All of us often experience power cuts in our homes and have experienced the struggle throughout them. The power might be at the most unexpected times- you might just be taking a shower when the lights go out, you might be studying for the most important exam in your life- and you realize that there’s no light to shine upon the book you’re learning from- It might be midnight and that you’re trying to sleep- when you realize the air conditioner and ceiling fan has turned off by itself, and you can’t sleep in this environment- and what’s worse is that all of your devices have their batteries at 1% and there’s nothing you can do but watch helplessly as you’re deprived of power- all around you. Do you want to avoid all the scenarios I’ve mentioned just now? Well, the solution might be simpler than you think- buy a generator.
Now, it takes more time. There’s a lot you have to understand before you buy a generator—there are many factors in choosing the right generator for your space and, more particularly, your home. So make sure you read till the end of this article to get more guidance on which generator you should buy for your home and take away why you should get a generator for your space.
Understanding the Requirements
First, we need to identify the appliances you’ll need the most when there’s a power cut. These might include essential appliances such as lights, air conditioners, ceiling fans, and electronic devices like your personal computer, etc.
Once you’ve noted these components and appliances, you should start noting the wattage of each appliance. Most appliances take more power to start than to run. Once these are done, the wise decision would be to sum up all these wattages and note down the total wattage required by you during a blackout. Make sure you leave a thin margin of error to avoid overloading your generator.
Types of generators
There are many generators on the market, all made for different requirements and budgets. In this article, we’ll discuss the common types of generators.
- Standby generators: A standby generator works like a backup power source. They are best for large homes or spaces with frequent power cuts, especially if you want a problem-free, automatic solution. They are powered by natural gases such as propane and diesel. Their prices usually start at 3,000 U.S. dollars and go up to a whopping 10,000 U.S. dollars.
- Portable generators: Portable generators quite literally translate to portable generators. They are generators that are moved around from time to time and are highly mobile. Unlike standby generators, portable generators have to be manually started to generate power, and they connect directly to your appliances through extension cords or a generator transfer switch. They usually run on gasoline or diesel, and they are priced starting from 500 U.S. dollars to 2500 U.S. dollars, making them an essentially cheap option when compared to standby generators.
- Inverter generators: Now we’re talking about the right choice for you! Inverter generators are portable generators that provide amplified and stable power for sensitive household electronics, such as computers, TVs, Air conditioners, etc. They are best for people who need to power electronics or want a quieter and more efficient generator.
