A portable generator is one of the most convenient ways to keep running your households and home appliance at the time of an emergency or absence of electricity. Being portable allows you to move anywhere you require. If you are a tenant and tend to change your residence frequently, then a portable generator should be your best bet out there.

In the modern age, we are accustomed not to live without the absence of electricity. Even you cannot imagine too, right? Everything stands still and maybe, you sweat due to the hot weather because you cannot run your fan as well. In this case, a portable generator should come handy. But the question is- what size portable generator do I need?

What size portable generator do I need?

Depending on several different things, you have to choose your portable generator to run your households and home appliances. The more appliances like refrigerators, micro oven, washing machine, and electronic devices like phone, hairdryer, and so forth, you want to run, the more watt you will need.

A list of the things you want to run

When it comes to purchasing a portable generator to run your households and home appliance, including micro oven, rice cooker, washing machine, fans, lights, and so forth, you have to make sure actually which things you need to run with the generator. It will help you to determine how much watts also you need from the portable generator to produce at the absence of electricity.

It is recommended to make a list of the most important electronic devices, including your computer, mobile device, routers, and home appliances like rice cooker, refrigerator, micro oven, etc. so that you can minimize the need for your watts from the generator.

Calculate the watts you need

The second and important step before you head over to buy a portable generator is calculating the watts considering all the devices and appliances you want to run with the generator. In this case, all you need to do is write down the watt shown on each device and machines so that you can make a total of them.

Maybe, you are wondering where do you find these watts, right? Well, on each device and appliances, you will find it something like that 60W, 100W, and so forth. These are the watts you have to calculate so that you can bring the right generator for your needs.

Surge or Peak watts

There are two types of watts you will come across while buying a portable generator. You have to make sure how many surge or peak watts do your households and appliances need. Then purchasing a portable generator should be the only solution. If you are not familiar with the term ‘surge or peak’ watt, let me explain.

The appliances which have a motor in them need more watts at the time of starting them. And, after turning the appliances like the refrigerator on, it will require less watts than the first time. Similarly, your portable generator should supply the surge watts at first to run these devices and appliances.

Typical or regular watts

If you have learned what surge watts are, then it will be easier for you to understand typical or regular watts comfortably. The devices and appliances that have a motor to run them require both surge and regular watts to run them flawlessly. In this case, a machine like a hairdryer needs both surge and regular watts.

For the first time, while turning the hairdryer on, it will draw more watts to run the motor of the device. Therefore, after a while, it needs fewer watts than the previous to run the hairdryer for a longer period. The watts that the hairdryer needs to run it for a longer period is called regular or typical watts.

How portable generators work?

A portable generator is handy when it comes to power in your house in the absence of electricity or during an emergency. Also, it benefits you to move the generator anywhere you require because of being portable. So, you keep tension-free whether electricity fails or not.

The work process of a portable generator is not so complicated as you might be thinking. A generator is just used to produce electricity to power your house. You will end up finding an internal combustion engine, starter, fuel tank, alternator, and outlets. When you operate the machine for powering your house, it uses fuel in the combustion chamber, and through a process, it produces electricity to power your households.

Tips For Choosing A Generator That’s Right For Your Needs And Your

Before you go to buy a portable generator, a few important things should be considered. Besides, you may end up purchasing a wrong portable generator, which may not fulfill your requirements to power your house. In this case, you have to consider its size, watts it is going to cover, noise, portability, and so forth.

• A portable generator should produce as many watts as your households and home appliances need to power them. Also, it should provide more watts than you need to run your households and appliances and electronic devices like mobile phones, tablets, computers.

• The portable generator should provide you with both surge or peak watts as well as regular or typical watts. Otherwise, it will not help you to run your refrigerator, hairdryer, micro oven because these appliances need surge watts to run them.

• The size of the portable generator should fit in your room or outside the room where you want to place it. If it is too big or too small, then it will not be a better match for your room or place you want to keep the generator.

• The portable generator should not produce much noise. If it produces a lot of noise while operating the machine, it will pollute sound, which you never want. Therefore, you can mitigate the loud noise by making a cover box.

Frequently asked questions

In this situation, you may have more questions in your mind. Don’t worry because, in this article, I will also answer some questions that you may have in your mind.

Final thought

So, what size of portable generator you need depends on several things. You have to make sure how much watts do your generator needs to produce. Also, you have to consider the space where you are going to place the portable generator. If you are satisfied with all these things, you can buy a portable generator to run your households and home appliances.

A 50 amp generator is a great way to power your home or RV. It provides much power to run the necessary devices with the generator. There are two hotlines in a 50 amp generator that provides needed watts for you to power your RV or home.

In this case, you should calculate the watt with the 50 amp generator easily. All you require is to consider the two hotlines of the generator. Because each hotline can produce 6000 watts, so, in total, as there are two hotlines, they can provide 1200 watts, which is enough for you to run the RV.

What is a 50 Amp Generator?

When the power goes out suddenly, then a generator should come handy to rescue you from the darkness and hot weather. If you don’t have a generator, you know how difficult it is to pass the time of the absence of power. Everything within a second comes to stand still, and you have to suffer in the long run.

Only a generator allows you to keep your household and home appliances running, right? Therefore, depending on your requirements, you have to buy a generator seeing the watts it provides. A 50 amp generator similarly produces as much 6000 watts for your households and home appliances.

