News Details (Posted: September 5, 2006):

Looking For A New Standby Generator?

Full Description:

Just a few years ago, the thought of owning a standby generator seemed preposterous. Now, living without electricity is all too common. The California Energy Crisis. The Ice Storm of 2001. The Great Northeast Blackout. Hurricanes Isabel, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jean. Without electricity, basements can flood. Security systems can falter. Businesses can fail. Many homeowners and businesses simply cannot afford to ride out another power outage. Instead, they are installing standby generators in record numbers to protect their families and investments.

So how do you pick the perfect standby generator? Go to www.electricgeneratorsdirect.c­om and first, shop by grade. Not all cars are the same. The same goes for standby generators. Some affordable brands are designed to restore electricity, and that's about it. Other more sophisticated brands include premium grade engines and rust-resistant aluminum enclosures, significantly reducing noise and extending lifespan.

Electric Generators Direct grades the quality of every standby generator into three categories - Economical, Premium Power, and Prime Power - helping to simplify your search. Economical and Premium Power generators feature air-cooled engines, which are like lawnmower engines. They are specifically designed for occasional emergency power use. Prime Power generators feature liquid-cooled engines, which are more like automobile engines. They are designed to last much longer than air-cooled models. These durable machines can be used as either emergency back-up power systems or primary power generators.

Next, shop by watts. Standby generators are rated by kilowatts. The larger the kilowatts, the more it can power. A basic home standby generator starts around 7 kilowatts. While it won't power an entire house, it will generate enough electricity to get you safely through the blackout. A word of caution: standby generators create enough juice to get every household appliance working -- except one. Central air conditioners need an enormous amount of energy (at least 15 kilowatts) just to get their motors and compressors operating. Consider installing a smaller unit for backup use if you must have AC.