We all want to live our lives in peace and comfort. Thanks to electricity, that’s now possible. We get the internet, keep our food fresh and have an air-conditioned, home thanks to electricity.
However, a problem that we also deal with is power outages. Natural disasters, harsh weather conditions, and an overloaded power grid can lead to power outages. This is where a generator comes in.
A generator keeps all of your devices working, your food fresh and it also keeps your home comfortable no matter what the reason is for the power outage.
Here are our tips for you to get the best whole house generator for years to come.
Primary Whole House Generators
When it comes to whole house generators, there are two main types – permanent and portable standby units. The one you choose depends on what you need it for.
Permanent standby generators run on either natural or propane gas. They turn on automatically when the power goes off and generally produces more power than portable generators. They are also, however, on the expensive side.
When it comes to portable generators, they provide between 3,000 and 8,000 watts of power. There are models that run on electric, but they run on gasoline too.
It’s better to get an best inverter generator if you’re going for a portable generator. They are more efficient and they’re also quieter. You can check https://www.ablesales.com.au/industrial-diesel-generators/21kva-to-55kva-single-and-3-phase/ if you’re wanting to expand your search.
Calculating Your Power Needs
Power requirements are not the same for every house. The power requirements for a one-bedroom home with a single-window AC will not be the same for a four-bedroom mansion with two central AC’s.
For the latter, you’ll need to use more power due to the high energy demand. To figure out your own power needs, start by making a list of what you want to have power during an outage.
Household appliances state their voltage requirements by using tags on them. For example, computers use around 60 to 300 watts of power and a fridge or AC uses 600W and 1,800W.
Make sure the generator you get can deliver enough power to cover your needs. Leave a 15% margin between your voltage requirements and the maximum generator capacity. This method will help you to get a generator that can power your whole home.
The Transfer Switch
For those who don’t know what a transfer switch is, it helps to connect a standby generator to a circuit panel using just one cable. Never skip it because it can cause damage to your appliances.
If you have stationary standby generators then you don’t have to turn the transfer switch on manually, as you have to with portable generators. Instead, it will be done automatically whenever there’s a power outage.
The transfer switches are essential for generators that produce over 4,000 watts of power. For those who are looking for something within their budget, you can go for interlock devices.
They are reasonably priced, they cover the main cutoff switch in the service panels and make sure that your generator doesn’t turn on by mistake when the power comes back on.
What is Power Output Management?
The power output management finds out which of your household appliances can cause a power overload. It will enable the appliances that need a higher voltage, then, after a while, it will take on the rest of the appliance’s load.
How Does It Work?
There are generators that use a different approach when it comes to power management by monitoring usage during operation. The system will remember how much all your appliances have consumed.
so, the next time the generator can produce sufficient power, you can prevent overloading. This way you can also make sure that all your appliances are sharing the generator capacity in the safest way possible.
The automatic power management helps smaller generators to power huge homes with great fuel efficiency and they are super affordable too.
However, it might not be ideal for every application. It might not be practical as sharing power will not keep your home warm or cool. In this case, you can get a substantial generator that will supply the AC units in your home simultaneously.
Some Necessary Features to Consider
There are many features in a generator that can confuse anybody shopping for one. Here are some necessary features that will help you narrow down your choices before you buy a whole house generator.
Starting Automatically
By now, you know there are generators that turn on automatically when the power is out without your help. It definitely is a convenient feature when the power switches on automatically during an emergency.
Make sure the generator you’re buying has an automatic starting feature on it.
Start Using Electricity
Portable generators provide a feature that’s called an electric start feature. This very feature makes turning on the generator super easy as opposed to using the classic pull-start feature.
Low-Oil Shut Off
Another great standard feature is the low-oil shut off feature. When the oil is used up. the generator will shut down on its own. This function is available on both permanent and portable generators.
This may decrease the need for you to check your oil levels regularly, but you should check it anyway for good practice.
Conclusion
We hope you can find the generator that will be perfect for you. There’s nothing more important than having a reliable generator that’ll not only keep your home comfortable but will also give you the best service throughout its use.
Always invest in generators that fit your individual situation and you should be good to go!
