Why do we need Electric Generators

Electric generators can help keep things up and running during an outage. Here’s what to consider when buying one.

Power outages and blackouts are inconvenient and dangerous. Home generators can help. 

Due to an increase in strong storms and natural disasters along with an aging power grid, the threats of blackouts seems more urgent than ever.

Having some form of backup energy when the lights go out can be critical, especially for those in remote locations or with special medical needs. There’s a dizzying selection of home generators that can keep the electricity flowing with a price range that’s just as broad.

What is a electric generator?

A electric generator is an appliance that can supply electricity for your home, your business or when you’re on the go. Think of them as your own little power plant. Not all generators function completely independent of public infrastructure, though. Some will require a functioning natural gas hookup for fuel. 

You might think of a generator as a loud, stinky engine you can plug into. While these machines certainly still exist, there’s now much more variety available. There are even products marketed as generators that have no engine at all. 

What Size Electric Generator Do I Need?

When choosing a generator, this is one of the most commonly asked questions. The answer really depends on your needs and how many devices you want to power at the same time. To figure this out, put together a list of essential devices you want to be able to run as well as the wattage information for each one. The more watts a portable generator produces, the more appliances and tools it can power at the same time.

Wondering how to calculate watts for a generator? Follow these four simple steps to effectively size a portable generator.

1. Choose and list essential devices that you want to be able to power concurrently.
2. Check the manual or data plates of each device to find the running watts of each device listed, add them and record that number.
3. Find the starting watts of each device listed and record that number.
4. Choose the device with the highest starting watts. Add that number to the total running watts. This will give you the minimum starting watts of a generator to fit your needs.

How Many Watts to Run a House?

If you want to run a whole house on a generator, instead of just a few essential devices, you’ll want to invest in a whole-home generator as opposed to a portable generator. Whole home generators, also known as standby generators, are the most powerful generators on the market. Choosing the right whole-home generator size enables you to power your entire home during a power outage

Because of the power they offer, whole-home generators are one of the more costly options. They also require professional installation and maintenance. Whole-home generators run on either liquid propane or natural gas and just like a home air conditioning unit, they automatically turn on when needed and turn off when they’re no longer needed.