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