Emergency Home Generators

Of course, homeowners who are still uncertain about matching a generator to the home using an online resource or prefer talking to an expert can always consult one. Some manufacturers recommend it, like Jake Thomas, product manager for Generac, who says,“The best way to choose a standby generator is to have an electrician size it. GE’s 12kW standby generator GE’s 12kW standby generator houses a Briggs & Stratton engine in a sound attenuating enclosure. Sensitive New-Age Generator Electronic items like plasma TVs, computers and the complicated controls often found in today’s HVAC systems can be sensitive to the power used to run them. When powered by grid-supplied electricity, these devices operate without an issue. But generators all produce something called harmonic distortion, which can confuse or even damage the plugged-in sensitive devices. The total harmonic distortion, or THD, of a generator will determine the potential for issues with high-end or sensitive electronics during a power outage. “Generator power is not utility-grade power,” says Thomas. “A high THD can mean that the controller for the high-end HVAC system doesn’t recognize the power or the plasma TV has a line running through it.” The THD issue has been a hot one in the generator industry and has led to new models of generators that minimize the THD to levels that won’t negatively affect the sensitive electronic items and systems in the home. “The True Power feature in all of Generac’s generators means there is less than five percent TDH,” says Thomas. The THD rating of a generator is an important comparison point for consumers who are shopping for a backup power solution. Generally speaking, a THD of five or six percent or below is considered “clean” enough to ensure proper operation of sensitive electronic devices. Homeowners shopping for a backup power generator should consider a generator with a THD of five percent or below if sensitive electronic devices are going to be powered. Put a Lid On It One of the necessary evils of a standby generator is the routine “exercise” mode. To ensure that the generator will provide immediate power during an outage, units are programmed to run themselves for a short amount of time on a regular schedule. While this mode provides peace of mind to the homeowner, it also means a regular interruption to the peace and quiet around the home. Generators are engines, and engines produce noise. The decibel (dB) level of a generator is another comparison point that manufacturers are addressing in newer models. Generac’s “Quiet-Test™” feature lowers the generator engine speed during the weekly test-run, reducing the noise to the level of an idling car. “The engine runs at two-thirds of the normal RPM,” says Thomas. “This reduces decibel levels, uses less fuel and means less emissions.” Other solutions to the noise issue include improving the generator enclosure. “Our SoundVault™ Enclosure bounces air and sound through a compartment,” says Betker, speaking to the sound attenuating characteristics of the Briggs & Stratton, GE-branded standby generators. The Enclosure, coupled with the automotive-style exhaust system and foam dampeners that are part of the Briggs & Stratton SoundShield™ Technology, help reduce its GE-branded 10-45kW standby generators’ running sound level to 65dB.

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