Power outages can strike at any time and leave you stranded without electricity. Outages are especially numerous in certain parts of Florida where hurricanes hit often and knock the power out. If you want to make sure you’re prepared for an emergency outage, the best option is to install a backup generator.
What Is a Backup Generator?
When most people hear the word generator, they think of the somewhat small, portable generators that are often used to supply power for activities like camping and tailgating. This type of portable generator can also come in handy during a power outage, as it allows you to do things like charging your phone. You can also connect an extension cord to the generator and then plug lamps into the cord, so you still have some lighting.
Also commonly referred to as standby generators, backup generators are generally much larger and more powerful than portable units. This type of unit is also permanently installed outside the home and connects directly to the electrical system via a component known as a transfer switch. The other difference is that the unit has a permanent fuel source, meaning it’s either hooked up to the natural gas supply or connected to a large, permanent propane tank.
How a Backup Generator Functions During a Power Outage
A backup generator will kick into action almost immediately if a hurricane hits and knocks out the power or your home loses power for any other reason. The transfer switch is the most critical component for ensuring the generator will start powering your house during an outage. The switch works by monitoring the flow of electricity coming into the house from the grid.
This allows it to immediately detect an outage and then send a signal telling the generator to start running. When it detects an outage, the switch also temporarily disconnects the electrical system from the grid. This ensures that all the power the generator produces goes directly into the house — none of it bleeds back out into the grid.
Once the generator is running, it will start powering the most essential things in the house, such as refrigerators and freezers, lighting, the HVAC system, and the electric water heater. Some generators allow you to program which things to power first. You can also do this manually by shutting off the circuit breakers to the parts of your home or appliances you don’t currently need to power. If you choose a powerful enough generator, you can potentially have power throughout your entire house just as you would at any other time.
Because the generator has a permanent fuel source, it can run an extremely long time, ensuring you have power throughout the outage. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil in a backup generator every 100–200 hours of run time. Nonetheless, it will still be able to keep your home powered for a few days, and you can usually change the oil yourself fairly easily to keep the generator running as long as you need it to.
How to Know What Size of Backup Generator You Need
Many backup generators have a load management function that allows you to choose which circuits in your house to power or which to power first. That means you don’t need a generator that’s so powerful it can supply electricity to your entire house at once. Nonetheless, you still need to make a list of everything you think you’ll need to use during an outage and then total up how many watts all of these things use. This is known as an electrical load calculation, and it’s something an electrician can easily do for you. It will help to ensure your generator isn’t too small or too large for your needs.
The biggest concern is if your generator is too small to run something like your AC or heat pump. These HVAC units typically draw at least three times as many watts when turning on, and you need to factor in this start-up load to ensure your generator is powerful enough. If the generator can’t handle the start-up load or you ever try to draw more power than it can supply, it will shut down automatically to avoid being damaged. You’ll then have to reset it before it will run again. Even worse is if it constantly gets overloaded since then it won’t ever work like it’s supposed to.
Talk With the Pros About Your Options
Stott Brothers Electric is a family-owned company providing quality electrical services in Port St. Lucie, FL, and the surrounding areas along the Treasure Coast. We offer expert generator services and can handle all your other electrical needs as well.
If you want to stay prepared by installing a backup generator, contact our team at Stott Brothers Electric to learn more about all your options.
