Whether you need to know what size backup generator you need to keep your home power going in the case of an emergency or you simply want to purchase a new one to make your home more comfortable, you have several factors to consider. For starters, you need to decide what type of fuel you need the generator to run on. You have two options, propane and natural gas.
Calculating wattage needs
Using a generator to run your home is an option, but a generator only puts out a finite amount of power. Calculating the wattage needs of a backup generator helps you decide which generator is best for your home.
Wattage is a measurement of voltage divided by the current. Most appliances list their power requirements in watts. When you add up all the wattages for all the appliances, you can get a rough approximation of how much power a generator should provide.
Wattage can also be expressed in amps. For example, a refrigerator uses 300 watts when it is running and 700 watts when it is not. For a large air conditioner, you would need about 1500 running watts.
In addition to wattage, you should also consider the total number of devices that will be running during a power outage. This can help you determine the size of your generator. The more devices you have, the larger your generator will need to be.
Choosing between natural gas and propane
Choosing between natural gas and propane for a backup generator can be a difficult decision. Both have advantages and disadvantages. You can choose one based on your needs.
Natural gas is clean-burning and provides lower emissions than gasoline. It is cheaper than propane. However, it is not as green as propane. It can be depleted and may not be stored properly. It can also cause pollution issues if a pipeline leaks.
Propane is clean-burning and provides more energy than natural gas. It is less expensive than natural gas. However, it is heavier than air. It is sold in home improvement stores.
It is not a good idea to store propane indoors. It should be stored in an outdoor tank. It should be at least half full when you plan to use it. It can take a week for a small tank to be completely depleted. It should not be stored in areas that are prone to earthquakes.
Commercial backup generators provide critical safety systems in the event of a blackout
Whether you are a home owner or a commercial facility manager, backup power is important. It helps ensure that your facility is able to continue functioning in the event of a power outage. Using a generator is one way to ensure that your facility has power during an outage.
Commercial backup generators provide critical safety systems in the event of a blackout. These systems include the power required to operate computers, telecommunications and dispatchers.
Power outages are often sudden and unpredictable. They can be caused by man-made disasters or the weather. If a complete blackout occurs, your facility could go down completely. During the 2003 blackout in New York City, half of the hospitals had failures in their backup power generators. These failures could have diverted patients to other facilities, or left them in the dark.
Depending on the size of your facility, you may require a generator capable of powering a large number of systems. You may also need a generator that is able to operate automatically.
Avoid overloading a backup generator
Having a backup generator is a great idea for a home. It will provide you with emergency power during a power outage, and it can help you see through the darkness. But there are some things you should know to avoid overloading your backup generator.
First, make sure you know how much power your backup generator can generate. To do this, find out how many watts your home uses. Then, find out how many watts each appliance in your home requires. This will give you an idea of how many watts your generator will be able to generate.
Next, choose a generator size that will fit your needs. A smaller generator will be able to run only a few appliances, while a bigger generator will be able to power your entire home.
The generator you choose should also have overload protection. Some generators will come with a circuit breaker that will automatically shut down the unit in the event of overload.