Generator World

Costs of Installing An Emergency Standby Generator

An important consideration when obtaining any major appliance is the expense. Failing to take into account all of the options involved when purchasing an appliance for your home is the primary element that house owners tend to underestimate. Being no different, standby generators can also carry the burden of more than just the generator and delivery fees 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.

Automatic Transfer Switch

The automatic transfer switch chosen will factor drastically into the installation labor and material expenses. Some automatic 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. Simpler installations that cost less in terms of equipment, labor, and resources connect to the main panel and only power circuits chosen as essential or critical. 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. In the home the remaining circuits are without power. Variations on both of these options will give you a choice, and inevitable affect your final cost.

Electrical Connections

Just one of the features of connecting a standby generator to a home or business is set up of the automatic transfer switch. Wiring between the transfer switch and the building is an additional factor to consider. 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 consist of remote, wired controllers set up within the home and modules for handling 240-volt, high-voltage appliances such as air conditioners, electric dryers, water heaters, and well pumps. Each device connected to a managed power device will call for additional wiring, which can increase the cost of the installation.

Fuel Connections

Fuel to run an emergency backup power generator runs through supply lines from the building’s natural gas lines or from an LP gas tank. In either case, the installation will call for extra supply lines. A natural gas installation may demand a different meter in order to supply adequate gas for the backup generator. In liquid propane installations you may possibly require a new regulator for the same reason.

Costs of Budget

Checking with an authorized installer by the generator manufacturer is the most idea way to find true fees surrounding any standby generator installation. 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.NPSGenerac.com

Safety and Portable Generators

Anywhere electrical power is required such as, construction sites, campgrounds, and homes, a portable power generator will supply it. Not just for comfort, they power tools, medical gear, and keep vital appliances working. It is vital that working a generator is done safely and suitable placement is paramount along with hooking it up and making connections. Follow these portable generator safety tips to prevent life-threatening mishaps. For specific safety instructions make sure to read your owner’s manual that is particular to the model of generator you own.

General Safety

Never refuel a portable generator while it is running. Turn the generator off and allow it to cool before adding fuel. Don’t allow children to play near a generator during operation. Burn and electrical hazards can injure a child. Disconnect loads from the generator before you turn it off and keep them disconnected until the generator is running again. When the generator is being used near your home or any other dwelling, make sure to use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. Keep combustible materials away from the generator. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can quickly kill in a confined space. Even if the windows are open and you believe there is enough ventilation, never keep a portable generator running inside of a home, garage, shed, or any other closed space. No matter the fuel being used, windows and doors cannot provide enough proper ventilation for an internal combustion engine. Keep portable generators at least 10 feet from any dwelling including homes, tents, RVs, and campers. Make sure that your generator is far away from open doors, windows, or vents, as the fumes can seep into where you are residing. Place the generator downwind where exhaust fumes cannot enter the dwelling. Also, be mindful of the direction your exhaust may travel, and make sure to be aware of how close your neighbors are in relation to your generator. Always have a level stable surface that will not flood to place your generator on. 

Using Extension Cords

Make sure that you are invariably using outdoor rated electrical cords. These electrical cords are three-pronged plugs and receptacles as well as should have a ground wire. Select cords sized to carry the current the devices used will draw. Common wire sizes include 14 gauges for about 15 amperes, 12 gauges for about 20 amperes, and 10 gauges for about 30 amperes. If your cords will carry near their maximum rated load over eighty percent of times, step-up to another (smaller gauge number) size cord. Extension cords longer than 100 feet require larger wires (smaller gauge number) to scale back voltage drop, which may cause motors to overheat or wear out. Usually do not pinch electrical cords in windows or doors, or use cords when they’re coiled up. Pinched wires can easily overheat and initiate a fireplace. Uncoil cords prior to connections to keep them from overheating. Don’t use anything but electrical cords in good shape with unbroken sheathing and solid connections to plugs and receptacles. 

Making Connections

Make connections involving the portable generator’s convenience receptacles straight to appliances with electrical cords.

Hook up a generator into a home’s electrical system by having a manual transfer switch. Never connect chance to a property by backfeeding a product circuit including an electrical range or dryer outlet. Backfeeding can kill or injure utility workers.

On homes, a moveable generator’s neutral and ground wire be bonded (connected) for the generator to fulfill OSHA safety regulations (unless a separate, approved ground is given). Connection of a job-site generator into a home’s manual transfer switch may need disabling the bond before link to the switch. Confirm the user guide for instructions specific to grounding the portable generator.

 

Importance of Standby Generators

As our reliance on electricity gets larger, so does the affect of a power outage. Homes, health care facilities, industry, and business all depend on electrical power not just for comfort, but to manage safety systems and safeguard property.

The capability to be aware that there is no power and initiate automatically is what is key to a standby generators system . Also in conjunction with an automatic transfer switch, these units are permanently installed to your home and can sense a power outage and then supply power until regular power is restored . The generator will also automatically shut down once utility power is restored.

Critical Environments

Critical environments are those that cannot tolerate a power interruption. These include hospital operating rooms and intensive care units, computer installations, and other critical systems. To prevent going without power for even a few seconds, these systems utilize uninterrupted power as their main preventative action.

Electrical power is stored in batteries. An inverter switches the battery power to the same power supplied by the utility, which then powers the equipment connected to it. If power is interrupted, the batteries continue to supply power until the standby generator comes online and takes over keeping the batteries charged until the utility restores power .

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. Until the electric company turns the power back on standby generators will fill in and power everything from emergency lighting to fire safety systems and ventilation when the gas is out. During long-term outages, the batteries in emergency lights may have only a few hours of useful life . Without a standby generator to take over when the power goes out, emergency lights will fade and building occupants won’t be able to find their way.

Industry

Standby generators can serve double duty in large factories. Usually, manufacturers have agreements with electric utilities that allow the utility to interrupt power on brief notice when demand goes beyond the available supply. During an unexpected power outage a factory may run standby generators as an alternate supply of power. Having an alternative supply of power enables the facility to go on working during the outage.

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

Retail

Commercial standby generators maintain freezer and refrigeration units running and prevent large-scale loss of food products. Of course, when there is no power, freezers and refrigerators are unable to cool and consequently temperatures begin to rise. Fresh meats and dairy products must be maintained at 33 to 40 degrees F. or they cannot be sold. To prevent spoiling over, frozen foods require temperatures at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Without standby power, a power outage could trigger restaurants and grocery stores to lose their inventory and undergo large financial losses. Even small grocery stores have cold food inventories valued at tens of thousands of dollars, and that number will increase to more than a million dollars in large stores.

Power from a standby generator can also keep an establishment’s doors open and the business operating while other businesses are closed.

Homes

Most people spend at least a third of their lives inside or around their homes. A home can very rapidly become unpleasant or even unlikeable when a storm happens or when the power has been knocked out. 

In cold winter months, loss of power also causes loss of heat. Without heat, pipes can freeze and break, and when they thaw again the home can flood. On the opposite, the summer time can bring insufferable warmth which can be unsafe for some. Refrigerated food will spoil after a day or so without power, and frozen food won’t last much longer.

Electrical Power also keeps a home dry and mold-free by alleviating 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.BackupHomePower.com