Are you in the region where you can’t tell when or how a storm will happen? Then, man, you have to install a generator for your home. Because when the storm hits, you can’t say for how long you will deal with the darkness with a candle and throwing out spoiled food from the refrigerator. It is a smart idea to use a generator as a backup source to end your struggle with darkness. There are different types of generators, and you will have to figure out which one will meet your requirements. Here we will help you with how to choose a generator. After reading it, you will be able to make the best decision.

How To Choose A Generator?

You can only get the best output when you choose the best product for you. To choose the perfect generator for you, at first, you have to estimate the power backup you will need then you can easily choose the right generator by measuring its output. Then you need to consider the time duration of power backup based on generator capacity. Always keep the location in your mind where you live, you can’t just randomly pick a generator and install; space and the site have to match.

Types of Generator:

The fact is, the generators are lifesaving devices. They work from the source of the power backup that comes from the fuel transformation. The generators usually use gasoline, diesel, propane and turn them into electrical energy. They are the main sources of electrical supply. For home and commercial uses, there are varieties of generators. Though they are different in design and power, all of them require special maintenance to guarantee long term use. Check the list of the types of generators and chose the one you need for home or commercial use.

• Diesel fuel generators:

With electricity and diesel fuel, the diesel generator works in power supply. This generator is popular for its less maintenance need, durability and capability of giving long time service. you will get highly efficient power at cheap cost from this generator, and there is no chance of facing an overheated generator for the use of this fuel.

• Natural gas generators:

There is no comparison to natural gas. If you have the option to use a natural gas generator, then don’t think about using another generator. The generator uses the liquified propane or petroleum to produce power. You will have endless power supply as the natural gas is storable and unlimited. This environment-friendly generator is recommendable for every purpose.

• Gasoline fuel generators:

As the gasoline fuel is available, the gasoline generator is common in every house and commercial use. For the portable size and low-cost running, maximum people take this generator for use. But this generator needs special care regular and creates noise while working.

• Standby generators:

A standby generator works with gas or diesel automatically, and it doesn’t need refuelling for 48 hours. This big generator has a strong engine, radiator, a fuel tank and alternator. Whenever the electricity goes out, the automatic transmission switch starts the power flow instantly. You will not sense the blackout for a second for this generator. Best for using in big construction sites, medical supports and elevators.

• Portable generators:

This generator uses gas or diesel to produce electricity for a short-term time. You can use this generator to power your home appliances smoothly. The use of the portable generator has two ways – one way is wiring in the sub-panel, and the other one is using the generator’s power sockets. If you face power cut for a short time in your area, then you can use this generator as a power backup.

• Solar generators:

You can use this generator that uses sunlight as a power source. Soler power is simple but powerful and can be stored easily. here the battery stores the power by charging and it needs to charge in sunlight for 8 hours.

• Inverter generator:

Among all the generators above, this generator is the quietest one. It works by alternating the AC power to DC power. The produced power is highly efficient and safe to run the electric gadgets in your house.

How Do You Determine What Size Generator You Need?

Size really matters when you are thinking of taking a generator. If you get an undersized generator that is not capable to power your equipment or a big generator that is totally a waste. So, you need one perfect generator but don’t know which or how to determine the size, calmly go through this generator size determining to help guide. Hope it helps:

• Calculating the load size:

At first, you have to list all the equipment you will need to power with the generator. After making a list, add up all the wattage. The total wattage number is the required electrical power input your equipment needs from the generator. The wattage information is found on the silver nameplate of the equipment.

• Alter kW to KVA:

The total wattage power you will find by adding up is in kW(kilowatts). It is the power load that produces working output. But the generators measure the power in kVA(kilo-volt-amperes). It measures the total power in a system. In the books, the electrical system is 100% efficient and kW=kVA, but practically it is not 100%. If you know the productivity of the electrical system, then you can convert between kVA and kW. The power factor of electrical productivity is counted between 0 to 1. The closer the power factor goes to 1, the efficiency of kVA gets more efficient to convert into kW. Internationally the power factor rate of the generator is 0.8. You have to match the load size with the generator by calculating the power factor. Let’s give an example: if your equipment has 100Kw wattage, then your generator size has to produce equivalent 125kVA power.

