Generators, By Types

Whether you are a huge home improvement store or an individual with a new RV, having power generator backups is essential. Power outage is not fun, especially when it takes several hours to get everything back up and running again. Even small appliances such as your coffee maker and lights can go out if there is a power outage. But even if outages become more regular, leaving you without power for several days at a time, it just may be time to take action with a portable power generator that can power most of what you use in your home.

Smaller, lightweight portable generators are ideal for powering just the basics, such as the coffee maker and microwave, but large stand alone power generators are perfect for powering everything in your home. The wattage will vary depending on the needs of your household. For instance, if you have a large family with different members using various appliances at once, you will likely want to purchase a generator capable of providing power for all of them. If you are just using a laptop computer, you likely do not need the same power output rating as someone with a larger family who uses more electronics. Your portable generator manufacturer should provide the necessary information to determine the appropriate watts for your needs.

As people become more dependent on the internet for research and entertainment, they are also turning to home networks to stay connected. Internet service providers often experience outages that last days, or even weeks at a time. When this happens, you may lose electricity to your computer and other electronics. An easy way to avoid these prolonged outages is to purchase a power generator that can provide electricity in the event of a blackout.

Stand alone generators come with several advantages, which makes them so popular. The biggest advantage is that they do not require any sort of an external power source to operate. This is perfect for families that are constantly connected to the grid, but want to avoid paying expensive electric bills. Another advantage is the ability to run these units without being plugged into an electrical outlet. While it can be inconvenient to run these units off of the electrical grid, it is usually much more economical to do so. A direct current generator will convert the mechanical energy in the air into electrical energy that can be used directly.

These types of generators are often considered the cheapest option available. One of the major disadvantages of these units is that they are only capable of producing a certain amount of wattage. You will need to purchase a larger generator if you need to use a higher wattage rating. Some people actually use the extra electricity generated by their backup power generator for other purposes such as charging electronic devices and running a water heater in the event of a power outage. While you do have the possibility of running these items on older power systems, they may be too small and will produce little to no power.

The next type of generator is the most efficient and reliable. The two most efficient are the synchronous and the direct current generators. The synchronous generator uses one primary electric motor that is designed to run at the same frequency as your home’s main electricity supply. This allows for maximum compatibility with your current system and allows you to generate all of your power from one device.

The direct current generator works in a different manner. Instead of using an alternating current motor, this unit generates its power by using a permanent magnet. Because of this, the magnets are constantly moving in a predictable pattern. The larger the magnets, the faster the motor will go. Because of this, the output voltage of these units is limited only by the output voltage of the primary component. While these units are typically more expensive than the synchronous units, they will generally be much more reliable.

One aspect of the synchronous generator that differs from the direct-current generator is the method in which it uses energy. In the synchronous generator, the motor is not on continuously and the magnets are never on permanently. Rather, the system will shut down if the magnets create an electric field that is larger than the magnetic field that exists within the generator itself. Because the system shut downs, the generator must always have access to power, and so must remain constantly running. In order to power the generator and keep it running, the magnetic field must be constantly re-created within the generator. This is why synchronous electric generators must frequently be placed on pads of concrete or buried underground.