Power help · Singapore
Generator rental in Singapore: battery vs diesel genset
Quick answer
For most homes, offices, events and light construction work, a battery generator is the easier rental. It is silent, gives off no fumes, can be used indoors and needs no refuelling. A diesel genset still suits very large loads running non-stop for days, and our batteries can be paired with one so it runs less.
How to choose the right size
List what you will run
Write down each appliance or tool, how many, and how many hours a day. Our power planner does the maths for you.
Check the output (kW)
Add up the running watts of everything that is on at the same time. The battery's output must be higher than this.
Check the energy (kWh)
Watts × hours ÷ 1,000 gives the kWh you need per day. Choose a battery with more usable capacity than that, or plan a recharge.
Allow for motors
Pumps, compressors, fridges and power tools draw 3 to 6 times their running power for a moment at start-up. Tell us what you are running and we will check it.
How long will a battery generator run?
Each 1 kWh of battery runs roughly:
| Appliance | Typical draw | Hours per 1 kWh battery |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router | 10–15 W | about 55 h |
| Phone charging | 10 W | about 80 h |
| LED lights, one room | 20 W | about 40 h |
| Standing fan | 50 W | about 16 h |
| CCTV recorder + 4 cameras | 50 W | about 16 h |
| Fridge (cycles on and off) | 150 W rated, about 60 W averaged | about 13 h |
| Laptop | 65 W | about 12 h |
| TV | 120 W | about 7 h |
| Aircon, 9,000 BTU | about 900 W | about 1.5 h |
Estimates using about 82% of the battery's rated capacity. Fridges cycle on and off, so they use less than their rated watts over a day. Work out your exact setup in the power planner.
Battery generator or diesel genset?
- Noise: a battery is silent. Even a "silent" genset still has an engine running.
- Fumes: a battery gives off none, so it is safe indoors, in HDB flats, offices, malls and enclosed sites. Gensets must run outdoors.
- Fuel: a battery needs no diesel, refuelling or fuel storage. It recharges from a 13A socket or solar.
- Start-up: a battery is instant, and UPS-ready models switch over automatically in an outage.
- Best for: batteries suit outages, shutdowns, events, filming, site tools and lighting. Gensets suit very large loads running around the clock for days.
Generator rental questions
How much does it cost to rent a generator in Singapore?
Our battery generators start from S$10 a day for a small unit, S$51 a day for a 2 kWh Instagrid ONE, and from S$240 a day for 6 to 30 kWh systems that run a home, office or site cabin. Multi-day hires cost less per day. Delivery and collection are worked out at checkout.
Can I use a generator in an HDB flat?
Fuel-powered generators should never be run indoors, on a balcony or in a corridor, because the exhaust contains carbon monoxide. Battery generators produce no fumes and are designed for indoor use.
Can a battery generator run power tools or a welder?
Yes, within its output. Site models such as the EH-One+ and Instagrid ONE run drills, grinders, saws, pumps and light-duty inverter welders. Tell us what you are running and we will confirm it.
Do you rent diesel gensets?
We specialise in battery power. For very large loads, our engineering team at Energy Revolution Engineering can pair batteries with your genset so it runs less, cutting fuel, noise and emissions.
Is a battery generator quieter than a silent genset?
Yes. A battery has no engine, so it makes almost no noise. That suits residential areas, night works, events and filming.