As you’re going to learn, in the event of a power outage, a standby generator is your best choice. When a person first hears about backup generators, emergency generators and dealing with power outages, invariably they usually only hear about portable generators. To be fair, portable generators are a lifesaver. If they were the only choice, there would be no reason whatsoever for me to address this issue, but there is another choice. Before generators became popular, I was using portable generators as backup power and to provide power at the numerous sporting events, camping excursions, family outings and outdoor events. Needless to say, they make life easier.

However, the difference between a portable generator and a standby generator is a major one. If you have a portable generator and the power goes out, there is a sequence of steps that you must take before your portable generator can provide you with power. Step one; you have to retrieve the generator from storage. Step two, you have to connect extension cords to the generator and then to the appliances you want to power. Step three; you have to insure that you have enough fuel and oil. Step four; you have to start the generator. Unless your unit has a special automatic start feature, you will have pull start it just like you start a pull start lawnmower. Imagine having to do all that in the middle of an ice storm?

During a power outage, with a standby generator you have DO NOT have to go outside and set the unit up. Standby generators are permanently installed. You DO NOT have to manually start a standby generator; the unit has sensors designed to detect power outages and then an automatic transfer switch switches on your standby generator. The operation is so seamless; you’ll hardly notice it. If you use propane as your fuel source, you could literally give your standby generator five to eleven days or more of backup power.

Just think about the advantages of a standby generator. In the event of a power outage, you don’t have to go outside to set the unit up or start it. If your unit is fueled by propane or natural gas, you’ll never be caught off guard due to a lack of gasoline or diesel fuel. In outages caused by inclement weather such as the ice storm, it seems as though one of the first things to go is gasoline stations. The problem is, people who have gasoline and diesel fueled generators are now forced to drive around town desperately trying to find fuel. They essentially have to leave their homes after they run out of fuel. This is what makes the standby generator such an awesome invention.



Thanks to Joe Elliot for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

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Why should we consider a backup solar power system? Not only have we seen how sudden power failures have crippled entire cities, but regions and even entire states. Everyone at one time or another has experienced how an unexpected power failure has interrupted the simplest of daily tasks. Suddenly the power goes out and we realize how much we depend on electricity and don’t ever think about it until it’s not available. Our society uses electricity to power nearly every aspect of our lives, from heating and cooling to basic communication with our family, friends, and associates. It is becoming ever more imperative that we have backup or reserve power for when the inevitable happens and a backup solar power system can supply this need with continuous and free source of power for as long as we need it.

When there is a sustained period of power loss, expected or unexpected, the most common backup power is supplied by generators or invertors. Commonly, these supply enough power to make things more convenient and a bit more comfortable, but they do not supply enough power to operate all the appliances and devices, or if they do, not for long. Normally these items are sufficient for up to eight hours. You may have to limit the times of operating your backup power to be able to last for the duration of the power failure.

For instance, after a hurricane you know to be prepared for extended power outages. We can expect the power to be out for up to a week, even in minimally damaged areas. If your household is running off a gasoline generator, you will have to have a supply of gasoline on hand to operate the generator. And quite possibly your generator is only powerful enough to operate the bare essentials of your household, such as refrigerator and lights, but not climate control.

There are times when there are deaths that occur due to power failures. Older people accustomed to air conditioning are unable to regulate their body to endure extreme heat. Or those that depend on electricity to operate in home life support systems. These people generally are unable to do the maintenance required to keep a gasoline generator operating during prolonged power outages. Not only that, but people have died from incorrect installation of a generator or carbon monoxide poisoning from improper ventilation or fire.

A backup solar power system could be your answer for a safe, efficient, and unending power supply as long as necessary. As long as the system is installed correctly, it can supply all of your power needs without interruption. Think of the security and convenience of reliable and safe power supply whenever you need it. Backup solar power is the obvious choice for the safest and reliable supply of power when the expected or unexpected power failure occurs. Much safer and little to no maintenance makes a backup solar power system the most reliable and obvious choice for your electricity backup plan.



Thanks to Gregg Hall for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Standby Electrical Power

Can you answer curlytopped’s question about Generators?:

I just bought a house that has a lot of trees around and is pretty secluded. I have already had two power outages lasting 2 or more hours. I think I have to buy a generator, but have no idea of where to start…….

Home Natural Gas Generators

Can you answer beswick_richard’s question about Generators?:

we have many power outages in our area and are looking for a natural gas power backup system.
we want to power the entire house except for the electric range.
Does anyone have any info on this.

Generator Automatic Transfer Switch

Today, we cannot imagine our life without electricity; power outages have great effect on our daily lives. The best back up for long power cuts is generators, they provide us with a continuous supply of power and save us from significant losses that occur due to irregularities in power supply. Generators consist of two major components, the motor and the generator head. The motor helps to burn the fuel into power supply and the generator helps to produce electricity from that power. The engines used in the generator motors of high quality generators are supplied by companies like Ford, GM, and Honda. Generators can be broadly classified into two categories the standby generators and the portable generators.

Standby Generators: Standby generators are widely used in business houses and residential buildings for power backup. They are usually installed outside the building and are connected to the electric circuits by plugging in. These generators operate automatically and start supplying power whenever they detect disruption in the power supply. One essential thing that you need to take care of while buying the standby generators is a cooling system. The motors of the standby generators get very heated up and needs to be cooled. Standby generators are equipped with two types cooling systems, air-cooled systems and the Liquid cooled systems. The ones that come with air-cooled systems are very noisy and not that effective. On the other hand standby generators that come with Liquid cooled systems make very less noise in comparison and are more dependable. The silent generators automatically shutdown if they fall short on oil pressure or are overheated.

Portable Generators: Portable generators have become very popular in the recent past due to their portability features. These are specially designed for areas that have no electricity, such as construction sites, camps, and other similar areas. They come with a power inlet box to which the generator is connected and started. Portable generators are equipped with wheels and can be easily rolled to the site without any hassle. Portable generators can be used to supply electricity to various appliances, such as televisions, refrigerators, sump pumps and furnaces with the help of extension cords. Portable generators are very compact and easy to move. They are also inexpensive in comparison to the standby generators. The things that you need to take care of while buying a portable generator are weight, dimensions, wheel type and handle style of the generator as that will allow you measure the mobility of the equipment.



Thanks to generator for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

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