Making the Choice Between Standby and Portable Generators

Honda generators can be divided into two categories; portable and standby. While both deliver reliable backup power, each category of generators has strengths and weaknesses that will determine which type will provide the best solution for each household’s set of circumstances.

Here is a brief summation of the two generator categories:

Portable Generators

Portable generators are lighter in weight and more versatile than the standby variety. Portability allows for uses ranging from providing power while camping outdoors to generating much needed backup power during a blackout. These generators are typically configured with multiple outlets to provide power to a variety of appliances and equipment. With this versatility, however, comes a few issues that should be considered prior to making a final decision:

• For use during a power outage, a portable may have to be moved into position to provide power to the home. While this may not be an issue for those that are physically able, moving a portable generator may require more strength than some people possess.
• Portable generators typically have lower output levels than standby generators. This can prove to be problematic if a portable cannot generate enough power to run all the appliances and equipment necessary for the safety of household members.
• Portable generators require refueling during extended outages. Considering that portables should never be run indoors, this refueling will normally take place outdoors, hopefully in a protective shelter. If the unit is not located in a shelter refueling can prove to be a daunting task during severe weather.

Standby Generators

While standby generators do not offer the versatility of portable generators, they do offer significant benefits:

• Standby generators are specifically built to deliver backup power during an outage. Permanently connected to a home’s circuitry, standby generators switch on automatically within seconds of a power interruption. These generators also power down once the primary source of power is restored.
• Power output levels are higher than portables, with the potential to run major appliances simultaneously and/or power the entire home.
• Standby generators can be connected to the home’s natural gas line, eliminating the need for refueling.

Honda generators can provide solutions to every type of backup power need. For more information, visit: http://www.harborpowerhouse.com/

Buying a Backup Generator System: What to do Before you Buy

This winter has served as a constant reminder that having a backup generator system in place isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Of particular concern are extended power outages which can run for days or even weeks before power is restored.  Under these circumstances it makes sense, particularly in areas where severe weather is common, to consider some form of backup power system.

The time to start doing the required homework before buying a backup generator system is before the lights go out. Here are some of the considerations to take into account selecting, buying and installing a system.

The more expensive standby generator systems can power an entire energy-efficient house. Here doing the calculations to determine the right standby generator is fairly straightforward and can be done by looking at the electrical bill for the total of wattage used during the months when use is at its highest level. The number can be padded somewhat to provide a cushion. Then it’s simply a matter of buying a standby generator system that can meet demand at its highest level of use.

If a whole house generating system isn’t an option, a determination of what is essential to be kept running in the event of a power outage must be made. A good starting point is to define the critical loads of essential appliances and equipment. An option here is to check whether or not there are non-electrical solutions when power goes out.

One of these alternatives could be a properly vented space heater. The heater could use wood, oil, natural gas or propane, which could help keep the house warm while the heater is off. The caveat here is to never burn fuel in an unvented situation as the gases produced by burning can be toxic and/or lethal.

Energy efficiency can play a large role in the level of power a generator will have to deliver. Proper home insulation as well as energy saving appliances and heating equipment can reduce the demand load dramatically, which could reduce the cost of the generator by a material amount.

Once the required wattage of the lights, appliances, and other necessities is determined, pad the amount by 20% to 25% to ensure that the standby generator can easily cover all electrical requirements.

Once the right generator system has been determined, have an electrician or electrical contractor do the installation to make sure it’s done properly. After installation, be sure to run the generator periodically to test that it can power the  designated circuits and keep them running when an outage occurs.

Honda Generators: A Power Output Guide

Making the right choice from the broad line of Honda generators starts with the determination of the appliances, equipment and devices that must continue to run in the event of a power outage. This list can include heaters, refrigerators, medical devices, lighting, home office equipment, etc. Once you have compiled your list, add the wattage necessary to run each item to define minimum level of power output that you require. What follows is a list of standard power output levels for both standby and portable generators as well as a “rule of thumb” guide showing how many items can be powered at each output level.