• Determine the time of running:

You have to decide for how long you will run the generator because the maximum capacity of a generator to run is 30 minutes. If you want to run the generator longer than 30 minutes, then take the generator size that can supply power with the capacity of 70%-80%.

• Your location:

After the load calculation and determining the size, you have to think about the location where you want to install the generator. You can’t just randomly pick a generator and install; space and the site have to match. If you live in a small place or up on the hill and you need a big generator, then it is totally impossible. Try to make extra space in your location for the generator before getting one.

Note: I think now you have a clear idea about determining the generator size. If you want to know about the difference between inverter generator vs regular generator, then check the article about this topic.

How To Choose A Perfect Generator?

Now comes the main part; how will you know that you are taking the right generator. Simple, just follow the tips I have given below. As three types of the generator- portable generator, stand by generator and inverter generator is popular, here I have enlightened the ways of choosing these generators:

Selecting A Portable Generator:

• Portable generators are the popular ones that people are considering to buy as it is a source of good power backup. It is versatile and cheap to run for household appliances.
• You can use the portable generator in construction sites to use tools smoothly also in the house where renovation is going on.
• When you are thinking of taking a portable generator, at first add up all the wattage of the appliances that you want to run the generator. This number will help to pick the right sized generator. You will get the wattage information on the appliances level.
• The best thing about this generator is you will get a generator with wheels to move in one place to another. This portability helps to make your work easier.
• Pick the generator that has on/off button. It helps to start the generator fast without any hassle.

Note: As you now informed about the benefits of portable generators you may want to have one if you are looking for the best portable battery generator you can read our next article.

Picking The Standby Generator

• If you are living in the area where power cut is frequent, then make a budget for a standby generator. This generator is able to provide backup power for the whole house in a power cut.
• This type of generator turns automatically on when the power goes off, and once the power is restored, it turns off. So, you don’t need to stay concern about starting or shutting the generator. Standby generators are not cheap, but if you need huge power backup, then it is worth it.
• The thing about the generator is quite disturbing is this type of generator creates noise while running. In the nighttime, it is hard to cope up with the noise. The modern standby generators come with advanced technology that keeps the noise level less.
• For a standby generator, LPG gas is safer and cleaner, but the running cost is expensive. So, you can use diesel or petrol to run the generator. This generator needs a professional to install as it will connect with the breaker box.

Picking The Inverter Generator:

• The inverter generator is for them who love camping, love to tailgate. This lightweight generator is quiet and provides smooth power backup.
• You can run the inverter generator with gas and propane. And you can use two inverter generators with a parallel connection that will allow you to maximize the double power.
• The power you will get from the inverter generator smooth and reliable. You can run different electric devices and gadgets like laptops, smartphones without any power lag problem. Just use this generator out from the house as this machine release carbon monoxide.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here, in this section, we give the answer to your frequently asked questions.

Final Thought:

We just don’t understand how we are dependent on electricity in our life. When power cut happens, the struggling with the darkness makes us the realization. Day by day, the need for the electricity is growing rapidly and meeting the huge demands sometimes the power grid fails, and power cut happens. To meet the urge of growing electricity need, generators are the best option to pick. This article will help you in how to choose a generator for your home and commercial use.

Confusion between inverter or generator which is best for home use? Then at first know about inverter and generator separately as they are different gear with a different purpose.  Then pick the one that will help you run all the appliances and devices you want when grid power giving no support. The generator converts non-electrical energy to energy and inverter converts the DC power to AC power. Let’s talk about more about both power backup source.

Inverter Or Generator Which Is Best For Home Use

Power cut problem is getting a major problem day by day and dealing with this problem; the power production industry is designing reliable, efficient and cost-effective backup power source machines. The machines come in two technologies – one is a generator, and the other one is the inverter. There is a significant difference between these two machines. Here are some important differences pointed out below:

• Weight and size:

The inverters come in small size and light in weight. For the weight and size, the inverter is portable. You can take them with you in any place in your car.

