All You Need To Know About a Stand by Generator
Only big companies and businesses needed stand by generators to supply electricity in case of an outage.
No one would have ever thought that it would someday become an indispensable apparatus in the common household.
Nowadays, it is all too common to own a stand by generator.
Families just couldn't afford to go through yet another power outage.
Important tasks might be delayed, their safety might be compromised and valuable information might get lost.
If you do not want to risk this happening to you, the only answer would be for you to get a stand by generator.
What is a Stand by Generator? A stand by generator is a type of electric generator that is permanently installed outside.
It supplies electricity in case of a power outage.
It works quite similar to your typical electrical appliance, say, your air-conditioning unit.
But there are two factors that set a stand by generator apart from an AC unit.
A stand by generator has an engine, rather than the electric motors of an AC unit.
Obviously, when a power outage occurs, the electric motors of your AC cannot function, while the stand by generator can.
Aside from this, a stand by generator has an automatic transfer switch instead of a thermostat, to monitor utility power.
Once power goes out, the automatic transfer switch immediately turns the generator on - whether you're home or not - and continues to supple energy until electricity is restored.
Once power returns, the automatic transfer switch then turns off the generator.
What makes stand by generators better than portable generators? Of course, everything depends on how you plan to use your generator.
If you want it light and easy to carry around anywhere, you can go for a portable generator.
But if you want a generator that operates by itself and with no human intervention (no need for you to turn it on every time a power outage occurs), the stand by generator is for you.
You don't need to carry a generator with you anywhere, don't need to fill up a gas tank, and don't need power cords to connect it.
OK.
Now I know what a stand by generator is.
What's the first step in choosing the right one? The first thing you should do is determine whether you want the whole house to be powered, or just a few selected circuits leading to important electrical devices such as the burglar alarm, computer, microwave, night lamp, etc.
If you want to be completely protected from a power outage, it is better for you to decide on a stand by generator that powers the whole house.
However, stand by generators that power the entire house come in a hefty price tag.
A 20-kilowatt liquid-cooled generator costs anywhere from $6,725 to $12,500.
And this amount still does not include installation costs and the automatic transfer switch.
Stand by generators that power mission-critical circuits are also available to those who cannot afford an expensive generator.
These select circuit standby generators can power about 8-16 circuits and can cost you anywhere from $1,999 to $3,850, including the automatic transfer switch.
If you have the money to invest in a stand by generator that powers the whole house, go for it.
It will be worth every cent.
If you can't afford one however, don't fret.
There are creative ways available for you to maximize your investment by reviving as many parts of the house as possible.