Backup Power for Ranches, Farms & Agricultural Properties
Protect Livestock, Irrigation & Critical Farm Systems During Outages
Critical Agricultural Systems We Protect
Don't risk livestock and crop losses during extended power outages
Livestock Water Systems
Keep well pumps, troughs, and automatic waterers running for horses, cattle, goats, and poultry
Climate Control
Protect livestock from heat stress with barn fans and misters during summer power outages
Irrigation Protection
Maintain irrigation pumps and drip systems to prevent crop loss during critical growing periods
Refrigeration & Storage
Preserve feed, medications, and perishable agricultural products in walk-in coolers and freezers
Equipment & Milking
Power essential farm equipment, milking machines, egg washers, and processing facilities
Security Systems
Maintain electric fencing, gate operators, and security lighting for property protection
Agricultural Generator Sizing Guide
Ranch and farm properties require commercial-grade generators for critical systems
22-26 kW Generators
Best for: Small ranches, hobby farms, 2-5 acres with basic livestock needs
Powers: 1 HP well pump, barn lighting, automatic waterers, small refrigeration unit, electric fencing, limited irrigation pump. Suitable for small livestock operations (chickens, goats, few horses) without intensive climate control requirements.
30-36 kW Generators
Best for: Mid-size ranches, working farms, 5-20 acres with moderate livestock
Powers: 1.5-2 HP well pump, barn fans and misters, multiple waterers, medium refrigeration, larger irrigation pumps, basic milking equipment. Handles horses, cattle, small dairy, or poultry operations with environmental controls.
48-60 kW Generators
Best for: Large ranches, commercial farms, 20+ acres with significant infrastructure
Powers: Multiple well pumps, commercial refrigeration/freezers, extensive climate control, large irrigation systems, milking parlors, processing equipment. Suitable for commercial dairies, large livestock operations, or farms with employee housing.
80-150 kW Industrial
Best for: Commercial agricultural operations, large dairies, processing facilities
Powers: Complete ranch/farm operations including processing plants, large milking operations, extensive refrigeration, climate-controlled barns, commercial irrigation systems, and employee facilities. Requires 3-phase power and commercial electrical infrastructure.
We provide free on-site load assessments for agricultural properties to calculate exact generator requirements.
Commercial vs Residential Generators
Agricultural properties often benefit from commercial-grade systems
Residential Generators
7-26 kW air-cooled units suitable for small agricultural operations
- ✓Lower upfront cost ($8,000-$15,000 installed)
- ✓Simpler installation and permitting
- ✓Good for hobby farms and small ranches
- ✓500-1,000 hour annual runtime rating
- ✗Limited to single-phase power only
- ✗Not suitable for continuous/heavy loads
Commercial Generators
30-150+ kW liquid-cooled units for serious agricultural operations
- ✓Extended runtime capability (3,000+ hours/year)
- ✓Single or 3-phase power for large equipment
- ✓Better fuel efficiency under constant load
- ✓Longer service intervals (200-400 hours)
- ✗Higher cost ($20,000-$100,000+ installed)
- ✗More complex installation requirements
Propane Tank Sizing for Agricultural Generators
Extended runtime requires appropriately sized propane storage
We coordinate propane tank installation and service provider setup as part of turnkey generator installation.
Agricultural Generator Installation in East County
San Diego East County's ranch and agricultural communities face unique backup power challenges. Julian's apple ranches, Ramona's wineries and horse properties, Boulevard's cattle operations, and Campo's backcountry ranches experience frequent PSPS power shutoffs lasting 24-72 hours during wildfire season. Extended outages create life-threatening situations for livestock without water access, climate control, or irrigation. Power loss also means financial devastation from spoiled agricultural products, processing interruptions, and facility shutdowns. Peak Power Systems specializes in commercial and residential generator installation for agricultural properties throughout East County backcountry, with expertise in well pump requirements, livestock system design, irrigation loads, and propane infrastructure for properties beyond natural gas service areas.
Ranch and farm generators installed in East County
Typical generator capacity for working ranches
Standard storage for extended agricultural runtime
Ranch & Agricultural Generator Questions
What size generator does a ranch need for livestock water?
