Sunday, August 18, 2013

Generac Portable Generators

Generac Portable Generators

By Ray Hauser


The loss of utility power can be one of the most unpleasant and potentially damaging events that can happen to a homeowner. Houses go dark, basements flood, heat is lost and vital medical equipment shuts down. People depend on electricity directly or indirectly for just about everything that modern society has to offer. Its sudden loss can be traumatic.

A portable generator is one of the best and least expensive antidotes to losing utility power. They can be worth their weight in gold during a power emergency especially a lengthy one. Portable generators are also great for camping, tailgating and a host of other remote applications. Portable power provides the electricity you need when you need it!

Generac, the world leader in innovative, backup power solutions, offers an array of portable generators for almost any application. Power outputs can range from a modest iX unit to the more powerful GP machine.

Portable generators are usually powered by a gasoline, diesel or propane engine. They are differentiated from standby generators in that they are relatively small, mobile machines mounted on wheels whereas standby systems are permanently installed and hard wired into a home or business's electrical system.

Standby generators also need a transfer switch for directing the flow of electricity. If utility power goes down, the standby generator starts up and the transfer switch automatically transfers the home electrical system over to the generator. Standby generators function automatically and provide twenty-four hour protection. Standby systems are significantly more expensive than portable generators and they require complicated installation and inspection.

Portables don't need costly and complicated installation and inspection, but they do have to be manually started and appliances must physically be plugged into them. The portable generator can also be shutdown and put away when it's no longer needed.

Outlet types vary depending on the machine and output, but most systems have two 120V 20 amp duplex receptacles and a higher wattage receptacle such as a 120/240V 30 amp twist lock outlet.

It's a good idea to rewire important appliance such as furnaces to be pluggable, if the backup power of choice is a portable generator. This allows the furnace or any other vital piece of equipment to be plugged into the generator and become operational without utility power.

The first thing to consider when deciding upon a backup power solution is what appliances or equipment do you want to be able to operate during a utility outage. The easiest way to accomplish this is to manually count up the power ratings of various items. Most devices have power consumption levels listed on them. Four to six thousand watt generators are good enough for most homes and small businesses.

Authorized Generac generator dealers have trained personnel who can assist customers in assessing their portable backup power requirements and then match them to the appropriate generator.




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