Electrical Contractor   ask-the-electrician  
home-wiring-diagram

home generators


electrical switches

outlet-wiring
ceiling fans

electrical wire


fuses and circuit breakers

electrical panels

electric dryer outlet

Home Electrical Wiring » Home Generators

Basic Generators

home-generator Summary: Lets see how a back up generator works and provides power to your home electrical requirements.


The Basic Generator System and How It Works


Generator Basics

Generators smaller then 4,000 watts are in most instances not capable of powering a home during a power outage because they can not provide the needed power for electrical loads such as motors, well pumps and ventilation blowers on a central heating system.

Home-Generators

A typical home supplied with 200-amp electric service can actually support a load of approximately 45,000 watts (45kW) of electric demand.



Basic Portable Generators

Portable generators are produced in sizes ranging from a few hundred watts to 15,000 watts (15kW).

Basic Standby Generators

A standby generator is a permanently installed generator that is attached to your electrical service panel. Most of the standby generators start automatically and are connected to a large fuel source such as propane or diesel fuel.

Even if you were to purchase a 10,000 to 15,000 watt portable generator you would find it more expensive, difficult to move, noisy, and the fuel consumption will be large.


Typically you will not be able to run you home's central air conditioning system or electric heat pump even with a 15,000 watt portable generator.



electrical_contractors

Related Articles: Home Generators


<<- Using Residential Generators All about Stand By Generators for the Home->>
How a Back Up Generator Works Top of Page -
Top of Page Home Generators


Copyright 2007-2012 - Dave Rongey - www.Ask-The-Electrician.com

Site Terms | Disclaimer | | | Author - Licensed Electrical Contractor+ | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy
Site Map | Trademark Copyright Information | Contact Us | Electrical Blog

Ask-The-Electrician Dave Rongey is a Licensed Electrical Contractor
Part P - Electrical Safety is registered Crown Copyright of the UK Government Planning Department for Communities
CE and Canadian Electrical Code CSA C22.1 are registered trade marks of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
NEC and National Electrical Code are registered trade marks of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)