Like many disasters, their influence can go deeper than just the damage on the surface. For survivors, those left behind in the wake of a great disaster and have not had their mortal coil cut short, they must be prepared for the aftermath. Regardless if it is the setting of a dystopian novel or a major power outage, now might be the time to consider an emergency generator.
The power grids countries rely on are not perfect, and the United States is not an exception to that fact. The year of 2014 must have been a year for power grid outages because it tallied 130 reported outages in just the first half, six months, of that year. Its constant outages, like the many that occurred during 2014, that cost American businesses $150 billion in a single year, according to the DOE, with weather-related disruptions carving the biggest piece of that pie.
Strangely enough, the most vexing facet of power grid failures came from federal data that was collected since 1984. According to the data collected, the electrical grids residing in the United States have been losing power far more often than in 1984, to the tune of 285 percent, to be specific.
Are Generator Size Calculators Worth Using?
Absolutely! However, generator size calculators, like any generalized calculator, should always been taken with a grain of salt. A generator size calculator should always been used as more of a jumping-off-point, and not the end all, be all of determining your generator size. It would certainly be foolish to take a calculator’s word, invest in a generator installation only to find out it is under-performing and underwhelming.
First you need decide what purpose a generator is going to have. Are you hosting a tailgate party accompanied by a video system and a few warming trays? You might do just fine with a generator that outputs 1,000 watts. To houses, though, that is nothing more than a fraction of their needs. Whole house generators are, obviously, suited for powering homes.
The next step requires just a pinch of math. Make a list of all the appliances and fixtures you absolutely need during a power outage and write their respective wattage usage. Appliances like microwaves, fridges, or an electric stove tend to have their wattage slapped on somewhere and are not particularly hard to find. Consult its manual or customer service associated with it for specifications, if you are having trouble. Something like a light bulb will have its wattage stamped on the side making your scavenger hunt easier. Total the outputs and you have got a good rule of thumb for your emergency generator installation requirements. However, it’s absolutely important that you remember many electrical devices need a bit of extra juice when they are first turned on. Looking for a much higher peak power rating will save you a trip back to the store. If you consult an expert, chances are they will tell you a 4,000 peak watts or more can take care of your home’s applications.
