Generators

The downsides to owning a generator are few. Whether you need unconditional access to power or just an electrical source for camping, generators can help meet your needs and make most any situation a little more comfortable.

Generators
An insurance policy for the comforts of home

Even better, choosing what kind of generator you need is easier than picking out a new pair of shoes! Here are all the basics to help you keep the lights on, no matter where you're in the dark.

Backup and Standby Generators

Standby generators are permanent installations that generally sit on the outside of the home. These units are similar in size to air conditioners.

These generators are installed in-line with the existing power line, meaning it is installed between the power source and the home's power distribution center.

Backup and standby generators come in two common installation types:

• Whole House - generators that power every electrical circuit in the home
• Dedicated circuit - generators which are only connected to specific mission essential circuits, generally necessitating a smaller, less fuel consuming generator.

   

  Portable generators

  Like their built-in counterparts, portable generators are a great investment for your home. A good portable generator can help keep the lights on when the city goes dark or simply add the comforts of home to the great outdoors!

  Portable generators come ready to do just about anything you need them to do, from powering an electric drill to keeping the whole house powered.

  Portable generators are also very good for providing power where an infrastructure doesn't exist. A small generator can add lights to a campsite or can get some juice to those power tools when extension cords won't do.

  These smaller-scale jobs need not the enormous 7,000 watt dynamos, able to power a whole house. The smaller, more portable 1,000 to 2,500 watt generators will be more than enough.

  Fuel types

  Power generators come in a variety of different fuel types which are all viable, but have their own strengths and weaknesses.

  Small, portable power inverters may have a rechargeable fuel cell battery, able to hold a charge long enough to power a radio and a light. While great for camping trips, this won't be enough for building projects or emergency power.

  For more heavy-duty power, generators are offered with diesel fuel or liquid propane tanks. Both are very good at providing enough power to keep a whole home lit (with the right engine of course) and are fuel-efficient.

  Liquid propane engines are generally cheaper to purchase but diesel is a more cost efficient fuel for extended use.