The ultimate generator guide: types, choosing the right one ...

The ultimate generator guide: types, choosing the right one, installation, cost, and more.

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Why Do I Need a Generator?

The power goes out. Food in the fridge will start to spoil and your cell phone will not charge overnight. Imagine sleeping past your alarm and being late for work or getting ready for work in the freezing cold without lights. It could also mean costly repairs to your home when the sump pump leaks or the pipes freeze.

Generators help prevent all of these issues. Standby backup generators keep the power going when the power goes out, and a proper backup generator will undoubtedly pay for itself. In 2018, the United States Energy Information Administration found on average that every American lost power at least once a year.

This means that it is only a matter of time before you lose power in your own home, and why purchasing a standby generator could be the one investment that you will never regret when the lights go out.

Learn more important facts explaining why every homeowner needs a standby generator.

What Is a Generator?

A generator is a portable or stationary backup electricity source. Most often, they can be used on command or set up to automatically turn on when the power goes off. They range in wattage and can be small enough for camping or large enough for an entire home or commercial property.

Since you know that you could lose power at some point, having a backup generator is sure to be useful. And with proper maintenance from an experienced technician, it will certainly be useful many times throughout your life.

What Is the Best Generator?

The best generator for your home depends on its size, power configuration, and your budget. While every home should have a backup generator, there are many types to choose from, and generator cost is influenced by many factors.

The experts at Petro Home Services are here to answer any questions you may have about backup standby generators. In the meantime, the following features are helpful for learning more about generator installation, generator fuel types, and more.

What Types of Generators Are Available?

There are many types of generators, and the right one for your home is best determined by a certified professional to ensure you choose the right type and size. However, it is helpful to know the differences between each kind before installation. They differ in fuel type, purpose, and cost. You will also want to pay attention to power ratings, as smaller and larger homes can use generators with different ratings.

Your power needs are another factor. Are you just going camping? If so, a small portable generator will suffice. But if you need to maintain the power for home appliances, televisions, refrigerators, and more, then a larger standby generator is required.

Types of Generators

Generator types fall within three categories, each serving a different purpose.

Portable Generator – These generators are often small and can be transported for use during travel and work. Often, these generators will have outlets directly on them to plug in required devices and appliances. Portable generators are powered by combustion engines fueled in two different ways:

• Propane Generators – fueled by liquid propane gas
• Diesel Generators – portable generators fueled by diesel gas
• Gas Generators – fueled by liquid natural gasoline

Portable generators can still be connected to your home power system, just in case. This requires the installation of a transfer switch on your home.

Inverter Generator – These generators are cleaner, quieter types with highly-reactive alternators. This allows the generator to produce only the power that is needed at any given moment and to conserve fuel. Gas-powered inverter generators are also significantly lighter in weight than other models, making them attractive for those who need power on the go.

Standby Generator – These generators are what homeowners use to consistently back up their power. Whole-house generators are often the most reliable but also the most expensive options. Standby generators are powered by natural gas or propane and are connected to your home's natural gas lines.

Choosing a Generator for Your Home

The right generator for your home is suited to the size of your house and your budget. Small to medium-sized homes range anywhere from 500 to 3,500 square feet of floor space. These home sizes are well served by a 12kW standby generator. Larger homes have anywhere between 3,500 and 7,000 square feet of floor space. In this case, a 20kW standby generator would work well for you. In most large houses, you will need more than 15,000-18,000 watts of power.

Generator Maintenance and Repair

To ensure you take full advantage of service warranties, a generator requires repairs and maintenance throughout its life. At Petro Home Services, we offer a 10-year home service warranty on all our generators to make sure you keep the lights on 24/7, in any weather.

The most common reasons for generator repair include:

• Leaks in oil or coolant
• Faulty block heaters
• Low coolant/high temperature

Trained professionals are the only people who should handle the repair and maintenance of generators. While people might think repairing a generator could be their next DIY project, there are far too many components and precautions to understand or teach yourself.

Annual maintenance check-ups will ensure your generator lasts through the entirety of its useful life. If you ever run into a problem throughout the year, the experts at Petro are available any time you need us.

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Where to Go for Generator Services?

Ultimately, there is nothing more vital during a power outage than an expertly installed and sized backup generator. From saving groceries in the fridge to keeping the pipes from freezing – and everything in between – getting started on backing up your home’s power supply needs to start as soon as possible.

And no one does it better than your local experts at Petro Home Services. Our highly trained and experienced generator installation technicians have dealt with all sizes and types of homes. Plus, with the best standby generators on the market at our disposal, we have the backup power solutions that work.

For a free consultation on your backup generator needs, contact Petro Home Services today at 888.735.5651.

Businesses can benefit greatly by having portable industrial generators at their disposal. A towable unit is easy to transport to different job sites. When you need to supply electricity at a construction site or power another remote location, a towable generator is ready to hitch to the back of a vehicle or mount onto a trailer.

Unlike permanent standby generators, portable industrial generators are designed for temporary installation and mobility. You can seamlessly transfer a portable generator between sites to fulfill short-term power needs.