How many watts is a 50 amp generator?

Depending on the amp of the generator, you have to calculate how much watts does it produce to run household and appliances. The calculation of how many watts do you need is simple, though. All you need to do is find the watts written on each device and get a total.

In the case of a 50 amp generator, you have to consider its two hotlines from which it produces the power you need. Each hotline allows you to draw 50 amp at 120 volts. Therefore, you can get as much as 6000 watts in total. The calculation is simple, and it is 50 amps x 120 volts = 6000 watts.

How to Choose the Right Size 50 Amp Generator?

Choosing the right size does not require a lot of experience and knowledge in this field. But before you head over to purchase the correct size 50 amp generator, you have to consider a few important things.

Otherwise, you may end up choosing and then buying the wrong one, which may not fulfill your requirements. Therefore, understanding and determining the actual watts you need is essential too.

How many watts does you need

Before you go to buy a 50 amp generator, make sure it can mitigate the wattages needs of your RV or home. Therefore, you should look closely at the appliances or devices you are going to run with the 50 amp generator. Calculating all the watts you need is not so difficult; it is as simple as counting one, two, there.

Take a notebook and start writing the watt each appliance or device has on their body. When you are done with writing down all the watts of your appliances and devices, it is time to draw a total and see how many watts do you get. Now it becomes easier for you to buy a 50 amp generator.

Weight of the generator

What if you need to carry the generator you have purchase for powering your household or RV? You need a portable 50 amp generator that can be easily bearable. In case of an emergency, you may need to shift your location. Therefore, you also have to carry the generator with you to power your house there.

The more lightweight the generator will be, the better it would be for you to carry to your desired place. Also, you may have to place the generator to your outdoor space for a certain time. In this case, if it is heavier, then you should not carry it easily to the place where you need the generator.

Durability

As you have to spend a handsome amount of your hard-earned cash to buy a 50 amp generator for your requirements, it should be durable, sturdy. Because you should not buy a generator each year, right? So, before buying a 50 amp generator to power your house or RV, make sure it is durable and sturdy.

While shifting your residence from one place to another, if you need, you have to carry the generator with you on any transport. Therefore, it should be durable and sturdy so that the generator can endure the carrying hustle as well. In this way, you can choose a 50 amp generator for your needs.

Fuel Type of the generator

It is one of the most crucial parts before you go to buy a 50 amp generator. Most generators can run on natural gas or diesel. But you have to consider which type of fuel should be the best option for you. Depending on your requirements, you have to purchase a 50 amp generator to power your households.

Some prefer gas generators, while others prefer a diesel generator. The core difference between the fuel type- gas and generator are diesel generators tend to be sturdier and can last longer in comparison with a generator that runs on natural gas. But you can choose a generator depending on the availability of the fuel.

Frequently asked questions

You may still have some questions in your mind. That’s why; we are going to answer some frequently asked questions. Maybe, you have the same question in your mind, and you will get the answers as well from below.

Final thought

As a 50 amp generator is capable of producing 6000 watts to run your households and appliances or RV, you have to make sure you are going to use these watts for running them. That’s why it is recommended to calculate all the items you are going to use with a 50 amp generator so that it is capable of running these devices and appliances at home or RV.

A propane generator runs well on propane because it has been build for that purpose. And, a propane generator may not run on natural gas because the engine of the machine is not designed for using natural gas on it. Also, the generator will not perform as good with natural gas too.

On the other hand, you can run your propane generator on natural gas only if you can transform the fuel section of the machine for natural gas. Also, you can find a kit for changing the fuel section of the generator with a natural gas one. Therefore, you can run your generator on natural gas.

Can a propane generator run on natural gas?

No, you cannot run your propane generator on natural gas. The generator you bought has been designed for propane gas, not for natural gas. The engine of the machine cannot run on natural gas. But there is a way you can utilize to transform the fuel section of the device for natural gas.

Though the performance of your converted natural gas generator may not work smoothly and well, you can run your generator on natural gas as well. All you require to do is find a kit that supports your generator to transform for natural gas. Thus, you can run your generator on natural gas.

To run your propane generator on natural gas, you have to convert the fuel chamber of the machine so that it can run well. In this article, I am just here to let you know the process of transforming the propane generator into a natural gas generator.

The kit you need

There are several kits out there in the market for sale. I have to use the best one from US Carburetion, and it works well. When you are going to purchase these kits for your generator, make sure you have kits, including Carburetor, on-demand regulator, Carburetor gasket, stud extensions, mounting bolts, yellow Teflon tape, and hose for using in between on-demand regulator and adapter.

Apart from them, you have also to buy other materials for the purpose. These may include low-pressure regulator, threaded tank fitting, the hose between a low-pressure regulator and the on-demand regulator, fitting between the hose and on-demand regulator, fuel tank, and so forth.

You have to remove the air filter

To transform the propane generator into a natural gas generator, you have to remove the air filter first. This is because you are going to change the filter with another so that it can be used for natural gas because this air filter will not work for natural gas.

After removing the air filter, you have to closely follow the following steps so that you can end up transforming the generator successfully. After the process, you have to arrange these kits in your hand so that you don’t have to worry and find these useful things again.

