Our motor home has been sitting idle for most or almost all of the winter. I went out last week to take a look and make sure the cold hadn’t gotten to it and that there were no obvious problems. I started the generator to exercise it for a while, and get it used to running again. I sat there mesmerized by the quiet purring sound of the generator, when suddenly the steady purr was interrupted by a surging sound. I immediately turned the appliances off that I had on, and listened closely to the generators RPM’s increasing and decreasing. After a few seconds of the generator sputtering up and down it smoothed back out to a nice, steady purr again.
When I worked at an RV dealership, our service department was always booked with appointments for generators that either wouldn’t start, or if they did, they had that all too familiar surging sound. This was a result of letting the generator sit for periods of time without starting and exercising it. Lack of use is one of the biggest problems with generators and can severely damage your equipment. In gasoline generators the fuel breaks down and thickens causing hard starting and surging problems. This can happen in as short a period of time as one month.
Monthly Archives: September 2012
Using Your Standby Generator Safely
Generators are extremely advanced pieces of technology, and serve a massive function in our daily lives. Home generators can be critical for the provision of electric light when there is no municipal power. Some generator models are classified as ‘portable’ and incorporate the luxuries of the home into our outdoor, recreational activities.
But it is important to remember, we must weigh advantages against disadvantages, and while modern tools provide real value in the right situation, they often aren’t without potential negatives in the wrong set of circumstances. Standby home generators, without proper management and maintenance, present potential threats. Manufacturers highly recommend that owners understand the industry recommended best practices and adhere to them at all times.
The first thing a backup generator user should do is consult the instructions and all operating guidelines in advance of first time use. Insofar as situating your backup generator, try to find The simplest method is to find an area that is not blocked by bushes, tree branches, or gardens, that is well ventilated. Keep a flashlight handy in case you need to locate your standby generator. Maximize your generator’s effectiveness via a carbon monoxide alarm if your generator is in use. That way if any carbon monoxide is leaking, you will know about it.
When you are connecting your generator a circuit board, consult a certified, local technician to actually make the final adjustments necessary for the grid connection and never plug your generator into your house circuit directly. If you are going to be using extension cords outdoors, make sure they are heavy duty outdoor cords that have sufficient wire gauge for the application. If you are using a gas generator, ensure that it isn’t so old that it has become inert and be sure to keep a backup supply on hand. If the gas has not been used within 30 days you must take measures so that it doesn’t overheat your generator’s coils. Gas and gas vapors can be extremely dangerous and flammable. Use caution and Cool down your system and don’t refuel it until it is almost completely cool. This is also true In the even that your unit needs to be stored. At last, be sure that you are keeping your backup generator system adequately maintained in order to get the most from it.
For more info go to: www.BackupHomePower.com
Purchasing a Home Generator: a Beginner’s Guide
One of the very best residential safety decisions one can make is purchasing a home generator. In the event of a crisis, generators can save food from spoiling, provide much needed heat, and even save lives. It should be understood that home generators vary greatly, and finding the perfect one for your home is vital for such an important purchase. Through expert advice and thorough research, this guide outlines the basics anyone should know when selecting a home generator. You should consider how the generator will fit both your needs and preferences. Here are a few great tips for selecting your very own home generator.
Fuel Selection:
There are several different types of fuel used to power home generators. Selecting a generator’s fuel supply is heavily based on convenience and practicality. Backup home generators run on Natural gas, propane, and gasoline. The most convenient type of fuel is dependent on your own situation. Natural gas is a great selection for areas where the local energy company provides this fuel type already. Propane can be found in abundance in some areas while being extremely deficient in others, which should heavily guide your choice. Gasoline is often a convenient choice, as there are gas stations nearly everywhere.
Brand Name:
There are several home generator companies that are renowned for their quality and service. These companies stand far above the competition and are extremely popular. These brand names are reliable, durable, and seem to go the extra mile with regard to their product. Make sure you know where you are getting your generator and understand the warranty that the company offers with its product.
Power Needs:
Before buying a generator it is important to figure out how much power you will need in the event of a black-out, storm, tornado, or hurricane. This is perhaps the most essential decision you will make regarding your home generator. Fortunately, this is a pretty simple exercise. There should be a Kilowatt count on the back of each appliance you will need to power. Add up the total kilowatts found on all the appliances you will want to run, and then add a few kilowatts for safety purposes. This number will provide you with a general figure you can use to select the appropriate home generator for your power needs.