The generator is heavy and bulky. You will not want to move them without any emergency situation. If you’re going to move it, you have to manage a big frame and wheels.

• Run time and fuel tank size:

The generator’s fuel tank size determines the run time. As the size of the generator is huge, so the size of the tank is also big to adjust the size. So, the run time of the generator is long and efficient.

Whereas the inverter generator automatically produces power by adjusting the engine speed by using technology. Here the fuel is used up to 40 percent.

• Sound:

The engine of the power inverter is quiet, have sound-reducing technology. You will not get any sound when the inverter is running. The power production process in the inverter is quiet and saves the fuel as it uses microprocessors.

The standby generator runs at continuous speed and makes the load heavy; for this, the generator is loud. The old model generators are very noisy. There are some generators that come with less sound-making technology but not like the inverter.

• power output:

if you need a huge amount of power than a generator with the ability of power output 500 watts to 50000 watts is the best option for you.

The inverter cannot produce so much power. It can only produce up to 1000 to 4000 watts. So you can t think of using an inverter to run the welder.

• Power quality:

The inverter engine is connected to an alternator that helps to convert the DC power to AC power. The conversion produces steady and pure AC power.

The generator produces direct power, and the power quality is not good. You cannot think of running your smartphone and laptop with the generator power. use inverter power instead to run them.

• Parallel use:

You can use two inverters together at the same time to get double output. But with the generator, you can’t get this benefit.

• Cost:

Obviously, the inverter is expensive than the standby generator. Because the use of the phase system, microprocessors and rectifiers made the inverter costly.

The generator is not cheap but less costly.

Types Of Power Inverter:

To know about the types of inverter, you have to understand the three parameters. By analyzing the types of power inverter, you can choose the best power inverter for home easily.  so, here are the parameters in brief:

The first parameter is the type of power input source. The input source comes in two categories:

• The current source inverters. But they are not popular.
• The voltage source inverters. This type is popular worldwide.

The second parameter is the number of output levels. This type also comes in two categories.

• A regular level inverter that only works with voltage levels, they are +Vdc and -Vdc. Sometimes, you can also have a zero voltage level from this inverter.
• The multilevel inverter uses multiple voltage levels. They come with flying capacitor inverter, diode-clamped inverter, hybrid inverter and cascade h-bridge inverter.
• And the third parameter is the number of phase-type. The inverters are categorized into three-phase inverters- single-phase inverter, three-phase inverter and multi-phase inverter.

What Are The Benefits Of Power Inverter In-Home Use?

You will hear people are talking about purchasing the best power inverter for home if you are a new user then you will think about what benefits of the power inverter are. stop thinking and start reading the benefits below:

• The power output of the inverter is high in quality. Your smart devices will get pure and reliable power from the inverter.
• Small and light size allows the use of versatile and effective.
• As the inverter generator adjusts the engine speed automatically and produce the required power whenever you want, you can tell the fuel efficiency is high enough. With the inverter, fuel consumption gets less up to 40%.
• The inverter runs and produces energy quietly and sufficiently. The sound-reducing material makes the generator quiet.
• The best thing about the inverter is you can use two inverters at the same time to enjoy double power output.

 Note: I know, now you are looking at the topic of how to choose a power inverter. Check the article about it and choose one for your home.

Types Of Generator:

Enough talking about the inverter generator. We can’t just deny the fact that the generator is also an essential power backup source. A big construction site, hospitals, concert can’t be thinking of work in a power cut without a generator. There are hundreds of generators in the market; here are four types of generators that you can choose to use for your home.

• The Technology Used In Generator:

By using technology, the generator comes in three types:

1. Conventional generators:

This type of generator has been used for decades. You can run this generator with diesel, propane and gasoline.

2. Inverter generator:

This generator is the modern version of the generator. The compact size and power transmission make the generator versatile and efficient.