Remove filter housing

The filter housing in your propane generator should be removed because you don’t need the housing. As you are going to use natural gas, there is no reason to keep the filter housing for it. All you need to do is remove the nuts of the air filter housing of the carburetor. And, make sure you don’t have to loosen the gasket because you will need the gasket soon.

Installing the fuel adapter as well as air cleaning housing

At this point, you may have removed the air filter and housing from your propane generator. Now is the time to install the fuel adapter and the air cleaning housing for the generator to work on natural gas. The process is not challenging, though. After removing your elbow from the generator, you have to cover the housing with threads in Teflon so that it keeps secure.

Slide the carburetor connector over the stud augmentations. Reinstall the air cleaner lodging guaranteeing the gasket is between the lodging and the carburetor connector.

Install the Zero Governor

This step requires a little bit of extra carefulness. Otherwise, you may mess up things and end up wasting your hard work. So, be careful and proceed on. Now you need to install all the fittings of the generator carburetor with Teflon tape before you go to attach them with the frame.

Also, make sure you have held the demand regulator where there are two points you have found. And, with the drill machine, drill where you need to drill and secure it with supplied bolts and Teflon tape. Never drill the tank of your natural gas.

Start and load it with natural gas

Now you have almost come to the finishing point of the whole process. In this step, all you need to do is turn the generator on and let the natural gas do the work. First, you need to turn your fuel valve off so that no gas can pass to cause any danger.

When you are almost done with the process, you can now load the natural gas tank and start to use the generator. Thus you can run your propane generator on natural gas by following all the processes I have mentioned here from my real-life experience.

THE TOP BENEFITS OF PROPANE GENERATORS

Benefits are many of a propane generator if you have one, then you already know it. It allows you to do the duty of your generator in the absence of electricity. And, it helps you to run all your household appliances with the generator. So, propane generators have many good sides to describe.

Propane generators are always ready

Propane generators are advantageous and dependable because all you need is an on-location stockpiling tank and access to a street for conveyance. For additional comfort, you can have a tank screen introduced, so you and your provider will consequently know when you need a top off.

Propane is a clean fuel itself

Propane is a spotless consuming fuel. Diminished outflows aren’t simply better for the earth and neighborhood air quality. Yet, propane generators, for the most part, require less upkeep, which implies more excellent dependability and longer-enduring execution. In any case, recall, all generators – propane or fuel-consuming – need to stay outside of houses, structures, or carports to permit the break of carbon monoxide.

Enjoy limitlessness of propane

A generator is an excellent wellbeing net, yet not one you want to utilize all the time. Propane doesn’t have a lapse date and doesn’t require extra stabilizers for long haul stockpiling, so there’s no compelling reason to winterize your propane-controlled generator for chilly climate. You can be certain your generator will be prepared when you need it.

Frequently asked questions

You may still have some questions in your mind, right? That’s why; we are going to answer some frequently asked questions. Maybe, you have the same question in your mind, and you will get the answers as well from below.

Final thought

You can run a propane generator on natural gas only if you can convert the generator’s fuel section for natural gas. Otherwise, it may be a daunting task for you. But if you want to use natural gas on your generator, you have to buy the converter kits that are available out there in the market.

You can transform your truck into a power supply source for converting your DC power into AC power to run your devices and other necessary items there. It is now one of the trending ways to transmit DC power into AC power. Depending on your requirements, you have to consider the size of the inverter.

Therefore, it can be a convenient way to generate power from your car and truck. And, you can use the AC power to run your household, including fan, light, or charging phones and other necessary items. Before you go to install the power inverter into your truck, make sure you have installed the right one.

How big of an inverter can I put in my truck?

An inverter is a great way to convert the DC power into AC to minimize the utilization of electricity for your needs. But any power inverter may not work for your truck because you have to consider a few things before you install one inside your truck so that you can get the maximum output from it.

Depending on the power deficiency you want to minimize, you have to buy a power inverter for your truck. Also, you have to determine the space in your truck where you are going to install the power inverter to supply power for your necessary electrical devices and households.

How to install a power inverter in my truck?

Installing a power inverter is not so difficult as you might be thinking right now. But it requires a bit of electrical knowledge. Otherwise, you cannot understand the basic term of these machines when it comes to installing it inside your truck. So, understanding the basics should be an advantage for you as well.

Step One

The first thing should come first. What you have to consider first before you go to install a power inverter inside your truck is the measurement or size of the power inverter. Any power inverter is not going to suit your truck.

Depending on the space your truck can provide for the installation of the power inverter is important to know before installing one. The more spacious your truck inside is, the larger and bigger one you can install inside the truck for converting DC power into AC power.

Step Two

In this step, you have to arrange all the required things, meaning that you have to buy several essential things before you go to install a power inverter inside your truck. These will include an inverter, wiring, 50 amp fuse and housing, crimps, and loop terminals. When you are done with these important things, you are ready to start the installation process.

Step Three

In your truck, depending on the size of your power inverter, you have to find out the place where you can install the power inverter. Rear-seat cushions may be the right place to install the inverter. In this step, you have to place it by 3M and 5 lb foam tape to secure it. Then you need to wipe off the top part of the inverter to use tape with an alcohol pad.