Portable vs. Standby Generators
Portable power generators are perfect for many recreational uses, and can also be used in some emergency situations. These portable generators are inexpensive and are great to take along camping, for use in an RV, and for temporary power outages. While portable generators are not ideal for emergency purposes, owning one will cut down on cost while providing a measure of safety. Portable generators are very versatile and can perform many tasks, but they have some serious drawbacks with regards to emergency situations. Automatic standby generators are recommended for residential safety because they act immediately, without human intervention, which make them much more reliable than portable generators in a pinch. A home backup generator has an unlimited number of hours for use, will automatically start up and turn off with an automatic transfer switch, and is a long-term source of reliable, protected backup power.
Depending on the model, the backup emergency genset can operate on an assortment of fuel sources, and some can even convert back and forth from one to another. These special models are called bi-fuel gensets. These fuel types include natural gas (NG), liquefied propane gas (LPG), gasoline, and diesel.
Standby gensets under 20 kilowatts are generally air-cooled, while those operating above 20 kilowatts are liquid cooled. The typical home with central air conditioning equipment as large as 4 tons usually needs a 14-15kW generator. For a 5-ton device, you may need a 15kW generator like the Guardian 17/16kW model 05873. It is well known that the Generac Guardian series offers the lowest cost per kilowatt of any device. This series is one of a few select top brands in the range of 10kW to 20kW systems, and these acer notebooks are considered cost-effective for any office or home solution. Every one of Generac’s brand new home generators are now carb-compliant, which can be essential for some select states like California. Other good options are the Kholer 20RESAL, which once received a “best buy “rating coming from a leading magazine.
For more info go to: www.BackupHomePower.com
Standby Generator Types: Assessing Your Household’s Power Needs
Standby Generator Types: Assessing Your Household’s Power Needs
Backup Generators are the backbone the home protection community. Nothing can equip your family for a crisis the way a backup generator will. However, these devices are expensive, therefore buyers need to figure out which home generator is best suited for their unique set of circumstances.
Home generators tend to utilize common fuel types. Many models are enabled to be connected to a Natural gas line. It can be a good idea before investing in a home generator system to inform yourself about what makes some models unique so that you can make an informed decision. Emergency generators are often expensive but are real home security solutions so ensure to buy a generator that is geared toward the backup energy demands that you foresee in an emergency.
Additionally, here are a few questions to ask yourself before shopping for a generator:
How much time do you estimate you’ll need based on your frequency of power-outages on a continuous basis?
Should you get a standby or portable unit? Is there one type of fuel that makes more sense for you than others? Will it be easy to come by in your area? Are you going to be able to get your generator’s fuel in the event of a blackout as the result of a widespread emergency? Does anyone in your household need medical equipment or 911 backup?
Once you have been able to answer these questions, you will have developed a sense of which models and features are right for you. Below is some basic information about each type of generator that will help you start your research.
Natural Gas:
Natural gas (NG) is the most commonly used fuel for home backup generators and is a cheap and stable fuel. Natural gas’ only downside is even it can be hard to find if you live remotely. Make sure that before you buy a generator to see what readily available fuel options there are where you live. Natural gas generators connect to your home’s supply. Therefore, refueling is not necessary, which means that you don’t have to store a fuel supply. Also, natural gas, doesn’t build up in your fuel line as it burns cleanly, is far less audible than more common gasses during use, works well in freezing temperatures and contribute to a longer engine life.
The main problem is that NG may be hard to get in a widespread emergency, and is a hazard if the NG connection is broken. Hook-up fees can be higher than with other generator typesand fuel can be costly, also.
Gasoline:
Gas is the most common kind of generator fuel because they use regular gas like vehicle engines. Additionally, with gas generators, the weight-to-output ratio is the most efficient choice.
Disadvantages include the gasoline starting to congeal, and gas needs to be safely stored and kept cool.
