Tips for Purchasing a Standby Generator
So you've decided that you don't want to be left in the dark if a hurricane or a tornado or other disaster hits your area.
You've decided to buy a standby generator.
Sounds simple enough.
But when you get to the store, you find a bewildering variety of generators, from a small 5.5 kilowatt model for around $2,000 to a 45 kilowatt monster for $25,000 or more.
How do you determine which one is right for you?
Of course, your budget will be a factor, but there are other factors that are equally important.
The first factor is whether you want a portable or stationary generator.
If you want a stationary one, where will you put it?
A generator's exhaust gas includes poisonous carbon monoxide, so it must be located outside, in a well ventilated area with plenty of space around it, and protected from the rain.
If you want a portable one, where will you store it?
You'll need a dry, easily accessible place, and you'll want to be sure to have a wheel kit for it.
The next factor is the maximum amount of electricity you'll need at any given time.
Do you need your air conditioning on 24 hours a day?
How about your refrigerator and that big freezer?
Do you expect to keep everything plugged in as usual, or can you get by with a bare minimum, only pugging in each appliance for a short time as needed?
It's easy to find a chart that tells you how many watts each appliance draws when
it's running as well as the additional wattage it draws when it's starting up. From that you should be able to figure out what size standby generator you'll need.
If it's not big enough to handle your maximum load, you can burn out your appliances.
But if you get one that's too big, you can actually harm the generator by not putting a big enough load on it.
In determining the amount of wattage you'll need, you should consider not only the Running Wattage of the generator, but also the Starting Wattage, especially if you're considering one of the smaller generators and plugging in appliances only as needed.
The trick is to stagger the starting or plugging in of appliances.
Don't start multiple items at the same time because the Starting Wattage is cumulative for each appliance that starts at the same time.
Another huge consideration is the type and amount of fuel the generator uses.
Most of the smaller generators run on gasoline, while the larger units use liquid propane, natural gas or diesel.
Remember, fuel is one of the first things that becomes scarce after a major event such as a hurricane.
Fuel will very likely be rationed, so you'll have a hard enough time finding gas for your car, let alone your generator.
Therefore, you'll need to store enough fuel to run the generator for at least several days, maybe more.
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Blizzard Blackout: How to Safely Weather a Winter Power Outage
Chicago, Ill. (ContentDesk) November 3, 2005 -- This hurricane season, Gulf Coast residents recently learned the importance of emergency preparation the hard way. Yet, many Americans in Northern States are still not prepared for a winter blackout. Ice storms and blizzards can snap power lines just as easily as any hurricane, spawning prolonged power outages during the darkest days of the year. You dont have to look too hard to find someone whos weathered a winter power outage.
Just ask Jon Hoch, founder of Electric Generators Direct.com (http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com), an online emergency generator superstore. Several years ago, his own mother and father endured a 4-day power outage, inspiring him to get them a backup generator and eventually launch an online generator store. Some homeowners physically cannot brave a blizzard and run out to rent a backup generator, says Jon Hoch. Therefore, the...
Blizzard Blackout: How to Safely Weather a Winter Power Outage
Home generator > Blizzard Blackout: How to Safely Weather a Winter Power Outage
Learn HTML tables - no effort required!
HTML sounds daunting to the novice webmaster, who often assumes that the HyperText Markup Language, with all its confusing tags and elements, is going to be difficult to understand.But after a few good website tutorials, the novice learns that learning HTML can be easy and fun; the language is not far removed from archaic typesetting syntax, and once you learn the basics, it's smooth sailing from then on....or is it?Tables are a big stumbling block for some, and as simple as they are, some novices just don't seem to get them right away. If you can't seem to make sense of tables, today's the day that you finally conquer them! Tables will open a new world of formatting possibilities and allow you to position your content in amazing ways! Start learning by checking out this free HTML...
Learn HTML tables - no effort required!
Home generator > Learn HTML tables - no effort required!
Generator Forecast 2006: Generators Could Be In Short Supply This Hurricane Season
Chicago, IL (ContentDesk) March 22, 2006 -- Hurricane season is still two months away, but the mad rush for emergency power generators has already started. ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com (http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com), an online generator superstore carrying the leading generator brands, is already experiencing a huge surge in generator sales this Spring. A lot of people are still rebuilding from Katrina, Rita and Wilma, said Jon Hoch, founder of ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com (http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com). Theyre not waiting for a tropical depression to form before they start preparing for hurricane season. Generator manufacturers ran out of inventory three years in a row. Last year, it took them until January to replenish inventories from the 2005 Hurricane season.
Do the math, warns Hoch. The manufacturers only...
Generator Forecast 2006: Generators Could Be In Short Supply This Hurricane Season
Home generator > Generator Forecast 2006: Generators Could Be In Short Supply This Hurricane Season
ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com Introduces 'EGD Recommends'
Romeoville, IL (ContentDesk) April 11, 2006 -- It's hard to get an honest, straight-forward recommendation anymore - especially when it comes to generators.Most generator dealers are loyal to the single brand on their shelves, according to Jon Hoch, founder of ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com -- an online generator superstore (http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com)."Guess what? The Yamaha dealer is going to recommend Yamaha.
The Mitsubishi dealer is going to recommend Mitsubishi.
Surprise!" jokes Hoch.So, how do you truly know how each model stacks up?ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com just launched "EGD Recommends" to help shoppers compare the top generator brands in 7 different categories:1. Tiny Recreational Generators2. Small Recreational Generators3.
Mid-Sized Emergency Generators4. Large Emergency Generators5. X-Large Emergency Generators6. Home Standby Generators7. Residential/Commercial Standby...
ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com Introduces 'EGD Recommends'
Home generator > ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com Introduces 'EGD Recommends'
RV Air Conditioner Rentals
RVs, or recreational vehicles, are used by many people when they wish to go traveling with all the comforts of home. RVs can have all the amenities that a deluxe hotel room has ? a salon, a kitchen, a dinette, a plush toilet and bath; everything can be arranged for. Naturally, such vehicles also require temperature adjustments. Hence, there arises a need for air conditioning in RVs.
RVs are not permanent homes. People live in them while they are traveling and touring.
For this reason, many travelers do not buy air conditioners for RVs, but prefer to rent them out. RV Air Conditioners can be rented at the same agencies where the RVs are rented out along with their other equipment.
There are two types of air conditioners that can be rented and used in RVs ? one is the rooftop air conditioner, or a separate unit near the engine of the RV. The rooftop air conditioner is more useful for cooling the vehicle when it is parked. This type of air conditioner does...
Home generator > RV Air Conditioner Rentals
Electric Generator and Power Generator Safety Tips
When buying a diesel generator make a list of the lights and equipment that will be running off the generator. Total the wattage requirements to determine the capacity of the generator. Compare wattage requirement and the price of the generator. If the generator is to be connected directly to the electrical system, then it is advisable to hire a qualified technician to install the transfer switch. Ensure that the generator has adequate storage capacity, longer usage time at a stretch, overload protection and auto shut off facility.
Portable generators are critical to have in emergencies or for use in areas where there is no traditional electricity.
Always keep in mind there are safety issues related to the proper use of the generators. Portable generators can cause electrocution if they are left in the rain or sitting in water. Keep the generator under a canopy where it is protected, but not totally enclosed. It must still have adequate ventilation. Never touch...
Electric Generator and Power Generator Safety Tips
Home generator > Electric Generator and Power Generator Safety Tips
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