If you are seek an insurance policy from the greater frequency of grid outages or just want to lower your electricity costs, a wind turbine may be a viable solution. You can put a wind turbine on your house provided that you satisfy local zoning ordinances and that there is sufficient wind coming to your property. …
Are Generators Safe for Electronics?
With the increasing number of power outages in the U.S., many homeowners and small business owners are turning to generators to have a reliable source of power in the event of a grid outage. While there is always the possibility of the most sensitive electronic appliances being damaged by a generator, most–if not all–risk can…
Can a Generator Damage Appliances?
Many people wonder if generators can damage ordinary household appliances such as refrigerators, HVAC systems, washing machines and ovens. While any kind of appliance can potentially be damaged by a backup generator, the risk of appliance damage can be greatly reduced or eliminated with the selection of the right sized generator for your home or…
Will Generators Work After An EMP?
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a short burst of electromagnetic energy that can occur naturally from lightning and solar flares or from a man-made event such as the high altitude detonation of a nuclear bomb. A severe EMP generated by a nuclear bomb in the earth’s atmosphere would immediately damage the electrical grid and most…
Are Generators Safe To Use?
Given the increasing frequency of power outages, homeowners and business owners have turned to generators (both permanent standby and portable) to provide power in the event of a grid failure. Generators are safe if they are correctly installed, used properly and maintained at regular intervals. When discussing generator safety, remember that are two kinds of…
How To Use a Generator for Tailgating
While beer has been a constant for our tailgate group from the very beginning, us aging frat boys have refined our game day operation significantly over the years. What was once a simple setup from the trunk of a car that included only cases of beer, coolers and bags of ice has evolved into a…
What Is An Inverter Generator?
While a conventional generator and an inverter generator are similar in that they both involve the production of electricity, there are differences between the two. Simply put, an inverter generator delivers a smooth, constant flow of AC power, whereas a conventional generator will throttle up and down to produce enough power to meet loan demand. …
Are Generators Noisy?
The noise level of both portable and permanent standby generators can vary by manufacturer and by model. But as a general rule, noise levels have been reduced substantially in recent years, driven by consumer preference along with improvements in technology. A brief review of the two kinds of generators may be helpful: Portable generators are smaller systems that can…
How Long Will A Honda Generator Last?
Introduction. The useful life of leading portable generators will vary by manufacturer and specific model. Honda offers a wide range of portable generators, but on average, you can expect a Honda generator to last well over 10,000 hours of running time. (Note that this is purely an estimate but to put this into perspective, studies…
How Much Does It Cost To Install a Standby Home Generator?
Homeowners can select between two basic kinds of backup generators to provide electricity to their home in the event of a power loss–portable and permanent standby. Each is designed to deliver different amounts of power to the home. The cost of portable systems can range from $500-$1,500, while cost for permanent standby systems can range…
How does remote monitoring work in a home generator?
Remote monitoring systems are available on most larger fixed-place standby home generator systems. Remote monitoring systems are typically not available with smaller, portable power generators on wheels. Simply put, remote monitoring systems allow the homeowner (or generator maintenance contractor) the ability to check on the health of the home generator remotely. With the increased incidence…
What is a transfer switch on a home generator?
A transfer switch on a home generator senses when power available from the electrical grid is cut off and switches the load to the home generator which will start automatically in the event of a power outage. Remember that there are two basic kinds of home generators: (1) larger fixed-place standby generators and (2) smaller…