Portable generators:

• 5kW – 5kW will power a small core of survival appliances including a few lights, a refrigerator, and a furnace fan. This leaves approximately 600 watts to power a computer, radio, and/or a small television.
• 6.5kW – The extra 1.5kW provided at this level can power a portable electric heater or a coffee maker, in addition to powering your chosen survival appliances.

Standby generators:

• 8kW – These medium output generators, in addition to powering your core appliances, can light and power two rooms that aren’t heavy in appliances. A home office running a desktop computer and other gear would be fine at this level as would a family room, for example.
• 10kW – At this output level, there is a possibility that you may forget about the blackout that has necessitated the use of your generator. This output level will power everything listed above as well as the kitchen, meaning that you can drink hot chocolate in the comfy confines of your home.
• 15kW – 15kW of output is enough to light and run a small home. For larger homes, this level makes the laundry room operational and can light up a couple bedrooms.
• 25 kW – At 25kW, the entirety of a medium-sized house can be powered along with air conditioning. At this point, you’re likely to be impervious to what is going on outside while being the envy of your neighbors as well.

To repeat, this is a rule of thumb guide. When buying your generator be sure to consult a professional to ensure that you’ll have enough power from your backup generator. For more information on Honda generators, visit: http://www.harborpowerhouse.com/

Choosing the Best of the Honda Generators for your Needs

Choosing the best of the Honda generators for your needs starts with answering a few questions about your potential energy requirements during an extended power outage. These answers can help define the amount of electrical output you’ll need to power the essential appliances and devices in your home as well as the best type of generator to buy.

Start by answering these questions:

• What is your budget? This answer will narrow your search immediately, especially if you have limited funds.
• If funds are limited, develop a bare bones plan for life supporting appliances, such as heating in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.
• What are the essential appliances, lights, medical devices, etc. that would need to be powered during an outage. Life support devices should obviously occupy the top of this list.
• What appliances will have to run simultaneously? Lights, electrical heating (or air conditioning during a heat wave), and refrigeration would be likely candidates. Some of these appliances will require one circuit while the larger one might require two. The number of the total circuits that must be used at the same time will be an important factor in determining the right generator.
• Do you have a home-based business that would need to operate during an outage? List the equipment and the wattage required to power the business.  
• Take an accounting of the wattage used in total for all appliances that will be powered by the generator as well as those that will likely be on for the duration of a power outage. This will define the size of the generator and the minimum amount of output necessary to power the appliances you’ll need during a blackout.
• Local fuel sources – Be sure that the generator you choose uses a fuel that is readily available in your area. Honda generators are gas powered so this point is usually not an issue. Additionally, if there is a natural gas line to the house it can also be used to supply fuel to a standby generator.

Once this list of answers is compiled, talk to a professional who can provide guidance on getting the best generator for your needs. To speak to a professional for more information on Honda generators, visit: http://www.harborpowerhouse.com/

Business Risk Management with Standby Generators

Risk management for businesses is often perceived as the analysis of business risks such as new competition, rising commodity prices, vendor issues, etc. With current trends in place in terms of weather, the fragility of the power grid, and rising demand for power, risk management should also include planning for the eventuality of an extended power outage. In fact, power outages lasting for days into weeks have become increasingly frequent over the last several years.

 This increase was documented in a report released by Eaton, a globally diversified power management company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. In the report, Eaton said the year 2010 saw 3,419 separate power outages which affected 17.5 million people in every state of the country. The number of power outages was up almost 17% from the previous year. The report also stated that the average blackout had a duration of 4 hours. For examples of extended blackouts, one only needs to look at the outages that plagued the eastern half of the country last summer and the blackouts that occurred during the East Coast snowstorms last fall both of which affected millions of people.

 For businesses, these extended outages carry substantial risks in terms of the loss of daily operations, revenue losses, and the potential for the loss of digital data. These losses can be mitigated, however, through the implementation of standby generators purposed for the provision of backup power during either a long or short power failure.

Standby generators offer businesses the following benefits:
• Automatic power delivery when primary power goes down.
• Options ranging from powering only essential equipment to the entire office. • Extended power generation without the need for refueling if the standby generator(s) can be connected to a natural gas line.

