Archive for April, 2013


Installation and Cost of a Home Generator

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April 16, 2013

The expense of any main appliance is the most essential consideration when making a purchase. Failing to think about all of the choices involved when buying an appliance for your home is the major element that house owners have a tendency to underestimate. Being no different, standby generators can also carry the burden of more than only the generator and delivery costs to take into account. The true cost a consumer or business will incur to install an emergency generator depends on the generating unit chosen, the type of automatic transfer switch, local codes and regulations, extra accessories, and installation labor and materials.

When you choose your automatic transfer switch this will greatly impact installation as well as labor and material costs. Some automated switches substitute the entire main service panel while others install between the main panel and the meter to select between utility power and emergency standby generator power for the entire home. Due to involving changing the homes service equipment, these switches will cost the most tot install. Some more uncomplicated installations that connect to the main panel and power only choose power circuits deemed necessary or critical will cost less in terms of equipment, labor, and materials. They connect to a double-pole breaker in the main panel for utility power and to the generator for emergency backup power. The switch distributes power to a sub-panel, or to circuit breakers contained within the switch. When a power outage occurs, they transfer the essential circuit to generator power. The rest of the circuits in the home continue to be devoid of power. There are variations on both of these options that can affect cost.

Installation of the automatic transfer switch is just one aspect of linking the standby generator to a home or business. Another factor you will need to take under consideration is wiring between the transfer switch and the building. It includes controller wiring for communication between the transfer switch and the generator, and feeder lines that carry electricity from the generator to the transfer switch for distribution to the home’s electrical system. Other wiring may incorporate remote, wired controllers installed inside the home and modules for taking care of 240-volt, high-voltage appliances such as air conditioners, electric dryers, water heaters, and well pumps. Possibly raising the cost of installation, each device is connected to a managed power device each requiring additional wiring.

Fuel runs through supply lines via the buildings natural gas line or an LP gas tank, fueling emergency backup power generators. In either case, the installation will require extra supply lines. A unique meter may be needed in a natural gas installation as it may not be able to supply the suitable volume of gas for the backup generator. In liquid propane installations you may require a new regulator for the same reason.

The ideal way to find the true costs surrounding the installation of standby power generators is to check with an installer authorized by the generator manufacturer. They can help you navigate permits and building departments and advise you on the type of installation that best suits your needs and your budget.

For more info go to: www.BackupHomePower.com

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The Strong Importance of Standby Generators

Filed Under: Generators by NorwallGenerators — Comments Off on The Strong Importance of Standby Generators
April 4, 2013

Importance of Standby Generators

The impact that a power outage has on our lives is significantly elevated due to the sole fact that we are so dependent on electricity. Homes, health care facilities, industry, and business all depend on electrical power not just for comfort, but to run safety systems and safeguard property.

Key to a standby generator system is its capability to discover a power outage and then start and run routinely with no human intervention. Also in conjunction with an automatic transfer switch, these units are permanently installed to your home and can discover a power outage and then provide power until regular power is restored . Once utility power is restored, the system converts back to the utility supply and the generator shuts down.

Critical Environments

Those that cannot tolerate any power interruption of any kind are referred to as critical environments. These include hospital operating rooms and intensive care units, computer installations, and other critical systems. These systems utilize uninterrupted power to prevent their systems from experiencing an outage, even for a few seconds.

Electrical power is stored in batteries. An inverter switches the battery power to the same power provided by the utility, which then powers the equipment connected to it. When power is disconnected, the batteries will be completely charged as they continue to supply power until the standby generator which maintains the batteries at a full charge until utility power is restored.

In hospitals, other systems may not require uninterrupted power, but they cannot be out of service for any length of time. Standby generators keep those systems running during an outage.

Commercial Facilities

Large commercial buildings have safety systems that rely on electrical power. Everything from emergency lighting to ventilation and fire safety systems require electricity, and when the power goes out, standby generators fill in until the electric company turns the power back on. Only a few hours of useful battery life may be available in emergency lights during a long term outage. Emergency lights will fade and building occupants will not be able to navigate their way around without a standby generator taking over.

Industry

In large factories standby generators can do double duties. Generally, manufacturers have agreements with electric utilities that allow the utility to interrupt power on brief notice when demand exceeds the accessible supply. During an unexpected power outage a factory may run standby generators as an alternate supply of power. Having an alternate supply of power makes it possible for the facility to continue operating during the outage.

In addition, standby generators can power essential safety systems with power during an outage. Such safety systems are generally mandated by building codes and the installation of a commercial standby generator is not optional, but required.

Retail

Preventing a large scale loss of food products, commercial standby generators will make sure refrigeration units and freezers are kept functioning. Of course, when there is no power, freezers and refrigerators are unable to cool and as a result temperatures begin to rise. Fresh meats and dairy products must be maintained at 33 to 40 degrees F. or they cannot be sold. Frozen foods require temperatures at or below 0 degrees F. to prevent spoilage.

Without standby power, a power outage could trigger restaurants and grocery stores to lose their inventory and undergo large financial losses. Possibly having tens of thousands of dollars of inventory, even small businesses can find themselves losing money with the number escalating to more than a million in larger stores.

While keeping a store’s product in check, a standby generator can also keep an establishment’s doors open while other businesses are closed down.

Homes

Most people spend at least a third of their lives inside or around their homes. When storms or mishaps cause power interruptions, a home can rapidly become unpleasant or even unlivable. 

The loss of power causing loss of heat will also grow to be a problem in the cold winter months. Without heat, pipes can freeze and break, and when they thaw again the home can flood. In the summer, the heat can be insufferable or even unsafe for some people. Spoiling after only a day or so without power, refrigerator food will go quickly and frozen food will not last much longer.

Electrical Power also keeps a home dry and mold-free by removing water from the foundation. A standby generator for home use keeps the power on, even if the homeowner is not present.

For more info go to: www.NPSGenerac.com

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