CW Plant Hire adds 40 portable battery units

CW Plant Hire has purchased more than 40 Instagrid portable battery power units, expanding its rental equipment for customers requiring temporary electricity without a conventional fuel-powered generator. The investment was made through Seddon Plant and Engineer following trials of 110V and 230V systems, with initial demand concentrated among event organisers undertaking temporary construction and dismantling work.

The company supplies equipment to the construction and events sectors, where portable electrical tools, lighting and temporary installations can require power at locations without a convenient fixed supply. Its investment provides another option for customers whose electrical requirements can be met through a compact battery system rather than a combustion engine operating at the work area.

CW Plant Hire tested the equipment on the recommendation of its established supplier, Seddon Plant and Engineer. The results encouraged the company to introduce a substantial number of units into its fleet, with event customers already hiring several systems together for larger temporary installations.

Paula Godfrey, systems and sales development trainer at CW Plant Hire, identified portability, lower operating noise and the ability to avoid combustion-powered equipment as advantages for customers. She reported that some event businesses have hired as many as ten Instagrid units during the construction and dismantling of temporary venues.

Those activities involve electrical requirements that change as work progresses. Tools may operate intermittently while staging, structures and other equipment are assembled, whereas lighting and selected temporary systems can draw power for longer periods. Matching the supply to the equipment’s demand determines the number of battery units required and how often they need charging.

Instagrid’s portable power systems store electrical energy in batteries and provide alternating-current output through integrated power electronics. Equipment can be connected at the working location, allowing tools to operate without running a diesel or petrol generator nearby.

The company’s Instagrid ONE and GO ranges include systems with a rated energy capacity of approximately 2.1kWh. This measurement describes the amount of energy stored in the battery, while the power demanded by the connected equipment determines how quickly that energy is consumed.

A separate output rating establishes the electrical load that the power unit can supply. Instagrid specifies 3.6kW of continuous output and peak power of up to 18kW for relevant ONE and GO models. The high short-duration output is intended to accommodate equipment that briefly draws considerably more power when starting than during normal operation.

Motor-driven tools can impose substantial starting loads because the electrical demand rises as the motor accelerates. A power supply must accommodate that initial requirement as well as the tool’s normal running consumption. Instagrid’s peak output capability allows compatible equipment to be operated where the continuous demand and the duration of higher loads remain within the unit’s limits.

The available operating time is determined separately by stored energy. A low-power installation may run for an extended period, while a high-demand tool can consume the available capacity much more quickly. Hire customers therefore need to consider both the power required to start equipment and the cumulative energy used across the working period.

Charging forms part of the operating arrangement. Battery units must be replenished from a suitable electrical supply before their stored energy is exhausted, with the charging programme coordinated around the work being undertaken. Customers using several units can organise them according to different activities and charging requirements.

The investment includes 110V and 230V equipment. The 110V option is suited to compatible professional tools commonly used on UK construction sites, while 230V supplies support other equipment requirements. The voltage and connector arrangement must be matched to the intended load, alongside the unit’s power capacity and operating conditions.

Instagrid’s GO 36 LV model was developed for the UK construction sector with 110V output, while the ONE range includes a 230V system. The manufacturer specifies weights of approximately 20kg to 21kg across these portable models, allowing individual units to be moved between working areas without the handling arrangements associated with larger generators.

Positioning the power supply close to the equipment can reduce the length of temporary electrical cabling needed at a work area. This may be useful where tools are moved frequently between locations, although the complete arrangement still requires suitable electrical connections and safe cable management.

Unlike a combustion generator, a battery unit produces no exhaust gases at the point of use and operates without engine noise. These characteristics can make portable batteries suitable for selected indoor work and locations where restrictions on noise or fumes would affect the use of conventional generators.

The equipment still consumes electricity during charging, so its overall environmental performance depends on the energy supply and how the units are used. Charging losses, manufacturing impacts and the number of operating cycles form part of the wider comparison with alternative temporary power systems.

For individual construction operations, the equipment’s suitability depends on the power profile of the tools and the practical availability of charging. Inspection equipment, lighting, certain pumps and portable power tools have different electrical requirements, making equipment selection an important part of hire preparation.

Instagrid has previously supplied portable batteries to UK construction contractors, including Balfour Beatty, for mobile site equipment. That application demonstrates the use of the technology where working locations change or access to an established electrical supply is limited.

CW Plant Hire’s investment extends the availability of such systems through its rental network. The company has reported its strongest initial demand from event construction, where equipment is regularly moved, installed and removed within limited working periods.

Battery equipment also creates different maintenance requirements for a hire business. Each unit needs to be inspected, charged and prepared for its next assignment, with its electrical connections, enclosure and operating condition checked before deployment.

Relevant Instagrid models incorporate connected monitoring functions that can provide information about equipment status and location. These features can support fleet management where portable units are distributed among different customer sites, although the precise configuration of CW Plant Hire’s entire order has not been established.

The more than 40 units will increase the company’s capacity to supply customers with portable electrical power for temporary works. Their use in construction will depend on the demands of each application, while the initial uptake among event organisers provides an operating base for the expanded rental fleet.