| Home generators are designed to provide | | | | appliances must be selected. The total |
| electricity in times of power shortages or | | | | electric load on the generator should never |
| failures for a short duration of time. Home | | | | be more than those rated by the manufacturer. |
| generators not only light up the house in | | | | Moreover, the generator must have the |
| case of power outages but also, depending on | | | | necessary voltage rating to run appliances |
| their capacity, provide power to run | | | | rated at 240 volts. A 5 KW generator is |
| appliances like air conditioners, | | | | sufficient for home use and cost around $600 |
| refrigerators, furnaces, television and | | | | upwards.Portable generators should not be |
| heaters.Home generators are available in two | | | | connected to the home wiring system. Use the |
| types: portable and stationery or standby | | | | recommended extension cords. Overloaded cords |
| generators. In times of power shortages or | | | | can cause fire. Never place the cords under |
| disruption of power, small portable home | | | | the rugs or the carpet where it can get |
| generators can be used to run some selected | | | | damaged. The electric load on the receptacles |
| appliances such as lights, refrigerators, | | | | must be balanced. Portable generators must be |
| furnaces and sump pump. Generators come in | | | | located outside the house. Carbon monoxide |
| varying size and capacities ranging from 1 | | | | that is emitted through these generators can |
| kilowatt to 100 kilowatt. Home generators run | | | | be hazardous to health. Always allow the |
| on diesel, gasoline, propane or natural gas. | | | | generator to cool down before |
| The least expensive is the portable gasoline | | | | refueling.Stationery home generators require |
| powered engine.The size and type of generator | | | | the service of a professional or a licensed |
| depends on the requirement of a house owner. | | | | electrical contractor for installation. The |
| Is it required to power the entire house or | | | | generators are connected to the home wiring |
| to run just a few selected appliances? The | | | | system through an automatic transfer switch. |
| total number of appliances to be run must be | | | | Stationery generators come with an automatic |
| identified and total wattage added up. Some | | | | power monitoring system. As soon as there is |
| electrical equipment or appliances like | | | | disruption in power, the generator |
| refrigerators and air conditioners consume | | | | automatically starts to provide power and |
| two or three times their normal wattage power | | | | switches off automatically after normal power |
| to start. A generator that has capacity more | | | | is restored. |
| than the maximum wattage requirement of the | | | | |