FAQs

Are diesel or petrol generators best for UK power cuts? While petrol generators are a cost-efficient option for small or short-term jobs, diesel generators are more fuel-efficient, durable, and well-suited to operate in colder conditions and on bigger projects. 

JCB’s extensive range of diesel generators are an ideal solution to keep your business running in the case of a mains power cut. Built with the best quality components, our generators are trusted throughout the UK and beyond, so you can count on them to be relied upon in a power emergency. But there’s no need to leave it to chance - our extensive dealer network is available to provide service support up and down the UK, and you can use our telematics LiveLink system to monitor your generator’s performance during a power cut.

A JCB Powerpack is designed with safety at its core. An all-steel enclosure houses automotive-grade batteries, specifically designed for mobile applications. JCB also carries out stringent EMC tests to ensure the highest levels of electrical safety. Safety features include 1.6mm steel enclosure for maximum protection, UN-certified Li-ion batteries, and a full EMC certification.

JCB’s Powerpack has been built using high-quality components for a long service life. By choosing a high standard of battery, we are able to warrant them for a 5-year period – with an expected life of more than 4,000 daily cycles (over 10 years of typical use).

Though we are centred in the UK, JCB is a global name and a global company: our factories are based in both the UK and in India, and we have over 100 dealers worldwide! With over 50 models in our range, JCB is one of the largest generator manufacturers. Not only that - we’re also proud to be one of the only generator manufacturers to assemble generators using our own engines.

Due to the nature of the work carried out with a hydraulic breaker, wear and tear is guaranteed. However, this doesn’t mean your JCB hydraulic breaker can’t be properly maintained to ensure it works effectively for a long time. It just means you should undertake a full inspection of your hydraulic breaker every time you use it to identify any potential issues. These can include wear and tear and loose fittings. It’s also important to ensure you’re operating it correctly. For example, by monitoring your machine’s hoses, greasing it correctly with the correct grease, and breaking at 90 degrees to the surface.

For more detail on how to correctly operate a JCB hydraulic breaker, you can read the operating manual or take a breaker training course (ask your local dealer for more information).  

How a hydraulic breaker works is by applying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder. This causes the piston to move back and forth, creating a powerful impact force that is transmitted to the chisel, causing it to strike the material. These repeated strikes then fracture the material into smaller pieces, ready for dismantling. As a result, hydraulic breakers are commonly used for demolition projects, as well as in construction and mining.

When operating our range of hydraulic breakers for excavators correctly there is no limit to how long they can be used overall. However, if they’re being used continuously, they should not be used for longer than 15 seconds at a time. If the ground doesn’t break or you need to break more ground, to operate the breaker correctly you should lift and move it to another spot every 8-10 seconds. This method not only increases productivity, meaning you don’t have to use your hydraulic breaker for as long, but it’s also much safer.

Yes, JCB’s hydraulic breakers are designed to fit on our compact and heavy excavators machine ranges. However, it’s important to note that JCB hydraulic breakers for excavators should only be paired with a JCB excavator that has sufficient load capacity. Correctly combining a JCB excavator hydraulic breaker with one of our compact and heavy excavators depends on whether you’re looking for a breaker from our contractor or professional ranges. Overall, if the excavator is too light, it may become unstable under the load and fall over so it’s important to pair the two machines appropriately.