3 Reasons for Using a Transfer Switch with Your Generator

While automatic transfer switches are most often used with standby generators, they can also be used with portable generators that have electric starters. Another option, if a portable generator is being used for backup power, is to install a manual transfer switch.

Whether you have a standby or a portable generator, there are several reasons to incorporate a transfer switch. Here are three of the big ones:

1) A transfer switch eliminates the need for numerous extension cords – Rather than running extension cords through the house, a transfer switch allows for appliances to be powered by the home’s circuitry.

2) You can power up your hard wired items – Furnaces, air conditioners, lighting and other appliances in many cases cannot be hooked up to a generator with an extension cord. They can be powered through the home’s circuitry if a transfer switch is in place.

3) Using a transfer switch is only way to safely connect your generator directly to the circuits in the home – Transfer switches effectively separate generated power from electricity coming from the main. This prevents back-feeding, which can occur when power is returned and the excess electricity coming from the generator is transmitted back to the power lines. Back-feeding can both start fires and cause severe injury via electrocution of people working on power lines.

While having a generator will allow you many benefits during an outage, installing a transfer switch can add an extra layer of convenience as well. The safety of transfer switches is another benefit, the value of which is impossible to calculate.

La Niña and Honda Snowblowers

The U.S. Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a cold winter with heavy snowfall this year as a weather pattern, known as La Niña, directs winter storms across the northern U.S. This same weather pattern brought snowfall in amounts that rivaled the record books in the winter of 2007/2008.
Regardless of snowfall levels, Honda snowblowers stand ready to provide snow clearing solutions in both residential and commercial situations with their wide variety of snowblowers. With ten different snowblower models available, Honda snowblowers can be customized further with a full range of options to perform at the highest level possible for any combination of factors.

Forecasts for the coming season couldn’t be more different than last year’s winter, which saw relatively light snowfall in many parts of the country. Snowfall was so light in the Northwest that many of the Olympic skiing and snowboarding events had to be delayed for adequate snow coverage to arrive. This year, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center is predicting that the winter months of December, January, and February will experience below average temperatures combined with heavier precipitation levels. The reason behind these predictions is the entrenchment of the La Niña weather pattern which cools the tropical waters in the Pacific. The cooling of tropical waters enables an area of high pressure to build into the North Pacific which then directs winter storms southward toward the northern U.S.

Should these predictions for severe winter weather prove correct, the need for Honda snowblowers will be higher than normal. Harbor Power House carries the full line of Honda snowblowers with customization options available to suit any requirements for both residential and commercial uses.

How to Choose the Right Honda Lawn Mower

Honda’s lawn mowers are built to commercial landscaping standards, meaning that they can handle jobs from the roughest backyard work to everyday commercial use. Honda mowers have long been considered the leader in the field by professionals for delivering durable, reliable, quiet, and fuel efficient performance. These features are the result of advanced engineering, using only the highest quality components, and Honda’s cutting edge designs. Honda’s mowers consistently do the job while meeting the toughest emission regulations in the country.

Choosing the right Honda lawn mower is a matter of defining the types of usage which will be required and deciding on the level of features, convenience, and performance that will be necessary. The HRX series, considered to be the top of the line for Honda lawn mowers, comes loaded with features including the “Versamow System” which allows for 4 in 1 convenience of mulching, bagging, discharging, and leaf shredding with no additional tools or attachments. Additional features include Honda’s cruise control hydrostatic transmission and Roto- Stop, which allows for the blades to stop while the engine continues to run.

The HRR series of Honda lawnmowers offers outstanding options, features, and value. There are several models to choose from including features such as Smart Drive variable speed, Auto Choke, two position EZ fold handles, and the exclusive Honda QuadraCut twin blade system for state of the art mulching and bagging.

Honda HRS mowers offer Honda reliability, durability, and quality, with exceptional maneuverability and performance at a fantastic value. Features include 6 variable cutting heights ranging from 1" to 3 1/2" and features ergonomic design advances for superior handling, safety, convenience & comfort. The HRR series is also self-propelled, single speed and features side discharge and mulching capabilities.

