Having a generator is one of the smartest investments you can have for your home and family, especially if you live in an area that is prone to power interruptions. However, if you have yet to purchase a generator for your home, you need to be smart in buying your generator. You can do this by using home generator sizing.
There are two types of home generators you can choose from: a portable generator and a standby generator. Just like the name suggests, the portable generator is portable and can be transported to anywhere. They are also small and because of their size, they are not ideal to power up your entire house.
They also require you to start them manually because they will not automatically turn on in the event of power outage. On the other hand, the standby generator, which is usually located right outside the house, automatically turns on in the event of a power outage and can provide power for your whole house. However, they are bigger and cost more because of their many features.
If you are thinking if buying a standby generator for your house, you must do home generator sizing. This refers to the process of finding out what size of generator is for you to provide sufficient power for all your needs. Buying an undersized generator can cause a lot of headaches for you because not only does it waste fuel, it also tends to work harder thus it can easily wear out and break down.
Home generator sizing is easy once you understand the different terms about generators and electricity. Here are a few tips:
If you want to start on your home generator sizing, look at your electric bill and determine your electrical consumption for a month. Calculate the power used for the past 30-day billing period.
Divide the number of days in that month by the total of kilowatt hours stated in the electric bill. Also, determine what time of the day the electricity in your house is being used. Calculate the electric range too.
Know the electric devices you will use when you operate the generator. This is important in home generator sizing. You will probably include in your list your refrigerator, electronic devices, and lights.
When home generator sizing, look for the generator with the largest load you want to use and add the monthly bill calculation and the electric range load to this total.
You can do your home generator sizing when you visit home depots and big hardware stores to look for your home generator. If you plan to do online shopping for your home generator, some of the websites of home generator manufacturers offer calculators which you can use for your home generator sizing. With the help of the calculator, you will determine what kind of generator will be perfect for your home.