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What type of generator should I buy? Generators come in two basic types: standby and portable. There also are inverters, which are not generators but may meet your needs. The source of backup power you ultimately choose will be determined by many factors, including your power requirements. Standby Generators: A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home or commercial building and wired directly into the electrical system to provide power to some or all of your home's circuits during a disruption of normal utility power. |
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Standby generators are fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. The number of circuits to which a standby generator can provide power--and the number of appliances you can run on those circuits--is determined by the power capacity of the generator.
Standby generators are about the same size as, and look similar to, a standard central air conditioner. A standby model may cost as little as $1,500 or as much as $15,000 or more--the greater the power capacity, the higher the cost.
Portable Generators: Portable generators are versatile. You can use them for
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When the generator is running, you can plug appliances and tools directly into these outlets. Some generators also include 240-volt outlets (that is, the kind of outlet for an electric dryer or for other large appliances).
Portable generators range in cost between a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the capacity and features.
How Much Power Do I Need?
There are two basic power measurements for generators: peak power (also known as startup power) and continuous power. Both are measured in wattage. Peak power is the wattage required for appliances at startup or when they are running at their highest levels of power consumption. Continuous power is the wattage required for operation of those appliances under normal load.
What's below is a general guide.
Standby Generators: Standby generators create from 5,000 to 25,000 watts or more of power. You'll have to choose a generator that supplies sufficient peak and continuous wattage for the appliances on the circuits you need to power. You can choose between an air-cooled and a liquid-cooled model standby generator. Generally, liquid-cooled models are bigger and create more power.
Portable Generators: A small 1,000-watt portable generator may be all you need for recreational purposes. And you may use up to 8,000 watts if using a generator to power tools on the jobsite.
Because you plug appliances directly into a portable generator, you'll also want to make sure that your model has the number and type of outlets you need. The size of the fuel tank also is crucial. The bigger the tank, the longer your generator can run without refilling and produce power.
What Features and Accessories Do I Need?
Aside from pure power production, there are some useful features and accessories to consider when buying a generator.
Transfer switch: If you want to use your generator to power your home, you'll need a sufficiently sized generator and a transfer switch. The transfer switch safely closes off the utility power line to your house's electrical system and opens a direct line to the generator and reverses the process when utility power is restored. Standby models can work either with a manual or an automatic transfer switch. The benefit of an automatic transfer switch is that it senses when utility power has been lost and automatically switches to generator power.
Wheeled Frames: As the name suggests, portable generators can be transported to different locations. The smallest portable generators are comparatively light--perhaps 50 pounds--and can be carried. Larger models can weigh as much as several hundred pounds, making a wheeled frame essential for transportation.
Noise: Generators aren't necessarily quiet. Some offer extra features to reduce the noise created during operation.
Weather Protection: Make sure the generator you purchase is suited for the climate in which you'll use it.
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