Now you should connect the RED+ wire when it indicates the red terminal followed by the black wire to the black terminal. From here, you need to direct the wire from the power inverter to the engine bay so that you can connect them.

Step Four

In the case of connecting the black wire with the battery terminal of your truck, you have to find the black wire and then joint it to the truck’s black battery terminal. Also, you can secure it with the metal bolt of the truck to get the contact, or you can connect the black wire to the metal body panels of your truck.

Step Five

This is the time for the RED+ wire. Are you confused about where to connect the RED+ wire to? Well, in this step, you have to connect the RED+ wire to the fuse housing of the machine with a strip so that it can attach secured. Also, make sure the crimping is also tied together. Besides, you have to option to use electric tape instead of crimping.

Make sure you have connected the other end of the RED+ battery to the other end of the fuse. You can also screw it into the place so that it can be secured tightly. And all your installation process is almost finished here.

Step six

The last but not least step will tell you to check the connections you have just finished. Also, make sure that you are checking all the connections turning your power inverter off. Otherwise, you may have messed up everything if there is any fault connection. You need to open the fuse housing, and 50 amp fuse is required to be installed.

In this way, you can install the power inverter inside your truck or car or any other vehicle you want to generate AC power from DC power. Before you start using it, make sure you have re-check everything, and you are ready to go.

Note: If you are thinking of buying a power inverter in your truck, go through this informative guide about how to choose a power inverter?

Frequently asked questions

You may still have some questions in your mind, right? That’s why; we are going to answer some frequently asked questions. Maybe, you have the same question in your mind, and you will get the answers as well from below.

Final thought

The manual will show you how to install a power inverter in your truck. Still, you have to know the electric field for better understanding. Therefore, it would be simple and more effortless for you to install a power inverter inside your truck to convert the DC power into AC.

Otherwise, you may find difficulties while installing the power inverter in your truck. In this case, you may take help from one who knows, or you can call an electrician for the installation of the inverter.

What if power fails suddenly? And you have to wait for a long time for electricity to run your appliances and household electrical devices. To avoid this nuisance, a power inverter should come into play and eliminates the problems you may face without electricity.

An inverter can run your household comfortably if you buy one that is enough for your household demand. An inverter can store electricity in the batteries as DC power and switch to the main power line of your house if there the power fails, and it turns the DC power to AC for our home.

What size inverter do I need for my home?

An inverter can be of different sizes and capacities. Depending on your requirements, you have to purchase an inverter that is capable of running your households. So, before you go to buy an inverter for your house to run all the appliances, make sure to measure the power you need to run them easily.

Measure the watt you require

It is advisable that you should measure or calculate all your home appliances and other electrical devices before you go to purchase an inverter for your house needs. All the watts will be calculated and seen on the appliances so that it is easier for you to calculate the watts you need.

The more appliances you are going to run while the absence of electricity, the more watt you require to supply an inverter. However, a 1500 watt inverter is ideal for running almost all house appliances and other electrical devices to run with the inverter.

Continuous power supply

You know that there are two types of power supply an inverter should provide. These are the continuous power supply and the surge or peak power supply. A constant power supply is determined by the watt your home appliances need to run them regularly. Therefore, you need not supply massive watt for running these appliances at home.

A continuous or typical power supply is something that an appliance requires for a few seconds or a moment at the beginning of running the device. When the refrigerator or your micro woven starts, they pull a massive power supply to run them for the first few seconds, and then it does not need so many watts.

Surge or peak watt

Surge watt is more than a continuous watt. When any appliance that has motors to run them turns on, it draws a massive amount of watt for the first few moments, and then it goes normal. This is called a surge or peak watt of any appliance. If you think of your micro woven, you can understand the way it draws the power to run it.

For the first few seconds, it requires more watt than after running it for several minutes. Also, you can check this when you connect a refrigerator and turn it on; you will see a volt deficiency for a few seconds and then normal, which is called a surge or peak watt. Depending on the surge watt, you have to consider an inverter for your household to run all of them.

Duration you want to use

Before buying an inverter for your households, you also have to ensure how long you need the power supply from the inverter you have installed in your house. The more duration you need to run it, the more powerful the inverter should be, of course.

Depending on the absence of electricity and the duration of the absence, you have to determine how many watts do you need to supply for running your households and other home appliances, including refrigerator, micro woven, and other things.

How can I use inverter at home?

Using an inverter at home is not so difficult as you might be thinking. It is simple and needs almost little to zero knowledge on the mechanism of the operation of an inverter at home. All you have to do is install the inverter properly yourself or by taking help from an electrician.

Step one

The very step will show you how to install the inverter at home with the main power grid of your house. Therefore, it will switch automatically when the power fails and will run your household and other appliances.

The use of an inverter is secure and safe. Therefore, you don’t have any issues as well. When you install it, make sure you have connected all the wires to the right ones on the other end of the primary power grid of your house.

Step Two

Now you have to open the inverter box and understand which wires to connect with which in the mainline of your house. If you find difficulties, take help from an expert electrician. Otherwise, you will end up messing things up. As a result, it will not work for your house properly.

Step Three

There you will see a diagram that comes with the inverter to install and connect the wires with the right ones on the other end. Secure these wires so safely and carefully that there is no chance of causing any mistake. The more carefully you will connect them, the better output you will receive.

