55 kVA Cummins Generator Protects a Northern Ireland Dairy Herd

Global Generators supplied a Cummins C55D5EQ 55 kVA silent diesel generator from stock to a dairy farm in Northern Ireland, as standby power ahead of winter.

A Cummins C55D5EQ 55kVA 3 phase silent canopied diesel generator supplied from stock as standby power for a dairy farm in Northern Ireland

22nd May 2026|Written by Sam Dexter

Protecting a dairy herd from winter power cuts

Last winter, a dairy farm in Northern Ireland lost its mains supply several times. Each outage hit the herd, the milk in the tank and the farm's income. This year, the owners decided to protect their livelihood and their animals before the storms arrived.

Like many rural sites, the farm sits on a long overhead line. These lines are exposed to high winds, snow/ice and falling trees, and repair crews can take hours to reach a fault in remote areas. The farm needed a dependable standby generator in place before winter, so we supplied a 55 kVA Cummins unit immediately from stock.

The equipment supplied

We supplied a Cummins C55D5EQ diesel generator, a 3 phase set housed in a weatherproof acoustic canopy.

Specification:

  • Model: Cummins C55D5EQ
  • Standby rating: 55 kVA / 44 kW
  • Prime rating: 50 kVA / 40 kW
  • Output: 400V 3 phase, 50Hz at 1500rpm, 79 amps per phase
  • Engine: Cummins 4BTAA3.3-G14
  • Alternator: Stamford UCI224D
  • Controller: Cummins PowerStart 0600
  • Fuel tank: 200 litres, giving up to 16.7 hours at 100% prime-rated load
  • Build: silent (canopied) - 77 dB(A) at 1m / 67 dB(A) at 7m
  • Footprint: 2320mm x 1015mm x 1685mm, 1263kg wet
  • Application: standby power for a dairy farm

What a power cut costs a dairy farm

On a dairy unit, the losses start the moment the power goes. Cows need milking on time, and a late or missed milking means discomfort, a higher risk of mastitis and lower yields. Milk in the bulk tank must stay cold, or it may be rejected at collection.

The C55D5EQ provides standby power to the loads that keep the farm running:

  • Milking parlour - vacuum pumps, milk pumps and parlour controls
  • Bulk milk tank cooling - refrigeration compressors
  • Ventilation - fans in the cattle sheds
  • Feed systems - so the herd is fed on schedule
  • Lighting and small power - across the yard and buildings

Pumps and compressors draw a surge of current when they start. The set's turbocharged Cummins engine and Stamford alternator handle these motor loads well, holding a steady voltage and frequency.

PTO generator or a standby set?

Many farmers weigh up a tractor-driven PTO generator against a fixed standby set. A PTO generator costs less up front, but it has real drawbacks on a dairy unit:

  • Someone has to be there - in a storm at 4am, a person must hitch up, connect and start the tractor before anything runs
  • It ties up a tractor - for as long as the outage lasts
  • Output depends on engine speed - if the tractor's revs drift, so do the voltage and frequency, which parlour controls and cooling equipment do not like

A standby generator has its own engine, fuel and controls, running at a governed 1500rpm. The PowerStart 0600 controller supports automatic mains failure (AMF) operation, so with a suitable automatic changeover in place, the set can start and take the load with nobody on hand. The 200-litre base tank gives up to 16.7 hours at full prime load, and most farm loads are lower, so a full tank goes further. Cummins backs it with a 2 year / 500 hour warranty for standby use.

Why customers choose Global Generators

  • Authorised Cummins CPG dealer - the UK's best pricing on Cummins diesel generators, backed by our Best UK Cummins Diesel Generator Prices guarantee
  • A leading stockist - a wide range of generators held in our own physical inventory, so your set arrives before winter, not after it
  • Over 50 years of combined experience - we help farmers size a set around the loads that matter, so you only pay for the capacity you need
  • Fast delivery from the UK and efficient global export - stock that is ready to go when the forecast turns

Need a farm generator in Northern Ireland?

Dairy, beef, poultry, pig unit or grain store: if last winter's power cuts cost you stock or income, now is the time to act. We supply industrial diesel generators from the UK to farms across Northern Ireland and worldwide, with stock held ready at our headquarters in Doncaster.

Talk to our power generation experts today. Call us, message us on WhatsApp, or send us an email, and we will help you protect your farm before the next storm.

Headshot image of Sam Dexter - Digital Growth Engineer at Global Generators Ltd

About the author

Sam Dexter

Digital Growth Engineer

Sam is the Digital Growth Engineer at Global Generators, responsible for the company's digital presence and marketing strategy. He left college in 2017 for a digital marketing apprenticeship, learning the profession and the power generation industry side-by-side, and has spent the years since working across website development, SEO, paid advertising, content, analytics, automation and AI implementation. The years spent so close to the products has helped Sam build a genuine working knowledge of generator sets - ratings, applications, specifications and the questions customers actually need answering - which shapes everything he publishes. Since joining Global Generators in 2026 Sam now works at the intersection of technology, marketing and operations - improving online visibility and finding smarter ways to reach and support customers.