 Additionally, for offices with extensive computer networks, an uninterruptible power source battery can start delivering backup power almost instantly once the interruption of electricity is detected. The uninterruptible power source battery then shuts down once the standby generator comes on line, which usually takes less than 20 seconds. This instantaneous transfer prevents critical data from being lost and allows for either a normal shutdown process or continued use of the network.

 With power outages becoming more common, planning for their eventuality should be part of your risk management protocol. For more information on protecting your business, visit: http://www.harborpowerhouse.com/

Bad Weather, an Aging Grid, and Honda Generators

As recently as last summer, severe storms followed by an intense heat wave left millions of people without power, with some outages lasting for a week or longer. As it has happened before, extended power outages can literally change daily routines and, in certain circumstances, become life threatening. Taken for granted when the delivery of power is constant and undisturbed, its sudden absence makes people realize how much we as a society depend on the 24/7/365 availability of electricity.

 The major factors in these extended outages are:
• The U.S. power grid operates on equipment and technology that is almost half a century old.
• Severe storms bringing higher wind speeds, snow loads, and precipitation are occurring on a more frequent basis.
• Higher demand levels for power as society digitizes everything from homework starting in elementary school to the offering and sales of real estate.
• The process of bringing the grid up to present day standards has been bogged down for over a decade as utilities and state and federal government agencies bicker over the finer points of paying for the necessary upgrades and other issues.

While all of these factors look like they will continue and potentially intensify, the issue for homeowners and businesses alike is how to cope with power outages that can range from inconvenient to costly and/or life threatening, especially with winter approaching. In this environment, an increasing number of home and business owners are finding backup power solutions with the extensive line of Honda generators. Ranging from their versatile portable generators to their durable and reliable standby models, Honda generators offer so many options and output levels that they can provide a solution for almost any purpose.

 For minimal power needs, Honda’s portable generators deliver enough backup power to run a major appliance, smaller appliances, and provide limited lighting. Honda’s larger standby generators have the output capacity to run multiple major appliances and, at the top end of output capacity, can power an entire home. Making the choice between these two categories and the specific generator that delivers the best solution comes down to determining output needs as well as some other considerations.

 For more information on finding the right solution in Honda generators for your home or business needs, visit: http://www.harborpowerhouse.com/

Preparing for Severe Weather

Beyond buying one of the long line of Honda generators to cover your essential power needs in the event of severe weather and/or a power outage, you’ll want to take several additional steps to ensure the safety and well being of everyone in your household. These preparations should be customized around the specific Honda generator you have chosen as your backup power solution. For example, an emergency checklist that being built around one of the many Honda Portable Generators will be more extensive than one being prepared around a standby generator due to the difference in output capabilities.

 The list of emergency steps and necessities includes:

 • Bottled water – The rule of thumb for storing water for emergency purposes is one gallon per day for each person in the house. Be sure to have a several day supply of water as well as canned food, beef jerky and other items that can be stored for extended periods.
• Medical supplies including essential prescriptions – Keep a first aid kit that contains several days of any essential prescriptions. Be sure to rotate these prescriptions to keep them from expiring. • Flashlights and batteries – These will be necessary to navigate dark areas of the home and outdoors, especially if you’re using a generator that isn’t powering the entire house.
• Foul weather gear – Having foul weather clothing and gear will allow you to get around outside to assess damage, communicate with neighbors, and perform other necessary tasks.
• Additional fuel for the generator - Unless your generator is tapped into a natural gas line that supplies the house, you’ll want to have extra fuel in the event of an extended outage.
• Extra chargers for cell phones – Depending on the situation, a cell phone may be the only communication device available. Having an extra charger that can be used in the home as well as one that that can draw power from a car battery can help to ensure that your cell phone has power.

 Having backup power supplied by Honda Generators is the first line of defense against severe weather and power outages. Developing an emergency supply inventory can add extra layers of protection for you and your family. For more information on Honda generators, visit: http://www.harborpowerhouse.com/ generator