Explore how to choose the right portable generator size and power capacity for your site.

What Is a Portable Industrial Generator?

It’s important to note that generators usually fall into three groups: standby, non-commercial portable, and towable or mobile.

Standby

Standby generators satisfy permanent, energy-intensive power requirements. They provide backup power for larger areas like construction sites, houses, office buildings, and hospitals in the case of a power outage. Standby generators remain in one spot, making transportation more of a challenge.

Non-Commercial Portable

Non-commercial portable generators are compact units that fulfill more temporary, less energy-intensive power needs. For instance, you might take one to a campsite to charge a phone. You can also plug electric-powered appliances, tools, and extension cords into these small generators. Keep in mind that these types of portable generators cannot power entire construction sites.

Towable or Mobile

Towable generator sets — also known as mobile or portable industrial generators — are lightweight and often equipped with wheels. They are designed to be mounted on trailers for easy transport around a site. Due to their smaller size, mobile generators are relatively quiet and often more eco-friendly depending on the fuel. You’ll find towable generators at a range of locations, such as construction sites, stadiums, military bases, mines, and more.

Put simply, portable industrial generators offer the higher power capabilities of a standby option with the flexibility to tow it to various job sites. Wherever you need power, a towable generator is ready to follow.

How Are Portable Generators Rated?

Mobile generator sets are typically rated by the following units:

• eKW: Also written as kWe, the eKW rating is the total generator output after the loss from mechanical to electrical energy — i.e. efficiency loss. It’s important to understand the generator’s eKW rating since equipment relies on this electrical power during operation. Electrical power is usually measured in watts or kilowatts (kW).
• kVA: Kilovolt-ampere (kVA) assesses real and reactive power, or apparent power. It measures how much power output the generator can produce for different applications. The higher the kVA rating, the more power the unit can generate. Multiplying the voltage by the amps can help you determine the kVA.

Types of Portable Industrial Generators

There are two common types of mobile generators:

• Diesel: A diesel generator provides substantial power for more robust applications, like powering drills and other heavy equipment. Portable industrial diesel generators can withstand large power loads and are often cost-effective and fuel-efficient.
• Natural Gas: Natural gas generators use propane or natural gas to produce electricity. This electricity can be drawn from a direct line or through a natural gas tank.

Why Portable Generator Sizes Matter

Size is a key consideration in the process of buying a commercial portable generator. An incorrect size can damage the equipment, tools, and appliances drawing power — plus the generator itself.

Choosing a smaller mobile generator may be tempting due to the more affordable price tag. However, a generator that’s too small or lacks sufficient wattage won’t successfully power your remote job site. An undersized unit must work harder to meet your power needs, significantly straining the generator and shortening its service life.

If your commercial site puts too much strain on an undersized generator, it increases the risk of overloading. Overloading can cut off your power source and damage the generator permanently. In worst-case scenarios, overloading can cause an electrical fire or even an explosion.

At the same time, you want to avoid investing in an oversized portable industrial generator. Doing so could result in a potential waste of money, as you’re paying for more watts than you require. A unit that’s too large can also cause unnecessary power loss and even damage your equipment.

When comparing whether to choose a slightly larger or slightly smaller mobile generator set, it’s best to opt for slightly larger. Choosing a portable generator with extra wattage and power capacity is a safer route for the following reasons:

• Reduces the risk of damage and overheating.
• Provides more consistent performance.
• Increases employee safety.
• Extends the generator’s life span.

What Size Portable Generator Do I Need?

Follow these two steps to select the right portable industrial generator size for your applications.

1. Take Inventory of All Critical Devices

Start by making a list of everything your towable generator will need to power. Locate the starting and running wattage for each piece of equipment. You’ll typically find these wattages inscribed on the back, bottom, or nameplate. You can also consult your owner’s manual, either hard copy or online, to find this information.

2. Calculate the Total Power Requirement

Your total wattage requirement will help you select a suitable mobile generator size. Add the total running watts of all equipment you’ll need to power plus your highest single starting watts. This calculation can help determine your power output needs.

Generators in the United States are normally rated in kW or kVA. Add up your equipment’s kW or kVA figures to calculate your total power capacity requirements. You should invest in a mobile generator that can withstand this total wattage without using 100% of it.

Additionally, manufacturers usually include performance charts with their units. Looking at these charts can help you estimate the appropriate portable generator size. Examine the different power ratings and find one that’s compatible with your applications.

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Contact Thompson Power Systems for Reliable Portable Generators

At Thompson Power Systems, we proudly serve Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with high-quality power systems. If you need a dependable mobile power generator for a job site, we can help you find a solution.

We supply generator sets from Caterpillar, a brand renowned for its durability and performance. Our knowledgeable technicians will work with you to find a Cat® generator compatible with your requirements.

Browse our assortment of mobile generator sets to find the solutions you’re looking for. If you have questions about choosing the ideal unit for your applications, contact us online or call 205-849-4361.