Home generators are designed to provide electricity in times of power shortages or failures for a short duration of time. Home generators not only light up the house in case of power outages but also, depending on their capacity, provide power to run appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, furnaces, television and heaters.
Home generators are available in two types: portable and stationery or standby generators. In times of power shortages or disruption of power, small portable home generators can be used to run some selected appliances such as lights, refrigerators, furnaces and sump pump. Generators come in varying size and capacities ranging from 1 kilowatt to 100 kilowatt. Home generators run on diesel, gasoline, propane or natural gas. The least expensive is the portable gasoline powered engine.
The size and type of generator depends on the requirement of a house owner. Is it required to power the entire house or to run just a few selected appliances? The total number of appliances to be run must be identified and total wattage added up. Some electrical equipment or appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners consume two or three times their normal wattage power to start. A generator that has capacity more than the maximum wattage requirement of the appliances must be selected. The total electric load on the generator should never be more than those rated by the manufacturer. Moreover, the generator must have the necessary voltage rating to run appliances rated at 240 volts. A 5 KW generator is sufficient for home use and cost around $600 upwards.
Portable generators should not be connected to the home wiring system. Use the recommended extension cords. Overloaded cords can cause fire. Never place the cords under the rugs or the carpet where it can get damaged. The electric load on the receptacles must be balanced. Portable generators must be located outside the house. Carbon monoxide that is emitted through these generators can be hazardous to health. Always allow the generator to cool down before refueling.
Stationery home generators require the service of a professional or a licensed electrical contractor for installation. The generators are connected to the home wiring system through an automatic transfer switch. Stationery generators come with an automatic power monitoring system. As soon as there is disruption in power, the generator automatically starts to provide power and switches off automatically after normal power is restored. Most of the generators run on natural gas and can be connected to the home’s natural gas line. This eliminates the inconvenience of refueling the generators. There are models also available that run on LP gas and diesel. Generators of 8 kw to 17 kw are sufficient to power lights, computer, refrigerators, medial equipment, furnace and water heater. The generator should be housed in a properly ventilated structure as they produce heat and smoke. Stationery generators may cost $2000 to $10,000 depending on the models.
Whatever the type of generator, every generator should provide 60 hertz power for proper performance of any electronic equipment.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Portable Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Portable generators are used in homes and in places where there is no power or the need for power is minimum. Portable generators are generally smaller and are designed to use for a few. A portable generator of 5KW has enough power to keep lights,...
-
Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Generators are used for the generation of electric power. There are basically two types of generators: standby generators and portable generators. Generators ensure that most of the essential appliances can be run whenever there is a power outage. Standby generators provide backup power in homes...
-
Emergency Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The disruption of power for substantial lengths of time can occur at any time due to hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, snowfall and other natural calamities. Having emergency backup power in such situations is not only essential for hospitals and commercial establishments but also in homes to...
-
Electric Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Electric generators are used to supply power to homes, commercial and industrial establishments when there is a disruption of power. It is also used in places where there is no supply of electricity. Electric generators come in a wide variety of models, size, and prices....
-
RV Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The introduction of RV generators has made it possible for people who use smaller and towable RVs to enjoy the modern amenities of life. Modern RVs have installed generators behind the drivers’ seat, which provide electrical power. They draw their fuel supply from the engine’s...
-
Gas Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
A wide variety of fuels are used to power generators. The most common are gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas. With such a wide array of options, the house owner’s choice of fuel and the right type of generator will depend upon factors such as...
-
Diesel Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Fuels such as gasoline, diesel, propane or natural gas basically power home generators. Some models also have multi fuel capabilities and run on gasoline, propane or natural gas. The choice of the fuel will depend on the availability of the fuel in times of emergency,...
-
Commercial Appliances
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
For businesses, especially those in manufacturing, the key to success is to be able to produce products with the least cost and to produce them efficiently so that they can meet their delivery dates. In making sure that products are made with the least cost,...
-
Colloidal Silver Generators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Colloidal Silver Generators are electronic devices used for manufacturing colloidal silver suspensions. The process involves immersion of high-quality silver electrodes into distilled water and electrolytic generation of sub-microscopic silver particles. Once a generator is activated, the fine colloidal product can be visually perceived. Commercial generators...
-
Types of Home Air Purifiers
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Room Air Purifiers Room air purifiers replaced tabletop units in the 1990s as the leading type of home air purifier. Tabletop units proved to be mostly ineffective, because of the inadequate volume of air being moved through the unit. Room air purifiers are almost as...