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Things You Need To Know About A Stand By Generator

The thought of owning your very own stand by generator seemed outrageous just a few years back. Only big companies and businesses needed stand by generators to supply electricity in case of an outage. No one would have ever thought that it would someday become an indispensable apparatus in the common household.

Nowadays, it is all too common to own a stand by 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?

When an electric generator is permanently installed, this is what you call a stand by generator. And just as with any electric generator, it powers electrical devices in case of a power outage. This works similarly with your air-conditioning unit, but has 2 major 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.

Another difference is that a stand by generator uses an automatic transfer switch instead of a thermostat in order to monitor utility power. The automatic transfer switch is responsible for turning the generator on once a power outage occurs and turning it off once power is restored.

Is a stand by generator better than a portable generator?

Portable generators are different from a stand by generator. They have different features and purposes. If you want a generator that's light and easy to carry along, you'd obviously go for a portable generator. But the stand by generator also has its own unique features. By using the stand by generator, you do not need to manually operate your generator (thanks to the automatic transfer switch). There would also be no power cords involved and definitely no filling up of the gas tank.

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.

If you're willing to shell out wads of cash to enjoy maximum power supply, you can get a stand by generator that has the capacity to power the whole house. A 20-kilowatt liquid-cooled generator costs $6,275 to $12,500, exclusive of automatic transfer switch and installation costs.

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.