Generator Options for Home Use During an Outage
When a power outage occurs, having a generator can keep essential appliances running. Below are the main types of generators to consider:
1. Portable Generators
- Best for: Short-term outages and powering a few essential items.
- Power Source: Gasoline, propane, or diesel.
- Pros: Affordable, easy to store, and can power refrigerators, lights, and small appliances.
- Cons: Must be manually refueled, cannot run indoors due to carbon monoxide risk, and has limited power output.
2. Inverter Generators
- Best for: Sensitive electronics and energy-efficient use.
- Power Source: Gasoline or propane.
- Pros: Quieter than traditional portable generators, fuel-efficient, and produces clean power for computers and medical devices.
- Cons: More expensive than standard portable generators and has lower power capacity.
3. Standby Generators
- Best for: Long-term outages and whole-home backup power.
- Power Source: Natural gas or propane.
- Pros: Automatically turns on when the power goes out, powers the entire house, and requires no manual setup.
- Cons: Expensive and requires professional installation.
4. Solar Generators
- Best for: Eco-friendly and low-power needs.
- Power Source: Solar panels charge a battery.
- Pros: Silent operation, no fuel needed, and low maintenance.
- Cons: Limited power capacity and depends on sunlight for recharging.
Choosing the Right Generator
- For short outages: A portable or inverter generator may be enough.
- For frequent outages: A standby generator offers seamless power.
- For eco-conscious users: A solar generator provides renewable energy.
Do you use life-support equipment?
Please make sure to purchase a generator that will continue to power your medical equipment during an emergency.
There are whole-home generators available for approximately $10,000, but a more cost efficient option is the portable generators that can be purchased at large stores such as Tractor Supply, Home Depot and Lowe’s.
If you use life-support equipment, you should also be sure to learn about Special Needs Certification. Take a moment to download and complete the form and return to the Lynches River Electric Cooperative office.
Linemen Safety
Whenever a severe storm leads to power outages, electric cooperative lineworkers are on the scene as soon as weather permits to get the lights back on. While they are well trained in safety measures, the members they serve can sometimes put lineworkers’ lives in danger through faulty generator use.
Any generator that has been improperly wired into a home’s electrical system poses a threat to the crews repairing lines after a storm. Electric current that is backfeeding into the power grid from those generators can energize even power lines that are thought to be dead. Lineworkers can be electrocuted by coming in contact with these lines.
Proper Generator Connection Vital
Connecting a generator to the main electrical supply for your house requires the services of a licensed electrician. Notify Lynches River Electric Cooperative before connecting the generator to your household circuit.
Ultimately, if you are a licensed electrician, the only acceptable way of connecting a generator to your home’s electric system is through a double-pole, double-throw transfer switch.
This switch disconnects your electric system from Lynches River’s power lines and will:
- Eliminate the possibility of allowing your generator to send electricity onto the cooperative’s line, which is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly for our linemen who are working on a line that is supposed to be de-energized.
- Eliminate the possibility of allowing restored power from Lynches River to destroy an improperly connected generator when electric service is restored.
A portable generator can be a powerful tool during a power outage or natural disaster, but it can also be dangerous – even deadly – if not properly installed and operated.