Home generators are designed to provide electricity in times of power shortages or failures for a short duration of time. Home generators not only light up the house in case of power outages but also, depending on their capacity, provide power to run appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, furnaces, television and heaters.

Home generators are available in two types: portable and stationery or standby generators. In times of power shortages or disruption of power, small portable home generators can be used to run some selected appliances such as lights, refrigerators, furnaces and sump pump. Generators come in varying size and capacities ranging from 1 kilowatt to 100 kilowatt. Home generators run on diesel, gasoline, propane or natural gas. The least expensive is the portable gasoline powered engine.

The size and type of generator depends on the requirement of a house owner. Is it required to power the entire house or to run just a few selected appliances? The total number of appliances to be run must be identified and total wattage added up. Some electrical equipment or appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners consume two or three times their normal wattage power to start. A generator that has capacity more than the maximum wattage requirement of the appliances must be selected. The total electric load on the generator should never be more than those rated by the manufacturer. Moreover, the generator must have the necessary voltage rating to run appliances rated at 240 volts. A 5 KW generator is sufficient for home use and cost around $600 upwards.

Portable generators should not be connected to the home wiring system. Use the recommended extension cords. Overloaded cords can cause fire. Never place the cords under the rugs or the carpet where it can get damaged. The electric load on the receptacles must be balanced. Portable generators must be located outside the house. Carbon monoxide that is emitted through these generators can be hazardous to health. Always allow the generator to cool down before refueling.

Stationery home generators require the service of a professional or a licensed electrical contractor for installation. The generators are connected to the home wiring system through an automatic transfer switch. Stationery generators come with an automatic power monitoring system. As soon as there is disruption in power, the generator automatically starts to provide power and switches off automatically after normal power is restored. Most of the generators run on natural gas and can be connected to the homes natural gas line. This eliminates the inconvenience of refueling the generators. There are models also available that run on LP gas and diesel. Generators of 8 kw to 17 kw are sufficient to power lights, computer, refrigerators, medial equipment, furnace and water heater. The generator should be housed in a properly ventilated structure as they produce heat and smoke. Stationery generators may cost $2000 to $10,000 depending on the models.

Whatever the type of generator, every generator should provide 60 hertz power for proper performance of any electronic equipment.