You need to use electric tape to secure the wire so that there is no chance to do any electric shock. When you are almost finished connecting these wires correctly, you are almost ready to go.

Step Four

It is the last but not least, step here. As you have finished everything carefully and correctly, now you need to recheck everything before you start using the inverter. If you see there is no issue with the inverter to set up, it is time to turn it on for experiencing the uninterruptible power supply for your daily life. It will not make you understand when the power goes and returns.

Frequently asked questions

Maybe, you have some related queries in your mind which you want to learn as well. That’s why, through this article, I am trying to make everything clearer regarding the topic of the article. Here are some frequently asked questions with their best answers.

Final thought

An inverter is a great way to run your households and other home appliances as well as electrical devices all the time, even when the power fails. It will increase your life by providing your needed power watt for your household. But before buying an inverter, make sure you have calculated the watts you need for running your households and home appliances.

Despite having many innovations and advancements in the generator power enhancement technology, you should clean up generator power. Cleaning up your generator is not only helpful to get continuous power but also beneficial to have a longer lifespan. But the question is how to clean up generator power. In this article, we have discussed some important steps through which you can clean up your generator power.

How to clean up generator power?

No matter if you use a generator for emergency backup or to get electricity in remote areas, you need power. Regardless of your generator model or brand, you can clean up its power by following the below steps:

Condition of the generator:

In the first step, you should check the overall condition of your generator. Inspect the stuck buttons, loose wires, loose nuts or bolts, corroded elements, loose connections, frayed wiring, etc. Along with all these, you also need to check the possible inner and outer parts of your generator.

Keep the engine clean:

Since the engine is one of the vital parts of a generator, you must keep the engine clean and protected. You should clean it regularly so that no dirt can accumulate in the generator engine. If you see any trace of dirt or similar things, remove these immediately.

Rinsing your generator engine by warm water is the best way to clean your generator. After this, you should instantly dry the exterior so that it will function properly every time you run it. Keep in mind that it’s not good to use a pressure washer to clean it. You should not also try any other way to rinse your generator.

Using clean fuel:

You should always keep in mind that using clean fuel in your generator is very important. Never store the fuel in a dirty place or dirty things. It would be best if you did not refuel your generator with a dirty funnel and in dusty conditions.

Cleaning the filter:

It’s essential to check the fuel strainer and filter of your generator every month. It will keep your generator in good condition. If any sediment piles up there, you need to shut off the fuel line valve before you use your generator. It would be best if you also cleaned the sediment reservoir, filter screen, the tank and tank sides, filter element, etc. before refilling the generator.

Inspect the fuel leakage:

You should regularly check if there is any fuel leakage in your generator. You can quickly figure it out if your generator is clean and dry. It’s not only mandatory to get answers to the question of how to clean up generator power but also to save fuel and fuel cost.

Look over the air filter:

If you want to keep your generator in proper working conditions every day, you should check the air filter regularly and take steps for maintaining its good condition. No matter how dirty the air filter is or what state it has, you must clean the air filter once every 100 hours. Changing the air filter every month is also recommended.

Battery condition:

You also need to inspect the battery condition, the distilled water of the battery, and every other thing related to this. Checking the voltage of the battery is also necessary to keep your generator properly functional all time. It’s better to replace the battery every two to three years. 

Lubrication:

You should change the lubricant oil by following the manufacturer’s instructions. You also need to change the filter after a certain period or when it’s needed. Generally, you need to do this once a year until it gets damaged due to any other issues. Along with checking the lubrication of the generator, you also need to make sure the oil level of the fuel tank is perfect. You should also top it up when it’s necessary.

Regular use:

Starting up your generator on a regular basis is especially needed if you want to clean up your generator power.  You should not leave your generator unused for a longer time. You have to make sure that you start it up at quarterly intervals.

Store the generator properly:

You must keep or store your generator in such a place that is open or has good ventilation systems. You should not keep it in a wet or closed place. It will not only help you with the lower noise level of your generator but also keep your unit in good condition for a longer time. 

Generator Maintenance:

One of the most important parts of keeping your generator in good condition and fully functional is going through proper maintenance of your generator. You should take the help of an experienced electrician to service it twice a year. No matter if you use your unit regularly or irregularly, you should service it, as mentioned. 

Conclusion

After reading all the steps, you have come to know how easy it is to clean up your generator power. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Hopefully, you have got your answer to how to clean up generator power. If you become able to follow all the steps above properly, you will get a continuous and clean backup power along with the extended lifespan of your generator.

The main reason behind getting a generator in the first place is to get emergency power backup in power outages. Power outages are common mostly in natural disasters like hurricanes, heavy fall, rain, or while camping. So, running the generator in a harsh environment, such as rain, fall, or a wet environment, should be normal. Electricity doesn’t like wet touch, and a generator produces electricity, and it becomes a tough job to run it in wet weather. 

However, if you have been wondering how can you run a generator in the rain, I’m here to help. I will get you through all the possible ways to run a generator in the rain, snow, or any other natural disaster. Stick to the article to know how you don’t have to be worried about power outages and don’t have to stay in the dark.

Can you run a generator in the rain

Running a generator in the rain, snowfall, or a wet environment can be dangerous unless you take precautions before running it. Here, I’ll talk about the ways of how can you run a generator in the rain or any sort of wet weather:

How do I protect my generator from rain?