Ranch generator sizing for livestock water depends on well pump horsepower, number of animals, and water consumption. Small ranch (5-10 horses): 22-26 kW generator handles 1 HP well pump, automatic waterers, barn lighting. Medium ranch (20-50 head cattle): 30-36 kW powers 1.5-2 HP pump, multiple water troughs, barn fans. Large operations (100+ animals): 48-60 kW or larger. For detailed well pump sizing, see our well pump generator sizing guide (/guides/generator-size-for-well-pump). We calculate exact requirements during free on-site assessment based on animal count and water system specs.
Can generators power irrigation systems on farms?
Yes, properly sized generators power agricultural irrigation pumps for crop protection during outages. Irrigation pump generators must handle starting watts (2-3x running watts) plus other farm loads. For general generator sizing principles, see our sizing guide (/guides/what-size-generator-do-i-need). Small drip irrigation: 13-18 kW generator. Medium pressure systems: 22-30 kW. Large irrigation pumps (3-5 HP): 36-48 kW or larger. Many East County farms choose commercial liquid-cooled generators (30-60 kW) for reliable extended-runtime irrigation backup during critical growing periods.
Should ranches use commercial or residential generators?
Most working ranches and commercial agricultural operations benefit from commercial-grade generators (30-150+ kW) rather than residential units (7-26 kW). Commercial generators offer: extended runtime capability (3,000+ hours/year vs 500-1,000 hours), liquid cooling for continuous operation, longer service intervals (200-400 hours), single or 3-phase power for large equipment, and better fuel efficiency. For residential generator comparison, see our sizing guide (/guides/what-size-generator-do-i-need). Small hobby farms may use residential generators. We assess your operation size to recommend appropriate system.
How long do agricultural generators run on propane?
Agricultural generator runtime on propane depends on generator size, load percentage, and tank capacity. Examples at 50% load: 22 kW generator with 250 gallon tank runs 3-5 days; 36 kW with 500 gallon tank runs 7-10 days; 48 kW with 1,000 gallon tank runs 2-3 weeks. For fuel type comparison, see our propane vs natural gas generators guide (/guides/propane-vs-natural-gas-generators). Most East County ranches install 500-1,000 gallon propane tanks for extended PSPS event coverage. We calculate fuel consumption and recommend tank sizing during site assessment.
Can generators power barn climate control and ventilation?
Yes, generators sized appropriately for agricultural applications power barn fans, misters, evaporative coolers, and ventilation systems critical for livestock health during summer power outages. Climate control is especially important for dairy cattle, poultry, and swine operations. Generator must handle combined starting watts when multiple fan motors engage simultaneously. For fire season preparation including livestock facilities, see our fire season power planning guide (/guides/fire-season-power-planning). A 36-48 kW generator typically powers climate control for medium-size barn plus other essential systems.
Do you install generators for Julian apple ranches and wineries?
Yes, Peak Power Systems specializes in generator installation for Julian-area apple ranches, wineries, and agricultural tourism properties. These operations have unique backup power needs: cold storage for apples/grapes, refrigerated processing facilities, tasting rooms, commercial kitchens, point-of-sale systems. For PSPS preparation, see our PSPS preparedness checklist (/guides/psps-preparedness-checklist). Extended PSPS outages during harvest season create financial devastation from spoiled product. We design generator systems sized for agricultural processing equipment, commercial refrigeration, irrigation pumps, and visitor amenities.
Get a Free Agricultural Generator Assessment
We'll design a backup power system specific to your ranch or farm operation
Agricultural Generator Pricing
Commercial generators for ranch and farm operations
Small Farm
Well, barn, residence
- 22-36 kW capacity
- Livestock water
- Basic climate control
- Propane ready
Working Ranch
Full operation coverage
- 36-60 kW capacity
- Multiple buildings
- Processing equipment
- Extended runtime
Get an exact quote for your property with a free on-site assessment
Large commercial operations quoted individually. Propane infrastructure additional.
Protecting Your Agricultural Investment
East County ranches and farms face unique power challenges during PSPS events. Livestock require continuous water supply, barn climate control prevents heat stress, and irrigation systems protect crops. Our agricultural generators serve Julian apple ranches, Ramona horse properties, and cattle operations throughout the backcountry.
For properties with well pumps, we size generators to handle pump starting loads plus essential farm systems. Commercial agricultural installations include propane infrastructure for extended runtime during multi-day PSPS events.
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