Sublimation at events and markets

[bubbleimages]

Would some like the Hyundai HY3200SEi be something I should be looking into? On the right lines?[h=1][/h]

[webtrekker]

Would some like the Hyundai HY3200SEi be something I should be looking into? On the right lines?

Yeah, that looks good. Just tot up the wattages of the various things you will be running - heat press, laptop and printer and make sure they are within the continues Kw rating of the generator (which I'm sure they will be for the items you mentioned).

I see this generator is equipped with AVR which will protect your computer and printer from voltage spikes.

[bubbleimages]

Thank you very much, the Hyundai is a tab more than I was wanting to spend, and the Honda suitcase even more, but a small VAT refund could be put towards this as an investment.

Will have a look around the internet for any deals, really do appreciate all your help.

[logobear]

i think you should over specify your generator...
don't want it running at max all the time, and some event or another will involve a night market, need lighting or you want to add a mug press .....
AND need a decent sized fuel tank, and silent ! Most markets insist!

[socialgiraffe]

You also have to consider H&S surrounding the heat presses. You may not be able to have them in the area you intend to sublimate on due to various risks associated with these items.

I also think it will not be possible to P.A.T. test these appliances for this sort of thing as they are not designed to be portable and therefor are not suitable.

Just thinking aloud and it may be that someone will correct me on the above.

[pisquee]

If it has a 13 amp plug it's classed at portable in terms of PAT

but, yes, you will need a good level of public liability insurance (tell your insurer specifically what you're planning and where, and make sure you have risk assesed and method statemented the hell out of what you're proposing ... your RA/MS should state where you are operating. And you ideally want your set up to be that it's impossible for a member of the public to touch the heat press, at all, in any way, even if they are really trying and reaching over your stall, or any chance of the press causing a fire - even if you think this isn't a possibility, carry a fire blanket and CO2 extinguished just in case, and have these in your RAs too - make sure you know how to use the CO2 and blanket as they carry risks in themselves (so will need their own RA/MS too) as will your stall set up etc etc

[pw66]

For H&S reasons you will need a generator with ip44 water resistant sockets for outdoor commercial use ( blue roundpin plugs), which rules out most of the caravan generators like the Hyundai. The larger of the Impax generators has one ip44 outlet, and at 2.2kw (2.5kw max) will run most heatpresses. If you need to add a second press then at £400 it would be cheaper and more versatile to add a second generator. Being from Screwfix, and as it is clearly for commercial use, you will be covered if you need to make a guarantee claim. A caravan/leisure generator may well have some clause in the T&C's prohibiting commercial use for guarantee purposes.

Lights are a relatively minor issue in this day and age. Back in the 90's I was using 6 x 500w halogen floods to light my stand. More recently I have used 4 x 48w striplights and currently use 4 x 27w LED striplights.
Whatever type of stand you get, white is the sensible choice for the canopy. It reflects light well and colours show true. Red is the kiss of death - all of your products will not show their true colours ( green and blue aren't much better).

The National Market Traders federation is the easiest insurance to get because it is included in membership, and is instantly recognisable to event organisers. You may get something cheaper from your existing insurance company, but be sure to tell them the exact nature of where and how you are trading as they could withdraw cover if you make a claim.

[bubbleimages]

Thank you all for your great advise, especially regarding insurance etc. Great to hear everyones experiences and thoughts.

I have some time over the next week to really sit down and take a look at things going forward, to even see if it would be worth doing at markets or events in general.

[pisquee]

This topic has come up a few times in the past, and one point that usually gets raised, is if the market is a busy one, how are you going to deal with serving customers and designing and printing and pressing at the same time.