Protecting your generator from the rain has several ways; here are the most practical and effective ways to do it:

Get a weather cover

Getting a generator cover canopy will be a good option for you if you’re using a small generator outdoors, especially while camping. It will be the best option for those who have a narrow space for storing the shade for the generator. These generator covers are a type of canopy or tents that you can attach to any portable generator. No matter how large a portable generator you may have, from 200 watts to 10000 watts, a tent will cover it all from rain and fall. 

Get a storage shed

If you’re setting the generator beside your home and don’t have a separate house, get a storage shed. Measure the generator and get the shade size according to the size you need. These shades have proper ventilation and full protection from any natural disaster, rain, fall, or mild storm. One downside of these enclosures is, you cannot move it around in the back of your car. Plus, it’s not recommended to use a generator inside solid isolation like these without sound insulation and proper ventilation. 

Make an enclosure yourself

You can make an enclosure yourself with some wooden planks and an exhaust system. To make one, measure the space you need, make a little home for the generator with a good breathing space inside. Give the base a good amount of insolation with soft rubber feet or foam so that you have less vibration as well. Make sure you add an attic exhaust fan and a ventilator to keep the hot air out. Anchor the whole structure into the ground using bolts so that the storm doesn’t tear it apart.

Build a permanent shade

If you’re a DIY enthusiast, this option could be a lifesaver for you as there are tons of ways to experiment. Please make a small shade for the generator with all the processes. I’ve mentioned making an enclosure for the generator. In this case, the shade would be a permanent one with a full home-like design, which you can use as a storage as well. You can make it soundproof if you have neighbors close by who’s not a fan of the sound of your generator. Don’t forget to take the muffler rod outside and point it a downside to isolate sound and keep water out.

How to Run a Generator in the Rain

If you’re operating a generator in the rain or wet weather after rain or fall, you should be aware of accidents. Here are some tips you can follow to stay safe and operate your generator perfectly: 

Get safety measures.

When you’re starting the generator and connecting the power outlets, make sure you have a dry hand. You can wear a pair of gloves to do the job if you have a wet hand, especially if you’re using a metal enclosure for the generator. Check that all the cables are in good shape, have no tearing or leakage that may cause an accident. 

Use the tent properly

If you’re using a portable and foldable tent canopy, make sure you have it in a proper size that goes with your generator size. Keep the orientation correct and put it on the generator properly, leaving the muffler exhaust on the open side. Never put the canopy in a way that covers the muffler; it will suffocate it and make it heat up. 

Frequently asked question

Here are the most frequently asked questions about running a generator in the rain or wet weather you should know about:

Final thought

Natural disasters can cause a lot of problems, and nobody has anything to do but take precautions. Getting a generator can help you gain power backup for any situation from a power outage to camping in the wild. You can get a portable generator for RV, boat, or your home, getting power backups. It can be an obligation, sometimes running it in a wet environment, even rain or storm.

If you’ve been wondering how can you run a generator in the rain or snowfall, I hope you know how to do it now. However, getting the right machine can keep you on the safer side, such as getting a generator with outlet sealing. All you have to ensure the humidity or rain don’t catch the electric components to keep it and yourself safe.

All homeowners with a generator for their homes often ask how long you can run a generator continuously? They intend to stay prepared for emergencies and know the capabilities of their generator.

In this article, we will try to find the answer based on our team of experts. Also, we will make sure that you understand the calculation so that you can measure the running hours without any problem. Now, let’s get started.

Can you run a generator all day?

The simple answer is yes, and you can run your generator all day as the components are manufactured in such ways. But not all generators should be run all day because of their fuel type and some other factors.

If you own a gasoline generator, you will have to stop the engine and cool it off before refilling the fuel tank. For gas-operated generators with proper setup, you can run a generator continuously until the fuel runs out.

However, after running it for the whole day, you should take proper care so that you can use the generator for many years. Also, please don’t do it too often and make sure that you do it following the proper steps.

Note: Here, this article best propane generator for home helps you to know the detailed information which we have discussed.

How long can you run a generator continuously?

The answer directly depends on the fuel type and generator type along with the quality of the components.

Gasoline generator runtime

This generator type has the least runtime because the engine needs to be cooled down before refueling, making it run as per the tank capacity. Refueling a gasoline tank while the engine is running is a dangerous thing to do, and experts always warn us about it.

The reason is that you should never refuel a gasoline generator while it’s running because it is dangerous to pour more fuel into the tank while it is hot, and It may create fumes and cause accidents which you must avoid.

Your generator can run from a few hours to 12 or more hours, depending on the fuel tank. If it is not enough for your situation, you should go with the gas-fueled generators with a backup system.

Propane generator runtime

If your portable generator accepts propane as its fuel source, you will be able to run it for many hours non-stop and go through the tough times. You can set it up in a way that will allow you to connect two propane tanks, switch without stopping the engine, and replace the empty tank without any interruption.

A stopcock valve or changeover regulator is the component that you should be looking for. It will make the setup possible with the necessary support and use one while keeping the other one in standby mode.

According to experts, you can run a maintenance job every 100 or 150 hours but keep it on check while running for long hours. See if it is heating too much or vibrating more than usual and troubleshoot accordingly.