3. PTO generator:

This type of generator is popular is the agriculture sector. The tractor PTO runs the engine of this generator.

• Fuel Generator:

Based on using fuel, there are four types of generators:

1. Gasoline:

The gasoline e generator is used in different big projects. The generator needs less fuel to produce a good amount of power.

2. Diesel:

Diesel generators are best to use in construction sites. Because it can generate a huge amount of highly efficient power.

3. Natural gas:

The generators with natural gas, especially propane generator, is considered as the best propane generator for home use. You will get the full amount of power without thinking of refuelling. Because the generator is unlimited and storable.

4. Solar:

By using sun power, a solar generator is efficient enough to run a construction site. But as it works with the battery, make sure to keep the battery charged before using.

• Power Supply:

You will get two types of the generator if you consider the power supply. They are:

1. AC generator:

This generator produces power by using the transformer. There are alternators in this generator.

2. DC generator:

The mechanical energy gets converted to electrical power in this generator. It is easy to operate.

What Are The Benefits Of The Generator In-Home Use?

Using a generator for home use has benefits. You will get continuous power supply even the power cut gets extended for days. Let’s have a look at what benefits the generator do in our life:

• A power cut can happen anytime. Sometimes the blackout stays for days because of a natural disaster. You can’t stay in the dark for some time, let alone for days. To avoid this kind of occurrence, you have to install a generator in your home. By this, you can get constant power supply even your entire neighborhood is in the dark.
• When you are building your dream house, you will need a generator to generate power. This generator reduces the construction costs and lets you use a heavy-duty tool smoothly.
• In farming, the use of the generator is popular. Food preservation, running farm gets easy for the generator.
• Your home value gets high when you install the generator for home use. If any time you want to sell your house for any reason, you can sell the house in a high price just for the generator. My recommendation is to get the best propane generator for home. It is a great investment.

Note: Now you’re concern about the benefits and uses of generators on your house, but you only get the benefit when you choose the right one, read this following article, how to choose a generator to get the right generator for your home if you are interested in taking one.

My point of view About – Inverter Or Generator Which Is Best For Home Use

Here we have talked about inverter or generator which is best for home use. If you ask my opinion between the two, then I will go for the inverter generator. Because the inverter one runs better for a long time. The generators that come with the inverter are lightweight, quiet and efficient.

If you need a huge amount of power, then the generator is the best option for you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here we include some answers to the questions that you frequently ask us.

Final Thought:

If you can understand the inverter or generator which is best for home use, then you can go for the better option. For convenience and fuel efficiency, people choose the inverter generator for home use. If you want the bulk of the power at less price, then go for the generator.

Want to buy something advanced and energy-efficient for your home appliances and electric devices? Then get a power inverter to enjoy a powerful electricity backup. This inverter works with a battery, and I can tell that it is a necessary purchase. Because for this inverter you can power your appliances and devices in any electricity failure. You can use the inverter in your car also if you want to work on the laptop during your tour. The first thing you have to know is, how to choose a power inverter. Through this article, you will get your answer.

How To Choose A Power Inverter?

There are lots of things you should consider when you pick a power inverter for your self. At first, you have to identify how much power backup you may need, then you can easily choose an inverter that can serve you the same output. Check the capability of its battery, sizes, and versatility. Don’t forget to check the warranty and services also.

Types Of Power Inverter:

All the equipment in the industry and residential use runs on the AC power. The problem of this power is it is not storable. You have to convert this power to DC power to store and use. The power inverter is the power converter that helps to convert the AC to DC power. The conversion processes different, and this variation brings types of inverter in the market. These are power inverter types you will find in the market:

• Based On Output:

Three Types Of Power Output Work In This Type:

1. Square wave inverter is the simple type of inverter. In this inverter, the DC to AC power conversation is done with square waveform, and it fluctuates the AC power, so the AC signal is not pure, and it is not good for the devices like laptop, smartphone, refrigerator etc.
2. Changed sine wave inverter tries to supply a smooth sine wave power, but phase-shifting gets halt during the power conversion. For this, the AC signal is not stable.
3. Sine wave inverter is the complicated type inverter that provides waveform power supply. This power is best for running all kinds of appliances and devices. Even it is costly, every house and commercial area prefer this inverter.

