Three Types of Backup Power Help Homeowners Prepare for Outages

July 20, 2021      

The year 2020 has made it clearer than ever that our homes need to be offices, schools, and shelters. In today's environment, losing power could mean losing work, missing school exams, or even being unsafe; and that means backup power is a critical element of being prepared.

There are three categories of backup power for homeowners to consider. Portable generators are the least expensive but have limited utility to power homes. Home Standby Generators (HSB) are permanently installed, automatic, run on natural gas or propane, and are capable of powering any size home. Solar + Storage systems use batteries and for the first time, are now capable of backing up entire homes.

Portable Generators

A portable generator is the point of entry for home energy preparedness and resiliency. Generac's GP-, iQ-, and XC- series of generators are available in sizes from 2000 watts to 17,500 watts; large enough to power the circuits for most large appliances. These generators run on gasoline and must be manually operated during an outage event. Safety must always be considered when using a portable generator. Generac has developed great technologies like CO-Sense to help owners stay safe. But all portable generators are instructed to be operated far away from buildings and never near any open windows, doors, or air intakes.

For added functionality and safety, portable generator owners may have a Generac manual transfer switch professionally installed. This technology is installed easily by a certified electrician and allows users to connect their portable generator to their home electrical system safely, then manually switch over to generator power when needed.

Home Standby Generators

The ideal option for complete home backup power is a home standby generator. A permanently installed Generac home backup generator protects the home automatically when grid power is interrupted. It runs on natural gas or liquid propane (LP) fuel, and sits outside like a central air conditioning unit. A home backup generator delivers power directly to your home's electrical system, backing up your entire home or just the most essential items.

With working from home, schooling from home, shopping from home, and entertaining from home, their level of anxiety about a power outage was very high. Having a home standby generator to ensure that they can safely shelter in place with their families should a power outage occur made this a must have item for many homeowners.

Generac Guardian-series home standby generators feature reliable Generac engines, designed and engineered in the U.S. And each is equipped with the remote monitoring capability of Mobile Link™, allowing owners to monitor the status of their generator on a phone, tablet or computer from anywhere in the world.

Solar + Storage

Solar + storage systems designed to harness the power of the sun and store that energy for use later are increasing in popularity. The favorable economics of solar and batteries coupled with the increasing need for protection against power grid disruptions is giving homeowners a new option for backup power.

It is critical that all homeowners have a plan for extended power outages. With the new, PWRcell automatic transfer switch (ATS), whole-home solar power can now be a reality. During a power outage, the PWRcell ATS disconnects from the grid, allowing the whole home to be isolated as electricity can be routed from the battery supply and/or solar array to the home's electrical panel. Because this integrated Generac system protects the entire home, the need to move or transfer circuits to a separate sub-panel can be eliminated, reducing electrical complexities.

The Generac PWRcell system integrates solar power generation with smart battery storage using a single, powerful inverter. When the grid goes down, this system picks up the load and restores power in seconds.

For more information, contact South Shore Generator in Wareham, MA.

---

< Go Back to Blog