Standby generator runtime

These are the generators with the highest number of runtime and are preferable in large infrastructures like hospitals and important military or research institutes. Also, businesses and shopping malls have such generators for their huge runtime and reliable performance. 

Standby generators come with different fuel types, but no matter whether it is gasoline or propane, because of the large tank capacity. Moreover, you won’t have to do the maintenance too much frequently, like the portable ones making it convenient for such institutions. Whatever you do, don’t forget to follow the maintenance instructions from the manufacturer.

Quick maintenance tips of generator

Those who want to run their generator for a long time should take proper care of the device, and let’s see some useful quick maintenance tips below.

• Regularly check the oil and change it every 100 hours or sooner, depending on the condition you run the generator.
• Store the fuel in a clean place and make sure that it is not exposed to dirt, which will keep the generator’s engine in good condition.
• Another component needs your continuous maintenance and replacement every month if used too often, which is the air filter.
• Keep the generator clean from dirt and grease, but don’t use a pressure washer to do the job, as it might damage the device’s components.
• Always check on the generator if it is running or not. Then look for potential leakage and fix it as soon as possible.
• While running the generator, check whether it is vibrating more than usual or normal and tighten things up to avoid potential damages.
• If the generator shows problems while starting, you should check out the spark plug and keep it clean from damage, oil residue, and excessive carbon buildup.
• Finally, store the generator in the shade with proper set up so that there is no chance of damaging it in any way.

Frequently asked question

Final Thought

So, how long can you run a generator continuously; we hope that you have got your answer by now, and If you still have concussions in any small part, feel free to contact us, and we will try our best to answer you.

That USB port inside your car may come in handy, but it surely doesn’t provide sufficient power. We are sure you’ve felt this too. Here’s where power inverters are useful, which lands us to the next point. Are power inverters bad for your car?  To know the right answer and other related vital aspects, let’s take a look into the following sections!

Who Needs a Car Power Inverter?

Are you an SUV or car owner and want to watch TV, cook, or charge your devices on the go? Do you love to go camping and want to take your coffee maker with you?

Perhaps you are a photographer or in some other professions where you need to charge your battery anywhere. If all these sound good to you, then definitely, you need a power inverter. Anyone spending a lot of time on the road needs it. It will make your life easier. Now, you certainly won’t be plugging in your microwave oven, but it will help you with all the necessities in life.

Do power inverters drain your car battery?

Power inverters open a whole new world to you, but like everything, it has its drawbacks. An inverter will not drain the battery when you’re driving. However, we recommend not using the inverter when the engine is off. That is when it will drain out the battery.

Your vehicle may halt due to your system entering the discharge state. Try to avoid such situations by unplugging high voltage devices. Luckily, you will not run into such issues if you’re careful! Small devices like phones, audio players, and laptops will not result in this situation. You can plug them in without worry.

Are power inverters bad for your car?

The most common use of a power inverter is in a car. There are a lot of benefits of using a power inverter in your car.

List of devices you can plug-in:

• Cell phone
• Laptop
• Small Vacuum Cleaner
• Mini Stereo BoomBox
• Camcorder Charger
• CD/DVD Player
• Small Fan

That being said, a power inverter has its concerns. Especially when the battery power is running low, it can drain the battery unless the engine is running.

The car starts the engine with the aid of a battery, and it starts generating electricity after the engine is turned on. Battery life relies on the number of charges and discharges. The number will increase at most with electrical appliances. So we can conclude that definitely, this has an impact on battery life.

For smaller-power devices, though, the result of turning the radio on the storage battery should be close. Without a doubt, good batteries will be longer-lasting and will endure this load.

On the other hand, some batteries are designed specifically for the frequent use of electronic devices in your car. That’s going to cause less battery and car damage. The good thing is most inverters have an audible alarm to warn you on time if the power is low. Invest in a good one, and you’ll be safe to use it in your car.

Tips for correctly using a car inverter:

• Follow the user manual strictly.
• Cut off its input power supply when not in use.
• Take precautions while running it in over 40-degree weather.
• Do not expose it to sunlight directly.
• Do not expose it to rain.
• Place the inverter in a ventilated and dry place.
• Please keep it away from flammable and explosive material.
• The car battery voltage should be the same as the DC input voltage of the inverters.
• The output power should be higher than the input power.

Are power inverters bad for your car— certainly no.

Keep in mind that nothing in this world is completely free of problems. The tips will be helpful to get the full advantage of using a power inverter in the car. Choose a power inverter in accordance with your battery capacity. Make sure that the power inverter is compatible with your car.

How does a power inverter work in a car?

To understand how a power inverter works, you need to know about AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) power. AC power is the supply of electricity you get in your household. It is a conventional power. DC is one-directional, and unidirectional DC power comes straight up from a battery.

The electronic gadgets can’t be charged with the DC power that the car battery produces. The DC power must be converted into AC power if you want to enjoy the benefit of recharging your phone or laptop on the go.

A power inverter’s job is to make your life more convenient. It converts the DC power from your car battery to AC power. With this installed in your car, you can plug your device and use it anywhere, anytime.

Frequently asked question

Final Thought

By the time you read this, we hope you got your answer to the question, “are power inverters bad for your car?”. A power inverter is an excellent invention for your car. The convenience brings in your life is too tempting to avoid. Comparing its pros and cons, the option of getting a power inverter is definitely for the win. Now the decision is yours to take!

