Like many things in life, buying a generator has its range: prices vary widely, and the end product also varies widely. It seems some people make a poorly informed purchase motivated by the effects of a recent storm, or worse, what is available in the local store.
Given the range in prices and specifications of generators, it’s important to give this careful thought beforehand so that you can buy something that meets your needs and is within budget.
In this article, you’ll read about how to buy a generator by considering the various features available and assessing whether these are necessary for your home. An informed approach will also help you set a realistic budget.
Set a Wattage Budget
This is a very practical approach. The bottom line is that a power generator has a limit on how much power in Watts it’s capable of generating. In order to match the output ability of a generator with your needs, you need to first decide what electrical appliances you want to keep running during a power outage.
For example, do you want to keep the fridge running? Will you want to keep the lights running? How important will it be to keep the air conditioners operating?
Add up the wattage demand of all of these appliances or devices that you want to keep operating during a power outage. Whatever that total comes to, you’ll need a generator that is capable of producing that power.
Permanent Versus Portable
A permanent generator is the most expensive option but will also offer the highest output range and will work automatically. Installing one will require a professional and may also need a local permit. Maintenance is quite simple as many of these systems are able to self-diagnose and even send messages to your phone to say what needs doing.
Permanent generators can run on propane, gasoline, or natural gas. Portable options are more flexible in their application because they’re not tied to your home so to speak. Yet, they’re more limited in their output, although this may still be more than enough for your ‘wattage budget.’
This type of generator often runs on gasoline, so you will need a supply of fuel that can be stored and is stable. That means you may need to add a stabilizer to your fuel store. You should note that this type of generator can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and so they often come with various safety features to protect users.
Another portable option but more sophisticated is the inverter generator. These produce power according to demand up to the limit of their output. They’re quieter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly; they’re also more expensive.
Power Station
Rather than generating power from an engine, these systems store power rather like a giant battery. The Titan Solar Generator is an example of this type of technology but also incorporates solar technology. The advantage is that you don’t need to use gasoline or propane, and there are no dangerous gases produced.
Power stations aren’t engine-driven and so are a lot quieter. However, the drawback is that you will not be able to run a lot of appliances over a long period of time.
How to Buy a Generator — Check
In this article, you’ve learned the basics about how to buy a generator that meets the needs of your home. As you’ve seen there are several important considerations that involve the needed power output, setting a wattage budget, as well as considering the safety of the device in your home environment.
Now that you’ve got a grip on some of these options and features, you can explore what’s available in your budget range, or at least start to set a budget that your think is appropriate for buying a generator. Check out other informative articles designed for the family and the home.
