Choose your generaator for camping, construction or emergency home backup

By Richard Asmus

The size of your generator depends on what you use it for. Portable or stationary generators available for home use range from 900 watts (.9 kilowatts) to 45 kilowatts, at either 120 or 240 volts AC. A portable generator usually comes with standard output sockets for 120- or 240-volt appliances, which can be plugged in directly or with an outdoor, heavy-duty extension cord. Any generator connected to a home for emergency backup must be professionally wired to a transfer switch.

Camping and Recreation

Small, hand-carried portable generators produce from 900 to 2,000 watts at 120 volts and are convenient for camping, RVs and boats. They can power entertainment equipment including TVs, stereo, DVD players, computers and even a few lights or a small refrigerator. But any appliance that provides heat will probably require too much power for these small portables. Find them at hardware stores, sporting goods stores and camping suppliers.

Construction Sites

Larger portable generators with wheels can produce up to 15 kilowatts and can run a wide assortment of power tools including saws and drills at construction sites where the electricity has not yet been installed. Remember that with any motor-operated tool, consider surge currents. In colder climates, if you intend to use the generator for heating, you will need much more power. Find these generators at construction and building suppliers.

Partial Emergency Backup

If you want to have partial backup during and a temporary power outage, you will have to decide what you want to power. Use a small portable generator to plug in a few small appliances directly, or a larger portable or stationary generator wired to your house through a transfer switch. You will only be able to turn on selected appliances. Find the portables at home improvement, camping and construction supply companies. Stationary models are available at specialty stores.

All-Home Emergency Backup

A generator supplier can provide you with an all-house automatic backup generator eliminates worry about your power supply. It senses a power failure, starts the generator and then transfers the load automatically after the generator warms up and stabilizes. The size of the system will depend on your house, the climate of the location and how many appliances you have. Your generator dealer can provide you with a turn-key price to install the system.

Measuring Your Load

Generator ratings in watts or kilowatts determine how much power they produce constantly. Generators should also have a surge rating because some appliances with motors require a surge of electricity at startup that the generator must provide. Add up all the wattage ratings of all the equipment you will use at the same time to determine your wattage and surge requirements. Take these statistics to your generator dealer for models and pricing. Your dealer will help you make your decisions.