• Based On The Power Load:

The Load Type Inverter Comes In Two Types:

1. Single-phase inverter that runs with single-phase load. You will find two ways to work with this inverter – one is the half-bridge inverter and full-bridge inverter. In a half-bridge inverter, two thyristors and two diodes work on the transmission. And in the full-bridge inverter four thyristors and four diodes works.
2. Three-phase inverters supply the AC power in three-phase loads. These phases work with six diodes and six thyristors in power transmission.

How Do I Know What Size Inverter I Need?

Before you for the inverter, you have to know the right size inverter for your use. You have to estimate the power you need to run your device and appliances. And for the car, the overloading issue has to be counted. Check the devices that you want to run with power inverter then decide which inverter will meet your requirement.

The power comes in wattage, and you will find the number in the device’s level. Total up the number and take an emergency number from 10%-20%. The number is the size of your power inverter. If you have a budget, then you can go for a bigger inverter.

Let’s give an example for a clear view: the smartphone comes with 50 wattage power, the microwave is 1200 watts, the LCD tv is 250 watts, and the laptop is 90 watts. These are all the devices that we use in our daily life. Let’s think that you will run all these devices with the inverter. Then add them all and the total power comes is 390watts(50watts+90watts+250watts) = 390 watts.

Add the emergency margin with this total. Let’s add 10%- 390+10%= 429 watts. This number 429 watt means you will need an inverter that can provide more than 500 watts power to run the devices you want to use. The formula I have used is Volts x AMP= watts.

Make sure to calculate the wattage power before taking an inverter because it is totally waste if you take an inverter that can’t supply the proper amount of energy to run your devices during a power cut.

Note: If you are still in confusion between inverter or generator which is best for home use, then read the next article and clear your confusion.

How To Choose A Power Inverter?

Now came the tough part, and that is choosing the right power inverter. You have to consider some points while choosing the power inverter. the points are:

• The Amount Of Power You Need:

This part is important because you have to calculate the wattage to get the approx. Amount to take the proper size inverter. The size will help to run all the devices you want during any emergency.

• Power Output:

There are different types of inverter that work with different power outputs. Check the supported waveform of your devices and home appliances. If you avoid this, then face the sudden damage of your device.

• Battery:

The inverter’s main hero is the battery as all the power source comes from it. So, to know about the type and capacity of the battery is essential. Pick the tubular battery because it is powerful and efficient enough to supply power to any appliances you want.

• Versatile:

Look for the inverters that come with versatile and flexible features. Because there was a time that installing a power inverter was considered a costly task and time consuming also. But now there are inverters you can install simple, fast and free.

• Size:

You have to pick the inverter per the power requirement. If you want to run heavy tools like drill machine, air conditioner etc. with the inverter than you have to go for the inverter that has a huge capacity to run theses heavy-duty equipment. You need a 4000W inverter to run heavy appliances. And if you want to run small and delicate devices like smartphones, laptop then you can go for the 1500W inverter.

• Safe And Service Warranty:

Before anything, the safety feature is important. Avoid the inverters that don’t have features to protect overloading, overheating, low-voltage situations. And go for the inverter that promises 24/7 service at any cost.

• Price:

We all have a misconception that inverter is expensive. There are different inverters in the different price ranges. It is up to you to pick the inverter that will run your device at a cheap rate.

Note:  Read the article about the best power inverter for home, you will be on your way to get one inverter for your home as soon as you finish reading.

Frequently Asked Questions:

There are some questions and answers below that you frequently asked us.

Final Thoughts:

I know it is not a simple thing to purchase a power inverter but not a complex one. As the markets have thousand of inverter models with different features and power supply modes, you have to know how to choose a power inverter to select the right one among them. A power inverter is getting an essential thing to have in every home as the need for power getting high day by day, and power cut is an everyday problem in our life.