One thing that you have to deal with when living in California is the occasional blackout or power outage. Blackouts are becoming increasingly common due to the strain on the state’s electrical grid. We’re also predicted to see more and more longer power outages as a result of fires and other natural disasters. Having a portable generator can come in handy during an outage. Nonetheless, the best option if you truly want to be prepared is to install a whole-house generator outside your home.
How a Whole-House Generator Works During a Power Outage
The first thing to understand about a whole-house generator is that the unit is permanently mounted outdoors and wired into the home’s electrical service panel. This allows the generator to directly supply power to all of the outlets and lights within the house. That means you don’t need to use an extension cord to plug things into the generator like you do with a portable generator. The generator is also hooked up to the house’s natural gas supply. Alternatively, you can choose to connect the generator to a large propane tank. In either case, the generator has a steady fuel source so you never need to worry about refueling it.
The fact that the generator sends the power it produces into the home’s electrical system means you can also run your refrigerator and other appliances off it. The generator will ensure that you can keep your air conditioning or heating running so your house stays comfortable.
A component known as a transfer switch is used to connect the generator to the house’s electrical panel. The purpose of the transfer switch is to disconnect the house from the grid when the generator is running. That way all of the power from the generator flows into the house, and none of it leaks back out into the grid. The transfer switch can be either manual or automatic. If you have an automatic transfer switch, it will automatically detect when power stops flowing into the house from the grid. Any time this happens, it will immediately disconnect the house from the grid while at the same time tell the generator to turn on. This entire process only takes a few seconds, meaning the power to your house will be restored almost immediately.
Can a Whole-House Generator Power Everything in a Home?
If you’re wondering if a whole-house generator can power your entire house, the answer is yes as long as you choose a large enough unit. That said, you really don’t need a generator that produces enough electricity to supply power to every single thing in your house at the same time. After all, how often do you run all of your lights, appliances, and electronics at once?
When deciding how large of a whole-house generator you need, you should make a list of everything you may need to use at one time and how much power each of these things draws. Such knowledge can help you ensure that the generator is sufficiently powerful without paying more for a larger unit that you actually need. The only issue is that performing this type of electrical load calculation can be tricky, and the last thing you want to do is pay for a generator that isn’t powerful enough to meet your needs. That’s why it’s always best to work with an experienced electrician who can perform the necessary calculations and advise you about which generator will work best for your home.
Most generators have a load management/shedding feature that lets you choose which circuits in your home the generator sends power to or which electrical loads you want to have first priority. The purpose of this feature is to ensure that the most important appliances always have power and that the generator never gets overloaded by trying to power too many things at a time. You can manually shed loads just by shutting off the breakers to parts of the house or appliances that don’t currently need power.
When you need a trustworthy, local electrician in Yucaipa, you can count on the professionals at Of Course! Heating and Cooling. We’ve been in business since 2020, and our team boasts decades of experience. Whether it’s installing a whole-house generator, upgrading your electrical panel or performing any repairs or installations, you can trust us to expertly perform the work for an affordable price. To get help choosing the right generator or help with the heating and cooling systems you have for your home contact us today.
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