Types of Portable Generators
When you need a power generator after a power outage, the most common types are portable
gas generators, portable diesel generators, and portable electric generators. Portable diesel
generators and portable gas generators are motors that, like those in cars, run on fuel. They
need to be kept outdoors, because they also generate carbon dioxide, which can bond with the
oxygen in your body and cause unconsciousness and death. Various other types of portable
generators are available that use electricity as their power source. Obviously, they do not
run off the main power grid. Typically they run either from your car's battery or from their
own deep storage batteries. These electric generators tend to be less powerful than portable
diesel generators or portable gas generators, such as Honda portable generators, but they can
be easier to use. They also don't require the storage of fuel, which can pose its own
challenges and safety issues. Some of these alternative portable generators take the form of
inverters-devices that run off 12-volt power and convert it into the 120-volt power that
household appliances use. Unlike portable gas generators, inverters run silently. A car
battery can run low wattage-for example, one 30-watt light bulb-for up to eight hours, but
will drain very quickly with higher power demands. Others use an internal crank-driven dynamo
or solar power to generate small amounts of electricity. Portable fuel-powered generators
come in a variety of sizes that can handle much higher wattage demands. However, they are
noisy, unsafe to use indoors, and produce both heat and carbon dioxide. When you acquire a
portable generator, it is wise to develop a physical plan for its location, and perhaps even
pour a small concrete pad for it to stand on. A shed, barn or other outbuilding can be the
proper location for a generator, or a detached garage. Never run a generator in a basement,
cellar, attached garage or any other room adjacent to your home. When considering the
wattage you need for your generator, keep in mind that it must be able to handle the peak
surge wattage of an appliance and not only its typical power consumption. For example, you
might think that since a refrigerator typically draws about 1,200 watts, a 2,500-watt
generator would be enough to comfortably power your refrigerator, some lights and a few small
appliances. However, a refrigerator that draws 1,200 watts may well surge when its compressor
kicks in to 2,400 watts-leaving just enough for a light bulb or two. One alternative to
buying a larger gas-powered generator is to use both a fuel-powered portable generator and an
inverter. Let your main generator power your refrigerator, and use the inverter to run a light
bulb or two (if you invest in low-wattage fluorescent bulbs you can get more illumination for
your wattage). If you need to run other small appliances occasionally, such as a microwave,
your refrigerator can be unplugged; it will retain its cooling without much problem over short
periods, especially if you don't open the doors when it's not running. |