Whether power outages are common or irregular in your area, there is no reason to stay in the dark and helplessly wait for the power to come again. A portable generator will be one of the best alternatives for you to have backup power. Sometimes you need to install a transfer switch to your portable generator. In this article, we will learn how to install a portable generator transfer switch manually.  

Why a Generator Needs a Transfer Switch?

A portable generator is a great way to provide you backup power for most of your home appliances and electronic devices. But the question is why your portable generator needs a transfer switch. Some of the main reasons for which you need this are mentioned below:

• According to the law of the generator systems in all states, as per the mandate of the National Electric Code, you must install a transfer switch. 
• A transfer switch helps you toggle your main home power to your generator backup power, and thus it reroutes your power supply. 
• It protects repair workers in the event of a power surge that may occur from your generator. 
• A transfer switch also ensures the overall safety of your power supply system. 
• It provides power to specific appliances through specific switches. 

How to install a manual transfer switch?

Below is the step by step instruction to install your portable generator transfer switch:

Step 1:  First of all, you have to switch off your main power grid system from your home electrical service panel. You need to be careful while doing this as the terminals still get energized. 

Step 2:  At this step, you need to determine what are the most important household circuits in your home. These are things that you use in an emergency when there is any power outage. Generally, the most important household appliances are lights, fans, freezer, refrigerator, furnace, and some other necessary things. 

Step 3:  Now, you have to match all your crucial circuits with the circuit inlet. You will get all these on your pre-wired transfer switch. It will be great if you can balance the load in your transfer switch as perfectly as it was initially. Suppose your freezer is on the rightmost switch circuit, you should try to connect your refrigerator to the circuit that is on the farthest place to the left. 

Now, the double-pole circuits will need two 120 V of circuit connections. You also keep in mind that you don’t mismatch the 15-amp and 20-amp circuits with one another. 

Step 4:  After that, you need to choose and remove a knockout at the endpoint or bottom of your main electrical service panel box. You need to ensure a proper sized knockout to match the connector. It will be on the comfortable conduit that is coming from the transfer switch. 

Step 5:  Now, you have to give the connection to the wires from your transfer switch into the hole knockout. You should be careful not to damage the insulation while doing this. You see that all the cables are labeled with maintaining the serial of the circuit in the switch box. 

Step 6:  After completing the above steps, you should secure the flexible conduit using a locknut and a bushing, if necessary, from the switch box of your main service panel. Then it’s time to attach the box of your transfer switch with the wall in a way that its closer edge is approximately 18 inches away from the main service panel center point. Based on your wall type, you can use any connector. 

Step 7:  At this step, you are good to remove the breaker from your main service panel box for the first critical circuit. Then you need to disconnect the hot wire that comes from a specific part of the breaker. 

Step 8:  Now, you have to find out the red wire that correlates with the circuit you have disconnected. Then link the red with to the breaker that you removed a moment ago. After you complete everything, you have to reinstall the breaker. 

Step 9:  As you have found out the red wire earlier step, now do the same to the black wire from the same circuit of the transfer switch. Then using a yellow wire connector, crumple these two wires together with the old feed wire. Now, twitch the wires cleanly from the way at the edges of the transfer switch box. Then do the same for the next circuit and continue the process. 

Step 10:  If there is any 240-volt circuit is a critical circuit, you have to attach the red that directs from the two circuits of the transfer switch to the double-pole breaker. The two circuits that come from the transfer switch should remain one after another. Their switches should also stay connected with a handle tie.

Step 11:  After making all circuit connections, you have to attach the white wire meaning the neutral wire, to the neutral bus bar opening of the main power panel from the transfer switch.

Step 12: Now, you need to link the green ground wire to an open port that is on the grounding bar in your main power service panel from the transfer switch. 

Step 13:  After completing everything above, it’s time to test the transfer switch after ensuring you have set all of the switches to the LINE setting. You should still turn off the power from your main power panel breakers. It’s also essential to operate and install your generator properly and professionally.

Step 14:  Before you turn the generator on, you need to attach the power cord. You can do this from the generator to the switch box. You should not attach and even detach a generator cord while you are running your generator. You also switch on your standby generator and allow it to run for one or two minutes.

Step 15:  Finally, you have to overturn each circuit switch on your transfer switch box to the GEN position at the same time. You are maintaining the balance by operating back and forth from circuits on the right and left side. It’s prohibited to turn all circuits on all together at the same time. You should try your best to keep the wattage levels in balance.  

How does a transfer switch for a generator work?

The working procedure of a transfer switch is as following: 

A transfer switch is such a device that separates selected circuits and then offers “Break” and then “Make” switches. Every switch comes with 3 different positions, such as LINE, OFF, and GEN. For the line position, your utility power feeds the selected circuits. For the Gen position, some specific circuits get power from your generator. And when you switch from line to gen, you pass the off position. Because of this, a positive break occurs that prevents any unexpected incident.  

Frequently asked question

Final thought

You should use a portable generator transfer switch not only to obey the state rule but also to secure your power connection system. Installing a transfer switch will be very easy if you follow the instructions that we have provided above. There is also an automatic transfer switch that you can install to your portable generator.