mentions 10Kw and not the 10kVa they are talking about and that kVa is not the same as Kw.
Click to expand...
That's the problem with Tshwane, they don't always send out their genius reps.
 
FJRLK said:
According to the rep that came to see me, after my neighbours complained
Click to expand...
Should not have opened the door.
Anyway, instead of worrying about regulation stipulations in terms of the limits, rather just click here and save yourself and your neighbours:

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I have already started work on making my generator quieter, by extending the exhaust and buying Flame retardant foam which I am going to fit in the generator shed Saturday.

I am also looking at getting rubber feet in place of its wheels to try and eliminate vibrations transferred to the ground.
I am also still looking for a piece of flexible exhaust pipe, as currently the extended exhaust is carrying the generator vibrations to the shed wall.
The pipe I am looking for is something like this on ebay: Flexible Polylock Stainless Steel
But I am having trouble sourcing it locally.
 
FJRLK said:
Hi Guys,

I only learnt last week that the Tshwane Municipality has regulations on the max power rating of the generator.

According to the rep that came to see me, after my neighbours complained, it is 10kVa. I asked the rep to send me the regulations as this was news to me and everyone I talked to, and could not find any such regulations online. The rep did send me 2 files, which I have attached. None of them mentions the 10kVa limitation, the 'pamphlet' says that people that want to use generators over 10Kw need to get approval from the Municipal Health Services before they may use it.

I have a 12kVa/9Kw 'Silent' generator, which I have been using during load-shedding when needed. The rep wants to take legal action as I did not want to stop using my generator. I am still trying to find the actual regulations where it states the actual size limitation. I have tried to explain to the rep that the pamphlet mentions 10Kw and not the 10kVa they are talking about and that kVa is not the same as Kw.

Does anyone know what the actual regulations are and where I can find them?
Click to expand...
the regulations on generators rating were passed around 2 yrs ago ,the kw rating and kva rating must be the same (edit unverified ). .i would presume 10kw and above would only be approved on a business premise ,but regs dont cover that ,you must look in the bylaws or ask the fire chief for clarification.be carefull with rubber feet that unit must be 700kg or so .slip sliding away .
 
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FJRLK said:
I have already started work on making my generator quieter, by extending the exhaust and buying Flame retardant foam which I am going to fit in the generator shed Saturday.

I am also looking at getting rubber feet in place of its wheels to try and eliminate vibrations transferred to the ground.
I am also still looking for a piece of flexible exhaust pipe, as currently the extended exhaust is carrying the generator vibrations to the shed wall.
The pipe I am looking for is something like this on ebay: Flexible Polylock Stainless Steel
But I am having trouble sourcing it locally.
Click to expand...
 
The best way to silence a generator is by installing solar....


On topic:
If there is a 10K limit what about shops & companies?
 
FJRLK said:
If this is the case I believe it makes a lot of generators non-compliant.
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i dont think its enforced ,very difficult.just another piece of paper. it makes sense though to have 1to1 as kw is the real power and kva is the apparent power ,very misleading except for the muni to complain about .edit .i dont see anything on the ratings of kw or kva maybe i read it wrong or it must be advertised as kw and kva with both on spec sheet .
 
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It is enforced when they get complaints about generator noise, and need a reason to screw over the public.
 
FJRLK said:
It is enforced when they get complaints about generator noise, and need a reason to screw over the public.
Click to expand...
exactly then its easy to use 1to1 as a figure even though one is suck of thumb and reliant on many factors .
 
soulie said:
exactly then its easy to use 1to1 as a figure even though one is suck of thumb and reliant on many factors .
Click to expand...
or they can just use the kva number as that is the true number. who cares if the generator has a crappy power factor?
 
FJRLK said:
It is enforced when they get complaints about generator noise, and need a reason to screw over the public.
Click to expand...
Except you’re ok to screw over your neighbours with a noisy generator at all hours? They wouldn’t have complained had it not been a nuisance. Not to mention the constant exhaust fumes. Why the need? A 10kW generator costs as much as a small inverter and battery.
Good luck silencing it. Easy to deal with the high frequencies but the bass will be very difficult to sound proof.
 
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