Power at home is very essential. Without it, household chores will be disrupted and a number of other important activities will be hampered and yet natural disasters happen. Power outages happen. Thus splurging on essential items like Portable Generator is as advantage in an unexpected situations like calamities, storm surge or just mainly power outage that lasts for more than a day or two.
These generators are typically run by fuel and are the least expensive type of generator; however they require quite a bit of work. Unlike a permanently installed generator, they do not turn on when your power immediately shuts off. So here is a list of things to keep in mind before running this portable generator at home.
Estimate your Energy Consumption
When power is lost, immediately keep a list of appliances or gadgets at home that needs to be plug. For example, on winter, you have your furnace (to keep you warm), your refrigerator (to avoid food spoilage), radio or cellular phone, anything that can give you means of communication is essential. Prioritise these appliances according to their importance, from here get information of each appliances' wattage and add them all up and that is your Energy Wattage. Then, check your portable generators wattage capability and ensure that this won't exceed to avoid overloading on your generator and extension cord that will eventually lead to a costly damage on your generator and appliances.
Always position your Generator Outdoors
To put safety as a priority. Keep a strict distance of 20 feet from your house to your portable generator. Remember this life-saving tool works with fuel. Place it on a sturdy surface, preferably in an open space where its exhaust can properly vent. Expectedly, this machine can emit a loud noise so it would be advisable to purchase this with a generator cover to minimize its noise and prolong its life.
Choose the right Power-Cord
Generators usually have a switch wherein power is transferred. The installation of a transfer switch must be supervised or done by a licensed electrician to ensure the safety of your home or the establishment wherein the generator is being set up. But if you choose not to have a switch installed, you have to plug the appliances on the outlet panel of your generator and this is where you will need a generator power cord. In selecting a generator power cord, remember this one important detail: the bigger the number of amps, the more power the cord can accommodate. Being so, a generator power cord with 50-amp can handle bigger wattages compared to a generator power cord with 20 or 30-amp, thus, it is thicker. Match the generator power cord and the outlet on your generator. Choose a 20-amp generator power cord for 20-amp outlet and a 50-amp generator power cord for 50-amp outlet.
Ensure Safety and Quality in your Fuel
For many people, the first consideration when shopping for a generator is what type of fuel they would like to burn. Generators can be powered by gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas, or solar energy. Some models allow you to switch between fuel types.
Conduct a test-run
This is precisely the reason generator load bank testing is an essential piece of a comprehensive preventative generator maintenance plan, which you should ideally have conducted on your genset(s) each year. Load bank testing helps to ensure that your generator will be fully dependable and operational, as well as completely capable of the highest possible load it may be required to handle at any critical point in time.
In the event of a power failure, you should have peace of mind that your backup power source will kick into action on a moment's notice. But what happens when the power goes out and your genset does not function as expected?
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