How To Choose a Residential Generator
If you want to secure your home from an unexpected power outage, it is best for you to have your very own residential generator. A residential generator supply electricity to important electric appliances and devices like your heater, air-conditioner, lights, computer and refrigerator, during a blackout. This is because it uses mechanical energy to convert into electrical energy.
When buying a residential generator, you can opt for having a portable or stand by (stationary) generator, depending on what suits you best. A variety of fuel can also be used, including natural gas, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). If you want to buy a cheap model, go for a portable generator that runs on gasoline. However, this type of generator has a low running time, and you might need to constantly refill its gas tank. It is also not reliable as a long-term power backup since gas pumps might not work during blackouts.
On the other hand, a generator that is stationary can supply continuous power since they are directly attached or hooked up to an external fuel source, such as an external gas line. A portable generator can also be attached to an external source, thereby extending running hours.
Moreover, portable generators come with a lot of disadvantages. It has to be transported from the storage, connected to the loads, filled with fuel or hooked to a fuel line, and manually operated for it to function. A permanent/standby residential generator, on the other hand, can function with just a push of a button, or even without any manual operation at all, if it has an automatic transfer switch. This is because it is connected to house wiring and fuel source. The typical transfer time of an automatic system is about 10-30 seconds. A standby generator also supplies higher levels of power compared to portables. Although a standby generator might not come cheap, it will be worth every cent in protecting your home from a long-term power outage, as it can supply electricity to the whole house.
In choosing your own residential generator, make sure you not only consider wattage and price, but also take into consideration how long you might need emergency power, fuel availability, convenience of use, and safety. You should also consider whether you want to power the whole house or just a few mission-critical select circuits. If you have the financial resources to power the whole house, go for it. If not, you can just choose select circuits that are most important to you, like those leading to lights, refrigerator, heater, air-conditioner, and such.
Just bear in mind that having a residential generator might bring about accidents and health hazards. It can cause fires, electrocution, and a high emission of the poisonous gas, carbon monoxide.
As a whole, you should buy a residential generator according to your needs. Ask yourself f you want to use it short term/long term or if you want to power the whole house/select circuits. And don't forget to calculate the total wattage requirements of all devices you need to power at the same time, so that you can buy a generator that provides you the right amount of power.
Remember that there is more to buying a residential generator than its cost. It protects and adds value to your home, so consider it as a very important investment you have to make.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
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