Diesel:
The best part about diesel is that it is extremely efficient. It’s great at powering construction equipment and the like and generators. Unfortunately, it is priced higher than most other fuels. Overall, it makes sense both financially and sustainably over time. Diesel is least likely to combust, diesel generators take less upkeep, and sparkplugs are not needed to ignite diesel. Diesel generators can burn for hours and hours, can operate in subarctic conditions, run on diesel which has a better shelf life than gasoline, are cheaper to maintain, and can be bought proactically anywhere.
The drawbacks are that diesel engines tend to be louder, are very heavy, and need to be thought-through before installation. Diesel systems are a long way from ‘green’ and you may be restricted to the permittable hours during which you are allowed to run it.
Propane:
Propane is commonly used to fuel standby generators in place of other fuel supplies that are not as commonly accessible. The downside of using propane is that it has been mor costly than regular gas in the past. However, with the skyrocketing price of gasoline, it’s not really an issue. Propane is now the cheapest. Difficulties with using propane as a fuel are long gone.
Advantages include a long shelf life, it won’t glog your fuel line, it isn’t ‘dirty’ and ‘green’. It’s also cold-weather friendly. Tanks can be easily filled at most service stations, has longer uninterrupted run times, and contribute to a long engine life.
On the contrary, the fuel system is complicated, installation can be expensive, since you may need to hire a technician and you may need a large tank if you foresee the need for prolonged and frequent use. A propane leak poses far greater a threat to your family and home than any other type of gas leak, and the initial cost of the generator is higher than gas.
For more info go to: www.NPSBriggsandStratton
Planning an RV Trip? Get the Right Generator Type for Recreational Vehicles
Countless America households have fond memories of going camping together. Plenty of travellers understand how bringing some luxuries in the form of a recreational vehicle can make a trip that much more enjoyable. But it’s a fact that RVs and the comforts they provide can be costly in terms of electrical power, and it’s all got to come from some place. The good news is that there is a simple solution in the form of RV power generators.
A recreational vehicle (RV) generator is a special type of system that runs electrical power to all the modern conveniences of an RV when it has no other power supply to connect to. The amount of Kilowatts gives you an idea of exactly how many electrical devices or appliances you will be able to support. Families that use recreational vehicles can then do a rough estimate of the power the require based on the electrical loads drawn by the different things they want to run by doing some simple math in reference to their manuals. It’s a good idea to add some extra wattage on top in case you need it. Being sure of your power needs before you go shopping is very important: If your generator cannot handle the amount of wattage the appliances require, you will blow a breaker and loose power.
Running you generator alone, while not connected to any devices, is key to safeguarding its power converter. Run it without using it for several minutes before hooking it up to anything needing power. You should always try to run your generator unconnected for a few minutes a month to keep it in good running order.
There are some things to know before working with RV generators:
Your RV generators must have a reliable fuel supply in order to provide you with power, so be sure of your fuel supply each time you pull over for gasYou should never be drawing power from your RV generator AND an external, grid-based power supply at the same time.In conclusion, RV generators are wonderful additions to any trip, and when used properly, are very safe. It is critical to understand your RV generator and know the proper uses of your particular unit. And once you are used to its workings and maintenance routines you will have a photo album full of great times for years to come.
For more info go to: www.GeneratorPowerForLess.com
Guardian Has Your Back
Generac’s newest addition to the generator family has become the most popular generator across Canada and the U.S. The Guardian features electronic governor and a three-year limited warranty. The widespread appeal of the Guardian series is not surprising as the Guardian line of generators offers a myriad of benefits to the user that simply cannot be found in competing home standby generators.
The value of this line of home generators now on the market should be underscored. The cost of a Generac Guardian is incredibly cheap when compared to the value of the competition. The affordability of the low price point guardian home generators has inspired many forward thinking family heads to have bought them to provide safety and standby power during a blackout. People seem genuinely satisfied with their purchase. When investing in one of these generators, a customer is often selecting a product that has been proven to last.
People are saying that Generac’s Guardian series is an environmentally conscious choice due to the fact that it has fewer emissions when compared to any other generator types currently available. It’s also true that it generates less noise than other brands.
The Guardian series allows for clean, smooth operation of sensitive appliances or electronics in the home. Generac systems couldn’t be simpler to instal. Generacs are some of the longest living generators on the market, their models being some of the toughest systems around. Your Generac Guardian will kick-in immediately, and can be relied upon without you even needing to throw a switch.
For more information go to: www.BackupHomePower.com