Things You Need to Know about a Stand By Generator

Home Improvement Add comments

by Ann Triune

A few years back, people would be making fun of you if you owned a personal stand by generator at your house. A stand by generator was fit only for hospitals, businesses, and other establishments. Otherwise, it would be ridiculous. What people don’t know then is that the stand by generator was going to evolve into one of the most vital gadgets in the household.

Nowadays, it is all too common to own a standby generator. Families just couldn’t afford to go through yet another power outage. Important tasks might be delayed, their safety might be compromised and valuable information might get lost. If you do not want to risk this happening to you, the only answer would be for you to get a stand by generator.

What is a Stand-by Generator?

A stand by generator is a variation of the electric generator, and it is permanently installed. Just as with any electric generator, it is used to supply electricity in case of a power outage. A stand by generator basically functions like your average appliance, like your air-conditioning unit, but maybe with a few differences.

A stand by generator has an engine, rather than the electric motors of an AC unit. Obviously, when a power outage occurs, the electric motors of your AC cannot function, while the stand by generator can.

The stand by generator also uses an automatic transfer switch as opposed to the thermostat in your AC units in monitoring utility power. When a power outage occurs, the switch automatically turns the generator on, without any manual supervision. When power is restored, the automatic transfer switch turns the generator off.

What makes stand by generators better than portable generators?

Of course, everything depends on how you plan to use your generator. If you want it light and easy to carry around anywhere, you can go for a portable generator. But if you want a generator that operates by itself and with no human intervention (no need for you to turn it on every time a power outage occurs), the stand by generator is for you. You don’t need to carry a generator with you anywhere, don’t need to fill up a gas tank, and don’t need power cords to connect it.

OK. Now I know what a stand by generator is. What’s the first step in choosing the right one?

A stand by generator can either power the whole house or select circuits only. The first step in choosing one is to specify whether you want the whole house to be powered or only a few mission-critical circuits.

You can choose a stand by generator that powers the whole house if you really want to be protected from a power outage. Just be forewarned that these generators are very expensive. A 20-kilowatt liquid-cooled generator can cost anywhere from $6,275 to $12,500, and this still does not include installation costs and the automatic transfer switch.

For those who cannot afford a stand by generator that powers the whole house, you can use a select circuit stand by generator instead. It can power 8-16 circuits and costs just $1,999 to $3,850, inclusive of the automatic transfer switch.

Consider buying a stand by generator a wise investment. For those fortunate enough to have the financial resources, it is recommended you get one that powers the whole house. But for those who can’t, there are many tricks and tips available to make the most of your investment by restoring as many parts of the house as possible.

About the Author:

Leave a Reply

WP Theme & Icons by N.Design Studio
Entries RSS Comments RSS Log in