Home Standby Generator For Emergency Power
Standby Home Generator for your Home
If you live in areas that are prone to lose of power due to storms like Hurricanes, tornadoes or just bad thunder storms, a generator may be something you should have on hand. Even a bad snow or ice storm can knock out the power in your area. Better yet having a standby generator that automatically turns on when the power goes out is way more convenient.
If you have a standby type you will not have to worry about dragging out the portable generator and hooking it up because your standby will be ready to go at all times. No more extension cords to route or trip over.
It is so comforting to have that power to keep some lights on and run a couple of appliances at the minimum. If you have lost your power before then you know what an inconvenience it is. Especially when you have small children or older adults who may suffer from the heat or cold depending what time of the year it is.
Having a standby generator is a great solution to keep the power going in your home when the power is going to be out for an extended period of time. A standby type is connected directly to your home and fueled with natural gas, propane or diesel. There are smaller standby types available that will energize only a few circuits in your home if you prefer or go with a larger version that is liquid cooled that will power the whole home.
Transfer Switch
You would have to have a transfer switch installed that would disconnect your circuit from the utility whenever a disruption in service is detected. When your home is off the grid the transfer switch will start the generator and begin to transfer its power through your homes electrical panel.
The gas engine is powered by one of the mentioned fuel sources and you must be aware you could run out of fuel if you are unable to get your tanks refueled. There could be many reasons you are not able to be refueled due to storm damage in your area for example. But you at least will have the comfort of some power while others may not be so lucky.
When the power is restored in your area the transfer switch will shut off the generator and reconnect to the power grid. This is great for those that not only need the convenience of this type of system but especially for those that have medical equipment that must be kept operational. Your transfer switch will also prevent electricity from back-feeding to the grid which can start a fire or present a safety risk to utility workers working on the power lines.
Install Yourself or Hire a Professional
Unless you are pretty skilled at installing these things, you should hire a professional to do it for you. If possible try to connect to your local natural gas so there will be less of a chance for interrupted fuel supply. If not, you can have a tank installed. The higher the capacity generator you can get the more circuits it can power. Think of how much you need to get you through an emergency situation not how much you need to power your entire house.
Some Points:
1.The cost of a standby by generator is much more than a portable.
2.Permit may be needed for installation.
3.Must plan out the install for proper location so noise is not an issue with neighbors.
4.Regular maintenance is required. (also on portable generators)
5.If you move you may not be able to take it with you.