Home Generators

For some reason we seem to have internalized electrical energy to such an extent that power cuts unnerve us. Most people don’t know what to do, and of course there are other things like frozen water pipes, rotting food in the refrigerator and garage doors that refuse to open, which make life miserable. The good old candle is passé, as homeowners today have a multitude of choices with regard to generators. Generators are really engines or motors which simply convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and allow you to use essential lighting and equipment during blackouts. Depending on wattage requirement and budget, a homeowner can either purchase a portable or a standby generator.

The Portables

These are small, cute and cheap but have the shortest run-time. Portable generators may require refueling under heavy use and you may have to utilize a torch to go and get the generator started by tugging at a cord or, in more expensive models, by pushing a button. Portables are ideal for low wattage requirements and a 2500 watt generator will run the light bulbs, basic electrical equipment like the refrigerator or a television and a couple of computers. Though cheap they do make a racket. Imagine a motorcycle engine or a lawn mower jarring outside throughout the evening. The newer versions, though, have cut down on the decibels drastically but for all practical purposes they are still noisy. Most portables run on gasoline or diesel but some higher-end models can be manually hooked up to an external natural gas line, thereby increasing run-time.

The Permanent Standby Generators

These hardwired generators are costly and before investing one should carefully decide the appliances the unit is going to power. Standby generators are more powerful than the portable kinds and can provide power levels ranging from 3 kW to hundreds of kW. This means a household can run not only essential equipment with ease but also keep the central air-conditioning or heating on. The standby generators usually run on natural gas or LPG, which is fed through an external line. This translates to unlimited run-time. Because these systems are connected to the main electrical wiring in the home, they start up and shut down by themselves too.

These generators need to be installed professionally by trained personnel outside the house, close to the gas line and an electric panel on a flat concrete surface or a rubber pad. Frequently, dealers bundle installation charges with the cost of the genset itself, making things easier. Shoddy wiring can damage the generator, the wiring in the house and even appliances. Most often the installation of these larger units needs permission from your energy provider.

So, before selecting the right genset for your home make a list of things which absolutely need to run, power or no power, and then decide on the appropriate wattage. The portable generators offer a limited scope but the standby ones will cater to almost all your needs. Don’t forget to include those invisible essentials such as sewage ejector pumps and exhaust fans. Also, blackouts never last all that long and by deciding to live without the air conditioning for a couple of hours you may end up saving a lot of money. Think of the times when power cuts meant family get-togethers around candles and interesting tales.