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Ideal backup power options like home generators are going to have your back when the electricity grid fails. Keeping the lights on during an outage is now possible, and you don’t have to experience the inconvenience of having no lights.
An increase in natural disasters with an aging power grid is usually a recipe for disaster, and having some form of energy when the lights go out for those who have special medical needs will keep everything flowing.
However, you wouldn’t want to overspend with this power, and you should avoid the models that are not enough to deliver what you need. Fortunately, there’s a buying guide that can help you make wiser decisions.
Selecting the Right Type
1. Standby
Count on them to automatically turn on when the electricity from the grid stops. This is a generator for a house that’s made to power an entire home, including your HVAC, lights, and other appliances, so you don’t have to experience any downtime. You won’t have to throw out your food in case of extended black-out and maintenance.
Providing a massive amount of power and generally acting as a larger machine, they are more expensive and require annual maintenance. However, for those who are living in areas where frequent storms and hurricanes are happening, they are definitely great investments for homeowners.
2. Portable
Unlike the bulky types, these smaller models are often more than enough for those who want to go on camping trips, and you can store them inside your car. Since they are smaller, they often don’t produce a lot of electricity for a construction site or an entire house. However, when you need to charge your devices or power your laptop, they are often a more affordable option out there.
3. Inverter
Clean energy is being utilized with the inverters, and this results in more stability in their output. Find them to be more fuel-efficient and quieter in their operations, and they are often safer when you want to charge your phones, laptops, and other sensitive electronics. The mid-sized ones can go with you during an RV or boat trip, but the maintenance and prices can vary.
4. Induction
Electromagnetic fields are being created, and they turn at varying speeds when turning the rotors. A hefty amount of mechanical energy is often used, and this is often the reason why mini hydro plants and wind turbines are used with them. Read info about the induction type on this page here.
Smaller sizes, the ability to produce power at various speeds, and easy maintenance are some of the advantages. However, some owners point out that the unstable output in terms of wattage is going to make them a poorer choice for homes.
Home Generator Buying Guide
One of the first questions that you should ask before you choose a generator is “What do you need it for?” Depending on the appliances that you want to operate, you might find that the standby types are already more than enough to power the majority of your home essentials.
Larger types will take more fuel, it’s going to weigh bigger and will burn a lot of fuel. Calculate everything because desktop computers will require around 200 watts, while a dryer can range from 2,000 to 6,000 watts. Water heaters are at around 5,000, and oven toasters are at 1,200 watts.
See if you prefer propane as a clean fuel source, and this is where you can connect this to a tank. Diesel is popular, and it’s not much of a fire hazard compared to gas, so they are often used in the industrial types.
Natural gas is for standby types where they are self-feeding, and it can provide a limitless source, but it’s not as efficient as the others. Find info about natural gas at this link: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/natural-gas/.
The Budget that Should Be Allocated
Price points should matter, and this is where you need to consult the professionals for help. They are going to give you ballpark estimates of the costs of the unit itself, as well as the installation.
AC and DC may also be available where the former is popular in various households while the direct current is for backup units or battery banks. Automatic shut-offs can also increase the price because if the unit detects too much carbon monoxide, it can automatically shut off.
Electric start features are going to give you the functionality of turning on your unit with a push button or remote instead of a pull cord, so these are also something to consider.
How Does a Generator Work?
A generator is essentially an engine-driven device that converts mechanical into electrical energy, and it operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction, which is a process discovered by Michael Faraday in the early 19th century.
Inside a typical generator, you will find two main components: an engine and an alternator, and the first one runs on either gasoline, diesel, natural gas, or propane, depending on the type of generator you have. Its primary function is to convert chemical energy from fuel combustion into mechanical power.
Alternators or stator assembly plays a crucial role in generating electricity, which consists of coils of wire wrapped around a magnetic core made up of iron or steel laminations. As the engine rotates at high speeds, it drives the alternator through a shaft connected to both components.
When this happens, electromagnetic forces are produced within the alternator’s windings due to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. These forces cause electrons in the wire coils to move back and forth rapidly, creating an alternating current output.
However, most homes use direct current electricity for everyday appliances and devices like phones and laptops that require lower voltages than what AC provides. To address this disparity between AC generation and DC usage in households, generators employ another key component called an automatic voltage regulator.
Aside from providing backup power during emergencies or blackouts, modern generators often come equipped with advanced features such as automatic start/stop functions based on power loss detection. Some models can even be controlled remotely through smartphone apps for added convenience.
