To determine your generators size you should tally up all the power requirements for the items on your list, giving you the smallest size for your generator. There are recommendations that the manufacturers adding a 10 to 20 percent buffer to that figure to ensure your generator has sufficient capacity. For instance, if the power requirements add up to 6000 watts, the generator should have a capacity of 6600 to 7200 watts.
Add the start-up wattage requirement. This identifies the peak capacity your generator must have. For example, if you have determined that your sump pump demands an additional 1000 watts during start up, add that to the generator size you calculated.
Start shopping for a generac generator of the appropriate size. If you find that you are exceeding your budget, you can go back through your list and determine if there are any items you can do without during an outage. Remove them from the list and recalculate your requirements.
Category: Portable Generators
Cement company needs generated power
Thirteen Rental Power units were needed to supply power for a newly constructed cement plant near the town of Palmar for testing equipment in a newly constructed cement plant near the town of Palmar de Mexico. Cementos Cruz Azul, a producer of portland cement, faced restrictions testing its equipment and production was stalled when the local electric utility company experienced delays building a power transmission line to the plant. According to Ignacio Cruz, plant manager, large electrical motors are required to operate the crushers, rotate the massive kilns, and power the induced draft fans. By using Generators, the company avoided delays in commissioning the plant and was able to begin production six to eight months earlier.
Generator in Emergency
I bought my A first class motor home two weeks ago and never dreamed it would be such a must have in an emergency. Living in Eastern Ontario in a small farming village, as you can guess, private wells need hydro power to propel the water pumps. No hydro, no water. I hooked up an extension to my Winco generator and bingo, water! And, what a great thing to be able to just move into your home for the night, while the whole village is still in complete darkness.
Yamaha Generators
Yamaha Generators come in a wide variety for most any power generation need. Their two most popular model lines would definitely be their EF and YG series. The EF is the best selling for home, camping and general use. For more heavy duty industrial or contractor applications, the YG series is the most sought after power generator.
The EF family offers a range of power generation capabilities from 1000 to 6600 watts. They have great appeal to the general public, the run very quiet characteristics and have great versatility. Their low noise qualities make them an excellent choice for campers keeping neighboring campsites at ease. This also attracts many buyers who need a quiet unit for home use.
Generator Blackout
The power went out about 4 p.m. and my first concern was all of the food in our freezer. Our Class C motor home was sitting in the driveway, so we turned on the propane then the refrigerator. As soon as it was cold, we brought over all the contents of our refrigerator in our house to the one in the motor home. We powered up our Generac generator and ran a cord to our chest freezer in the house, keeping the refrigerator in the motor home running as well. After that, we put the TV antenna up and watched the news. We could have prepared supper in our motor home as well, but cooked hamburgers out on our gas grill. I’m definitely spoiled with modern conveniences and thanks to our RV and awesome generator; I can continue to enjoy those conveniences even when the outside world can’t.
Safety Tips
Plug appliances directly into generator
Don’t attempt to connect your generator directly to your homes circuits or wiring. You should have an electrician install a transfer switch, and plug the generator into this switch. This will keep your generator from feeding power back into the lines, which could put power company crews working on the lines at risk. This will also protect your generator and home wiring from any damage that could occur when power is restored.
Use heavy-duty extension cords from the generator to avoid overloaded cords that can cause fires and equipment damage. Make sure all cords are placed properly to avoid tripping hazards, but don’t put underneath carpets or anywhere where heat may build up.
Never run a generator indoors, and make sure there is proper ventilation all around unit.
Never re-fuel your generator while it is running. Avoid spilling fuel on hot components, and put out all flames or cigarettes when handling fuel.
Consider tri-fuel generators to avoid multiple trips to the gas station and downtime.
Always have a fully charged and approved fire extinguisher close by to your generator.
Don’t overload the generator; only use it when necessary to power essential equipment.
Be cautious handling electrical cords in wet conditions.
Generator Considerations
If you plan on moving your generator around regularly, you should consider the weight, dimensions, wheel type and handle style to determine the ease of mobility. If you need your generator to run for extended periods without refueling, like overnight or through full work days, then run time is an important consideration. Portable generators operate on gasoline, and some models have a fuel or hour gauge to help you keep track of remaining run time.
Food For thought
I run a catering business. And I pride myself on maintaining the freshest food and ingredients. On the eve of a big wedding reception the power in the building went out. No explanation, it just went out. Now if I wasn’t as savvy and calm I might have lost my cool. Fresh seafood. Chilled desserts. 3 hours until the reception. No problem. You see as soon as the power in the building went out our back up standby generator kicked in and kept my the food cool and this let me kept my cool.
Harsh Climate
When I moved from California to Buffalo I was warned about the climate difference. Snow storms, ice storms. You know mother natures coldest weather systems seemed to be the stomping grounds of where I was going to move my family. My brother in law who had lived in an area such as this had told me with all confidence to invest in a home generator. “Trust me on this one.” He told me. So I bought a power generator and we were now in our new home. The snow and ice was such a shock to me. Definitely felt like a fish out of water. The winters there here can be pretty harsh but it’s always nice to come to a nice warm home. Within, our first winter we were hit by a huge ice storm. Cars, were encased in ice, trees looked like they were made of glass. And without fail the power was out and would be out for a couple days. If it wasn’t for my brother in laws pushing for me to get a generator my family and I would have been frozen solid.
Home is where the work is
Working from home can be the best thing ever. No going to an office, no commutes and you work on your own hours and in the comfort of your own home! You see I run my own little web business. I create web sites and designs and I also host from home. Because I host from here I thought it would be important to have a home generator just in case the power goes out. If my power goes out and the servers go down then I’m in deep DEEP trouble. Within a year of buying my generator I was starting to question if I made the right choice. I bought a generator but there have been no power outs. All of my regrets washed away when one stormy day the power went kaput. The generator kicked in and my servers were safe and sound. Thanks to this generator the clients who I host didn’t even know anything was wrong.