The installation of a standby generator does not stop after ordering the generator. You must also decide on where to place it. Of course, it is a general rule that a standby generator must be at least 5 feet away from the nearest part of your home because of its vibration and dangerous fumes. However, there are several other factors that you must consider in the placement of your generator. The factors have been discussed briefly in this article.
So, sit back and read the article to the end. This is one of the frequently asked questions, and our answer has remained the same. Every size of standby generator is good for homes as long as the placement follows all the requirements and safety codes.
Some people believe that the bigger a generator is, the more powerful it will be. This is true to only a small extent. We have seen some smaller generators give out more electricity than bigger ones. Also, the bigger your standby generator is, the higher its installation cost will be. So, it is better to focus on the power output of the generator and not necessarily the size.
Once again, any size of standby generator is good for your home, as long as it can generate at least 12KW. This will cost you more money for materials and labor. Besides, there will be consistency in the supply of gas. The direction of its exhaust — Standby generators give off carbon-monoxide, which is dangerous to human health.
Let it face the opposite side of your home to allow the breeze to blow it away. Noise — First of all, it is important to buy a generator that has a low noise level, but notwithstanding, the nearer your generator is to your house, the higher the noise. So, you need to place it not too far away to reduce your installation cost, and not too near to reduce the noise. It should meet or exceed the standards for air quality in North America.
A low-oil shutdown system is essential for preventing possible engine damage due to insufficient oil. It seems like most generators have a built-in low oil shut-off feature. It should be easy to find a home backup generator with this safety feature. Fuel economy is going to be an important thing if you need to power your house for a few days with a generator.
A feature that might help with this is the fuel economy switch, or eco-throttle. This allows the generator to lower or increase its engine speed according to the amount of load that is currently being used.
The economy mode decreases both fuel consumption and overall noise level. Another important feature is an overload protection system that will protect the generator and appliances in case of an overload.
A portable generator that is large enough to power a house is going to be heavy to move around. In that case, a wheel kit will make it easier to move the generator around, especially if you are on your own. Inverter technology provides clean power for sensitive electronic appliances such as a flat screen television, gaming console, desktop personal computer or mobile notebook computer.
If you want to power such electronic devices during a power failure, then an inverter generator is a good choice. Certain appliances in your house are power-hungry while others are not. You need to carefully consider which equipment is essential and which are not. Moreover, think about which appliances are going to be running at the same time.
In addition, some household appliances use more power when they start compared to when they are in operation. Check each appliance and make notes of the wattage printed on the label or in the product manual. If a device shows only the amount of amps required, then you can still calculate the wattage. Do this by multiplying the amps with the voltage, e. You should calculate how much wattage is needed so that you can choose a generator model that delivers enough watts.
This way you might avoid the frustration and disappointment that is the result of buying a generator that is just too small to power your house in an emergency. There might be other items that are specific to your household that you can add to this list. Remember that you need to take into account both the running wattage and the additional starting wattage of certain appliances. The key benefit of using a portable generator for powering your house during a power failure is the cost.
It is cheaper to use a portable generator compared to installing a home standby generator. The simplest way to use a portable generator for home backup power is to run it outside at a safe distance and then connect a few essential appliances by way of extension cords. If you want a safer setup, then you can connect the portable generator to the electrical panel of your house with a transfer switch.
The downside of using a portable generator for home backup power is that a lot of them use gasoline as a fuel source. I live in Ontario, Canada. Here, you are only allowed one hot wire attached to the screw on a circuit breaker.
You can run that one hot wire to a utility box and then make a connection that goes in two directions. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2. It will for a little while, but is not recommended.
If the demand is greater than 15 amps, it will trip the breaker. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. How far do you want it to be? I would suggest that the generator be about 20 feet from the house so that it is far enough away that carbon monoxide from the generator doesn't find its way back into the house and possibly kill your family.
Not Helpful 6 Helpful 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.
The wires referred to in these instructions may differ in various transfer switch models. Helpful 5 Not Helpful 7. You may need to refer to building codes regarding the wiring specifications in your home.
Always be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for tips for successful installation. Helpful 5 Not Helpful 8. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. You Might Also Like How to. How to. Co-authors: 8. Updated: November 22, Categories: Electrical Wiring and Safety Switches.
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