Power outages are a fact of life in Florida, where there are more lightning strikes per square mile than in any other state. While most blackouts last an hour or less, enough of them last longer that it can become a significant problem. If you have health issues or run a business that relies on a constant source of electrical power, a power outage can be a real danger. This is where a backup power supply comes in.
Backup supplies come in two forms: a standby generator and a portable generator. Both of them convert fuel into electrical power to keep the lights and appliances running on your property. Although a portable generator is less expensive to own, it isn’t a good choice for backup power in your home or business. Unlike portable generators, a built-in standby generator is built for long time use.
Powering a Generator
Portable generators run on gasoline which has to be stored on your property if you want to have it on hand when the power goes out. In a blackout, the pumps at the gas station won’t work, so you have to store your supply ahead of time. This is dangerous many even be illegal in your community. In addition, a portable generator will need to be refilled every few hours, during bad weather or even in the middle of the night.
A standby generator, on the other hand, will run for days on either natural gas or propane. Either one of these fuels is readily available in the absence of electrical power, and you don’t have to worry about dangerous storage problems or about gas getting stale and having to be replaced. The generator will turn itself on when the power goes out, and you don’t have to worry about keeping a fuel supply running to the unit.
Generator Safety
Portable generators can never be run indoors or directly up against your building. They have to be faced away from your structure and an extension cord is used to run power from the unit into your house or business. Combine frequent refueling with extension cords stretching across your property in bad weather and you’ve got an uncomfortably dangerous situation.
With a standby generator, toxic fumes aren’t a concern because your electrical contractor will permanently install it a safe distance from your building. There’s no need to worry about fueling because it will be permanently attached to your home fuel supply. Instead of needing dangerous extension cords strung across your yard, a permanent electrical installation will keep your standby generator attached to the building and ready to supply power when needed.
Risk of Theft
It’s a sad fact but during long-term power outages, one of the biggest problems is people stealing portable generators, usually in the middle of the night. The loud noise is a tip-off to would-be thieves, as are the bright lights shining in an otherwise dark neighborhood. All a thief has to do is to unplug the extension cord and wheel your portable generator away.
If you have a standby generator built into your property, theft won’t be an issue. They’re much less noisy, but, more importantly, yours will be permanently attached to your power and gas lines as well as the base foundation. Thieves like easy work, and pulling out a heavy standby generator is the last thing they’ll want to do when an easy portable unit is probably available somewhere in your neighborhood.
Recent Comments