Energy Efficient Electrical Designs for New Homes

A Homeowner's Quick Guide To Buying A Generator

21 April 2015

Kimberly Garrett

A generator can be a good piece of equipment to have in the house for when you need temporary power after a storm or other reason for a power failure, or for giving you power you need to work in the garage or a shed when outlets aren't handy. You can also use them for outdoor parties and anytime you need extra electricity in the house. When buying a generator it's easy to get overwhelmed with your options, so note a few quick tips.

1. Diesel versus gasoline

Diesel-powered motors are almost always more powerful than standard gasoline motors, so you may want to invest in a diesel-powered motor if you'll be using your generator for running a power washer, for providing power to your entire home after a storm, or for other heavy-duty uses. A diesel motor has no spark plug so you don't ever need to give it a tune-up, and a diesel motor is more fuel-efficient so it usually uses less fuel overall. However, a diesel-powered generator may be more expensive to purchase at the outset, so you would need to decide if that extra power is worth the investment, depending on why you want to use the generator.

2. Wattage

You need to ensure that you get sufficient wattage from your generator if you're going to use it for a particular purpose, such as for hosting outdoor parties or using it for particular power tools. If you want to hook up an outdoor movie screen and heaters or run a hydraulic drill, you'll want to look at the watts these pieces require and purchase a generator that matches that number. If you cannot find wattage on the equipment, note the volts and amps and multiply these together—that will tell you wattage.

3. Manual versus standby

A manual generator is one that you turn on by yourself, whereas a standby generator gets wired into your home and comes on automatically when the power goes out. If you're purchasing a generator to keep your home powered after a storm or other failure, then a standby model may be best. However, this is not the right type to choose for those outdoor parties or for working in a garage or shed. For those types of applications you want a manual model that you can control on your own. Be sure you understand this difference and purchase the right generator for your use.

For more information, contact a company like Electcraft Power.

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