Home Generators Provide Safety and Convenience

By Dave Donovan

Every year, it seems another area of the country gets hit with some type of natural disaster. Whether it's a flood, a blizzard, a brush fire or any other type of disaster, thousands of people are left without power for hours, or in some extreme cases, days. A home generator can provide a much needed source of electricity during those trying times.

Home generators come in various sizes, and can be fueled by different sources. The least expensive and most commonly used generators are ones that run on gasoline. But natural gas, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas fueled generators are also available.

From a safety standpoint, it's vital that your generator be installed by a licensed electrician. In fact, many townships and counties require it to be, and also require installation approval from your utility company. It's an important issue because there is a chance the generator could back-feed voltage into the electrical panel if it's installed incorrectly. For this reason, a double-throw transfer switch is required.

A double-throw transfer switch is installed between the electric meter and the electric panel. The feed from the generator comes into the bottom of the switch box. When the switch is in the top position, the voltage flows from the meter to the panel. If an outage occurs, flipping the switch to the bottom replaces the feed from the meter with the feed from the generator. Once the switch is thrown, power up the generator and voltage will be sent to the panel. When electric service is restored, turn off the generator and flip the switch back to the meter feed. The fact that you have to manually make the switch ensures that back-feeding doesn't occur.

Although home generators are great for power outages, they do require a lot of fuel to run for a significant amount of time. For outages lasting longer than a few hours, you could see yourself using up a lot of fuel.

One way to counter that inconvenience is to have a permanent generator installed. Permanent generators run off your home's natural gas line and they don't require constant re-filling. It could be a cost effective choice if you live in an area that commonly has electrical outages due to bad storms. Of course, they are costlier and you lose the portability of the gasoline powered generator. It's also important to check the fuel pressure required by the generator to run. In some cases, the generator needs more pressure than what's being pumped into the home, so a second gas meter may need to be installed.

Many permanent generators also feature an auto-on option, which senses a stop in voltage flow and automatically kicks on. Another benefit of the permanent installation is that they can offer higher power levels than portables. Permanent generators also increase the value of your home, so while they may cost more initially, their worth and convenience may more than make up for it.

Some permanent generators can be fueled from two different sources, such as an NG/LP (natural gas and liquid petroleum) generator. These come in handy if both your electric and gas service gets interrupted, because the third fuel supply will still be available. Of course, these usually require a large fuel tank to hold the fuel and you may need a permit for them.

As you can see, there is a large field of consideration when choosing the emergency generator for your home. Looking into the history of natural disasters in your area can help you determine what type of generator would satisfy your needs the most. Are you in an area that regularly has extended power outages? Is your home in a remote area where it may take a while for the utility crews to restore your service? Do you have medical equipment that needs a constant power supply? These are just a few things to think about before buying a generator for your home. Buying the least expensive generator is of no use to you if it doesn't meet your emergency needs.

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