tips in choosing the right home power generator
February 29, 2008
Usually, when one sets out to look for a home power generator, he ends up confused and perplexed. There are just too many home power generators nowadays that come in various shapes, sizes, models and prices coming from different manufacturers and retailers. More often than not, instead of going home with a home power generator, one ends up going home with nothing other than more confusion.
To prevent this from happening to you, make sure you cover all the tips discussed in this article.
What is the first thing that I should consider?
Of course, you want to buy a home power generator for emergency home power backup. This means you require for it to supply electricity to your home. For this purpose, the first thing you should take into account is the amount of electricity you usually need at home. Generally, a generator that can supply 3000-5000 watts can suffice for average-sized homes between 1000-3000 square feet.
However, what really matters is not the size of your home, but the number of electrical devices you have at home. To get a more precise calculation of your energy consumption, you can sum up the number and type of electrical devices that will need to be powered at the same time. Watt ratings are usually printed on the electrical device itself, or it can be found at manuals and boxes. Add all the wattage requirements of all your electrical devices in order for you to get the overall wattage you’ll need from your generator.
Other than wattage capacity, there are other important features to consider when buying a home power generator. Below is a list of some of them:
Sound
In order for you to enjoy the comforts of your home without being disturbed by your generator, make sure you get one that produces minimal noise or no noise at all. Ask yourself how loud the unit is before getting one. As much as possible, you wouldn’t want it to be noisy and loud.
Fuel Supply
There are several types of fuel today that can be used for your generator. There’s gas, diesel, propane, or natural gas. You will have to determine what type of fuel your generator will be running on. For you to estimate the number of hours of operating time a generator can give you, check out the size of the tank.
Portability
You might want to rearrange the furniture in your house or do some serious renovation. For this reason, you can choose a home power generator that comes with wheels, or a transport trailer if in the first place, it isn’t light enough to carry by hand.
Weather Protection
Check the control panel of your generator and see whether it is properly protected from harsh elements such as rain, dust, and other debris. If you plan to put your generator near open windows or your home is prone to these elements, consider getting a generator with a protected control panel.
Outlets
As a safety precaution, make sure you have enough outlets available to handle everything you need. Also bear in mind that they must be protected by a circuit breaker in order to avoid accidents that may lead to a fire.
As a whole, buying a home power generator is not as puzzling as you think it is if you only know what to look for in one.
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