If you are looking at emergency generators for personal use, the range of options available on the market can be overwhelming. A quick online search shows dozens of brands and models. Before you start comparison shopping, it’s important to understand your own power generation needs.
After all, there’s no point in spending thousands of dollars on a 1000 kw diesel generator to power your house. Here are some tips:
- Understand how much voltage you need. A light bulb only takes 60 watts, but something like internal air conditioning or a heat pump can take up to 30,000 watts to start and 15,000 to run.
- Are you willing to stagger your power usage? It might not be possible to have full power at your house or office on a single 40 kw generator, but you can power certain appliances while keeping others turned off.
- Do you need an inverter or a generator? Simple invertors plugged into a car’s cigarette lighter adapter can power up to 200 watts of appliances, without the fuel, noise or need for engine maintenance. But invertors will drain power from your car battery.