Keep
Your Generator Away From the House
A generator is the best thing to
have in a blackout. But it can make you black out (or die). Like any internal
combustion engine, a generator engine exhausts carbon monoxide gas, which can
give you a headache, knock you out or even kill you. This is easy to avoid,
though: Don't run a generator in your garage or porch, and keep it at least 10
ft. away from your house.
Buy
a Standby Generator if You Can Afford It
A standby generator, unlike a
portable generator, is permanently connected to your electrical system and goes
on automatically when the power goes out. Standby generators can run on propane
or natural gas, eliminating the need to monitor the fuel. And they're quieter. Buying
one of the latest models of New Diesel
Generators will also be an excellent choice for stability and
longevity. You can buy one large enough to power everything in your house, or
you can buy a smaller unit and choose the most critical circuits to power.
Standby generators start at about $1,800, plus installation. (And they do need
to be installed by a pro.) The difference in cost between a portable generator
and a standby unit may not be as great as you think. Remember, a portable unit
requires either expensive extension cords or a transfer switch. Standby units
can run on less expensive natural gas, which will save you money in the long
run.
Diesel
is Easier Than Gas
When it comes to portable generators
and ease of use, Diesel
Generators sure beats gasoline. Gasoline is a handy fuel, but it's not
without problems. Storing enough gasoline to get you through a several-day
power outage requires constant vigilance. First you have to buy several
5-gallon gas containers and find a safe place to store them. Then you have to
add stabilizer and ideally replace the gas after several months to make sure
it's still fresh when you need it. Refueling is simple and safe; just replace
the diesel tank with a full one. And you don't have to worry about the
carburetor on your generator getting gummed up with old gasoline. However, be
cautious if you have bought a one of those old, Used
Diesel Generators, for they are known for their notorious noise and
smoke.
Buy
a Generator You Can Get Serviced Locally
You may find a great deal on a
generator by shopping online. But what will you do if you can't get it serviced
locally? Sometimes it's worth spending a little extra to buy from a local
dealer. Parts will be available, and the dealer will be familiar with
maintenance and repair procedures for your model. So before you buy a
generator, make sure there's someone nearby who can provide parts and service.
In this regard, F G
Wilson Generators and Perkins
Generators beat all, because they have the widest reach and penetration
of service centers.
Furnaces,
Well Pumps and Electric Water Heaters Require a Transfer Switch
Electrical Generators can also cause harm to your
household electrical and electronic equipments.
You can use extension cords from
your portable generator to power any device with a plug, but anything that's
directly connected to your home's wiring, including essentials like your well
pump, furnace and electric water heater, requires a transfer switch.
A manual transfer switch is
essentially a small circuit breaker box that you mount next to your main
electrical panel. You match the capacity of the transfer switch to the wattage
of your generator. Then you choose which circuits to connect to the transfer
switch.
Using a transfer switch is the only
safe way to connect your generator to house wiring because it requires you to
disconnect the house wiring from the incoming power lines at the same time you
switch to generator power. This prevents the possibility of “backfeeding”
generated power into the power lines, which creates a potentially lethal hazard
for power line workers.
No comments:
Post a Comment