There is eight reasons why all homeowners and especially the self–employed should own a portable generator and some tips on what to look for plus links to comprehensive help:
Reasons to Own a Portable Generator
1) If you work for yourself you will know there is nothing more damaging to your finances than the time that is unproductive. When your electrical power is off because of a power failure you need an alternative source of power and that is when a portable power generator is invaluable.
It is very similar to owning a snowblower and removing the snow after a snowstorm, it is about what is the most productive use of your time. If you choose to shovel snow it is a slow manual task while it is quicker and more easily done with a snowblower.
This also avoids the risk of a back injury. The portable electrical generator, it helps your productivity by allowing you to get on with tasks quickly and efficiently that could probably have been done manually, but you choose to make the most productive use of your time by having a portable power generator. It is smart thinking and being as productive as you can be.
2) If a hurricane, tornado or snowstorm strikes and you have an emergency shutdown it is not a household disaster if you can keep your essential household appliances operational using a portable generator.
3) Choosing a portable power generator is not easy because you have to choose the right one for your purpose. In fact, Amazon.com has recognized this problem and has developed a portable generator buying guide that can help you overcome this problem. They have classified portable generators as follows:
- Outdoor recreation
- Construction
- Home backup
- Industrial
- Other
In developing this guide they have featured generators in each classification. This is based on their sales experience.
4) Completing an assessment of what your requirements are for a portable generator is essential both for the categories above according to the Amazon guide. However, our research indicates that a 7,000-watt generator for basic household needs for an automatic standby system is the most common range for families, but your other needs depend on the purpose you have in mind (Page 50 of the eBook listed below). It is therefore important that you do your own research on what your equipment needs are.
5) The power and performance of your generator are critical because it has two power rating. The ratings are running wattage and surge wattage which is when the generator starts. The starting power required is significantly more than the running wattage.
6) My personal preference for the source of fuel is propane because it is cheaper, less harmful, cleaner-burning and likely more accessible during a power emergency and it will not deteriorate during storage. However, that is a personal preference and yours may vary depending on your location.
7) The most important feature of a portable power generator and many other electrical items is the safety elements. Probably the most important safety feature of the portable generator is the Ground Fault Circuit Breaker (GFCB).
The purpose of the GFCB is as follows (from Wikipedia): A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or Residual Current Device (RCD) is a device that shuts off an electric power circuit when it detects that current is flowing along an unintended path, such as through water or a person.
8) Now you can take control by being informed and getting organized. Here is the link to the Amazon page with a Generator Buying Guide. In addition, the booklet below goes into the issues comprehensively and is also available from Amazon.
It has been written by an experienced electrical engineer. Our recommendation is that you also buy this book as an additional buying guide on the technical aspects of your research and operational details.