When the power goes out, you quickly realize just how important it is when you’re trying to maintain the comfort and convenience of your home.
Instead of fumbling around for candles to provide your home with a small and insufficient amount of light, consider installing a generator on your property.
This type of system is designed to kick in when the power fails, which means that your major appliances and lights will continue to receive electricity until the power is restored.
While there are many factors to consider before buying this system, size is among the most important. You need a unit that has enough capacity to support every appliance and device in your home.
How to Select the Right Size for Your Home
Generators provide power in the event of an outage. Before you buy one, there are several factors you need to weigh.
Make a List of the Appliances and Devices in Your Home
To choose the right size for your home, consider the number of devices and appliances you need to power during an outage. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t run every device on a backup system unless you purchase a whole-house unit. Focus on the appliances you need to get by until power is restored. Once you make a list of the devices in your home, identify and record the energy requirements of each one.
Calculate the Amount of Wattage You Need
Before you purchase a system, you’ll need to calculate the total wattage you require for your home. Use the following formula to perform this calculation:
Total amount of wattage = Sum of running wattage of home appliances
Let’s say that you only want to run a small number of appliances simultaneously while the power is out.
- Blender: 600 watts
- Refrigerator: 700 watts
- Coffee maker: 900 watts
To determine the amount of power generation you need, add these numbers together. The answer is 2,200 watts, which is your total wattage. The system you buy must accommodate a minimum of 2200W power generation.
Keep in mind that appliances also come with surge wattage, which equals the running wattage of your devices plus the highest starting watts out of all appliances. When you consider the three appliances listed above, refrigerators have the highest starting wattage at roughly 2000W. In this scenario, the total surge wattage will be 4200W.
Select the Right Size
When considering the size of the system you’re buying, look at its output and capacity. You need to properly balance these two numbers to ensure you make the right decision.
What if you buy a system with a higher AC output and storage capacity than you need? In this situation, you’ll pay more for the initial purchase as well as the ongoing maintenance costs. Certain fuel types also come with higher costs.
If you select a smaller unit, you should be able to maintain indoor comfort during a power outage. However, portable systems are unable to power high-wattage devices and appliances. Even attempting to power a high-wattage appliance with an undersized system might cause damage.
Your best option is to purchase a power generation system that’s slightly above the power requirements that you previously calculated. If you need 2000W of power generation, select a system that has a capacity of 2400-3000W. It’s a good idea to run these systems at around 60% to 80% of their total capacity.
Types of Generators to Consider
From portable units to whole-house systems, there are many types of generators that you can install in your home. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each before making a purchase.
Portable Systems
Portable systems are small enough to take with you whenever you need them. They also have enough capacity to simultaneously power numerous appliances during an outage. These devices are suitable for outdoor events, camping, and tailgating. They’re also very cost-effective. Depending on the brand, you can find ones for less than $500. However, popular brands like Honda and Westinghouse are priced closer to $1,000 for 2,000-2,300 watts of capacity.
Whole House Systems
If you want to power every device and appliance in your home during an outage, consider a whole-house unit. Once you purchase this type of system, it will be hardwired directly to your home, which means that it will need to be installed by an experienced electrician like ours.
Inverters
Inverters are able to provide electricity to your home and convert AC power to DC power, which is suitable for battery-operated items and RVs. One advantage of buying an inverter system is that it’s not as noisy. It’s also more fuel-efficient and can help you save money in the long run.
Other Factors to Consider
While size is among the most important considerations, there are several other factors that you should keep in mind when shopping for the right generator.
Type of Fuel
These systems can use numerous fuel types, including natural gas, solar, propane, or gasoline. Each fuel type has its pros and cons. If you’re considering natural gas or gasoline, there are a few differences between these fuels. Natural gas is cleaner and more affordable.
The fumes from gasoline can be dangerous, which is another reason why you may want to avoid this fuel type. Gasoline systems produce carbon and other pollutants that can lower the air quality in your home and cause respiratory issues.
Diesel systems are suitable for areas with extreme temperatures. If you live in this type of environment, you’ll benefit from using a diesel unit that can hold up well to the conditions. These systems require very little maintenance. On the other hand, they aren’t portable. They also produce up to 105dB of sound, which is noisy.
If you’ve been searching for things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, consider installing a solar system. These power generation devices use ultraviolet rays from the sun to produce electricity, which means that you won’t need to rely on fuel to get power.
No contaminants or pollutants are emitted while these systems are running. Most are portable and cost-effective. A solar-powered unit can run without creating a lot of noise. You should, however, check the decibel rating before buying one.
Generators that run on solar energy can be used as a battery backup option or to live off the grid. If you want to power your home with an alternative energy source, you should consider a solar system. It can also power your devices during an outage.
Wattage
Before you buy a whole-house or portable system for your home, you must identify the ideal wattage. As mentioned previously, a system’s watt capacity determines how many appliances it can run during an outage. Make sure you purchase a system that can meet your total energy needs without causing you to waste any fuel or money.
Even if you only need a system that accommodates 2,000-3,000 watts of power, it’s possible for portable units to support up to 20,000 watts. Large whole-house systems can accommodate up to 250,000 watts of power. Consider the following guidelines to ensure you select a system that meets your needs.
- 1,000 to 10,000 watts: Most homes only require a small backup system with a power capacity of 1,000 to 10,000 watts. It’s powerful enough to operate several lights, an electric motor, a refrigerator, and a ceiling fan. If you have a two-story home, this system might not have enough capacity. The fuel type for this size is usually natural gas.
- 10,000 to 50,000 watts: At this size, you can run numerous appliances at the same time. For example, you can run your washing machine and central HVAC system without worrying about the system failing. This equipment is typically powered by propane, natural gas, or diesel.
- 50,000 to 100,000 watts: These units are often diesel-powered and are large enough to support small restaurants and offices.
- 100,000 to 200,000 watts: You likely won’t need a unit of this size for your home. It’s suitable for running large offices and industrial sites.
- 200,000 to 300,000 watts: If you have a larger home and want to keep the power on 24/7 for days or weeks at a time, you can opt for a unit that accommodates up to 300,000 watts. However, these power generation units are mainly designed to be installed in high-rise buildings and major industrial sites.
Noise Level
A generator can produce a large amount of noise, which can make it difficult to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while you’re waiting for an outage to be resolved. Larger units are often louder than smaller ones. Consider a portable or inverter unit if noise is your main concern. If you intend to use the device at a construction site, the decibel level shouldn’t be an issue.
Tend to Your Electrical Needs with Mister Sparky
At Mister Sparky, we offer comprehensive electrical services to every homeowner in Orlando. Whether your power goes out or you’d like to install power generation equipment, we’re here to help. You can even request guidance from our team to ensure you buy the right system for your home. Our experience allows us to efficiently install any brand, size, or type of generator. Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky!
