Can someone explain how a generator works?

1. 93

   peeplesposted 9 years ago

   Can someone explain how a generator works?
   
   Do you hook it up to electric box or have to plug each thing directly into it? Can a generator be used on a home that is being rehabbed instead of turning on electric services?

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2. 94

   UnnamedHaraldposted 9 years ago

   If you are talking about a portable electric generator, you plug your devices right into it and there would be severe limitations on how many you could run. You could use it to run a few electric tools during rehabbing but not in place of regular services if, say you want run the house. I bought one last year so I could plug in a sump pump and a couple lights or a space heater. Each generator is rated for the watts it can produce (including the start-up watts, which are higher) and it's amazing how your devices eat up that wattage when you have to pay attention to them.

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   1. 93

      peeplesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. That does not seem very functional at all when everything I am reading says they have to be outside for ventilation. I think we may need quite a few things plugged into it.

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   2. 78

      chuckandus6posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Once my brother wired it so with a generator when the storm took out power that he.could run the whole house,He is handy with things,I Wouldn't recommend this.They do have to be outdoors because of fumes.

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   3. 94

      UnnamedHaraldposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Nichol is right. I stand corrected. It IS possible (for an electrician) to install a power transfer system if your portable generator has a 30-amp outlet. It wouldn't run a household, but you could more conveniently run a few devices at a time.

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