The reliability and versatility of Honda’s lawnmower series at HarborPowerHouse.com means that there are no bad choices when it comes to buying a lawnmower. Determining how the lawnmower is going to be used can ensure that all lawn maintenance needs can be taken care of in the most efficient way possible. For questions, more information, or equipment specifications, visit: Honda Lawnmowers or call (877) 837 2648.

Deciding Between a Portable and a Standby Generator

The importance of examining all issues prior to deciding on a Honda portable or a standby generator cannot be understated. While the general purpose of both types of generators is the same, the types of use and the conditions in which each one might be employed can be quite different. Portable generators are generally more versatile and are commonly used for recreational purposes such as camping, providing power for outdoor lighting, and powering other types of outdoor equipment. Portable generators can also be used to power up a residence, normally in a limited fashion, in the event of a power outage.

Residential standby generators, on the other hand, generally serve two purposes; automatically starting in the event of a power outage and delivering essential uninterrupted electrical power to designated appliances, rooms, tools, and devices. The fixed nature of standby generators limits their versatility but gives them a critical advantage when power must remain uninterrupted and long term power generation is mandated. The reason for this is that residential standby generators are generally designed to remain connected to the home’s circuitry through the main electric panel. This connection allows for a generator to power up either automatically using an automatic transfer switch, or by push button at the onset of a power outage. An added advantage and an extra layer of protection provided by a residential standby generator is that the addition of a USB battery accessory can ensure that power remains on during the changeover to generated power.

A portable generator, on the other hand, could possibly require fueling, movement from storage (possibly in inclement weather), and manual connection to the home’s circuitry. Under these circumstances, the transfer to power generated by a portable generator may take too long when medical devices or computers are in an “always on” status.

Another factor in the decision between a portable Honda generator and a standby is the length of time that power generation is going to be required. A smaller portable may have a run time of four hours between refueling which is fine for recreational use but could spell disaster in an extended power outage. Where longer runtimes may be required, a standby generator which is connected to a natural gas line allows for unlimited generation without refueling.

Honda’s full line of portable and residential standby generators at HarborPowerHouse.com can provide power solutions whether the need is for light recreational use or for “always on” power. For more information, visit: Honda Generators or call (877) 837 2648.

Three Things to Consider When Buying a Residential Standby Generator

Residential Standby Generators serve two purposes; automatically starting in the event of a power outage and delivering essential electrical power to designated appliances, rooms, tools, and devices. There are several issues to consider when the decision comes down to choosing a residential standby generator versus a portable unit. They are:

* The biggest difference between these types of generators from portable units, besides mobility, is that Residential Standby Generators are generally designed to remain connected to the home’s circuitry through the main electric panel. This allows for a generator to power up either automatically, via an automatic transfer switch, or by push button at the onset of a power outage. A portable unit, on the other hand, could require fueling, a rollout from storage, and connection to the home’s circuitry. For a residential standby generator, an automatic switch to generated power normally takes between ten to thirty seconds. A push button start takes about the same time once the generator has been turned on. An added advantage to a residential standby Honda Generator is that the addition of a USB battery accessory can ensure that power remains on during the changeover to generated power. This is essential for a range of uses ranging from preserving data on a computer to delivering uninterrupted power to an at-home medical device.

* Advances in portable power generation have increased power output levels to the point where power delivery can rival the smaller residential standby generators. Still, depending on power requirements and other factors, going with a stationary generator can be the logical choice. Here, there are two considerations, the first one being the power requirements for appliances, rooms, and devices which must remain on during an outage. Refrigerators and air conditioners, for example, require heavy wattage for both startup and running time. The addition of other power needs can easily mandate the higher power output of a residential standby generator. The second consideration is whether a generator which meets the needs of the home can easily be moved into place in the event of an outage. The weight of the unit, severity of local weather, and the difficulty of moving a portable from storage to the main electrical panel must be taken into account.

* Another consideration is the expected run time of the generator. Smaller portable generators, for example, have run times at full capacity of approximately four hours. In an extended outage, a portable could require refueling several times. Under a variety of circumstances, this may not be an option. Residential standby generators, conversely, can be connected to a natural gas line, allowing for run times as long as power remains down and eliminating the need to refuel.

Honda’s full line of portable and residential standby generators can meet the power needs for any home anywhere. For more information, visit us at: Honda Power Equipment