It was completely accidental and embarrassing to admit. It was a portable generator that was used to power Hurricane Wilma or. The generators were provided by an Honda dealership in summer last year in exchange for a discount on its vehicles. The day in June that I returned home with my brand new car, I didn’t care too much about generators. I was entering my 33rd season of hurricanes in South Florida, having never lost power for more that an hour. It was almost like there was an invisible hurricane deflector barrier that was built between Puerto Rico and Broward and Palm Beach counties by Ponce de Leon more than 500 years ago. I’d say that I’m a fan of my Honda Pilot and I enjoy my 2500-watt Honda generator. With hurricane season less than two months from now, here are a few essential questions and answers to anyone wanting to be a little more cautious about buying a generator than I was just a few years ago. A disclaimer: The figures given below are only estimates. For more information about each model, check the manual of the generator. Q. Q. How do you know how many watts your generator will need to handle? A. Add the wattage of all items that you believe that you must be running at the same time. This number should not exceed 90% of the maximum wattage you’ll use for your generator. The number you choose to use is the generator’s operating (or measured) power and is typically included along with the maximum amount on the label. The load is the amount of power that’s being utilized at any time. Your generator should not running at maximum power for more than 30 minutes. My little unit can take on the power of 2,250 watts. It is able to simultaneously manage fridge (800 watts) and microwave (625) or computer (400) and five 60-watt light bulbs (300) and a radio (100) however it’s not more. Q. Q. What happens if an appliance doesn’t show watts on the back? A. A. Q. Q. What is the watts a hot plate use? That massive frig? Just 800 Watts. Hair dryers that are handheld? 1,500. Hot plate? Q. What are the start-up (surge) Watts? A. There are two kinds of loads: reactive and resistive. A resistive load functions identical at the beginning of its life and is the same afterward (i.e. light bulb, toaster). A reactive load is greater at its beginning than it will be after. Reactive loads are typically driven with an electric motor (refrigerator or power drill). These types of items usually come with a starting wattage of about 2.5 times their power consumption. The generator should be able to handle this sudden surge of power and should display a maximum starting watts limit on the label. I’m required to make sure that my refrigerator is the primary item I connect to my generator, in order to take care of the initial watts which go upwards to my generator’s total capacity. When the generator has settled down at its 800-watt operating level I can then add additional “resistive-power” devices. Q. I would like to ensure that my neighbors don’t hear the generator running at late at night. A. Some generators are extremely silent and expensive. Honda offers a 3,000-watt generator which runs at 49 dBa (decibels corrected). A quiet office is measured at around 45 dBa, while shouting is 80 , and the chainsaw has 110. The loudest generators can be heard around 90 dBa. Dealers I spoke to were pretty much unanimous in praising Honda for its silent operation. Q. Q. What is the length of time the fuel tank be full for me with a generator? A. It’s contingent on how heavy the load is as well as how big the gas tank is. It is recommended to fill your tank every six to eight hours , if you plan on running a generator that is running at the maximum power limit. Q. It appears that everyone in the neighborhood with a crack is making direct connections between their generators as well as their home electrical system. Do I have to do this? A. A. The switch costs between $200 and $1,000, it is after that the cost of labor gets added. The permit must be obtained. A. I’ve taken my generator from its box and set it to start it up. What is the time frame before I need to change the oil again? A. As with the majority of gas-powered equipment at home the motor oil is included in the generator is to be replaced within the initial couple of hours of use. It is recommended that it be changed every 25 to 50 hours. Q. What is the recommended frequency to use my generator? A. A. To avoid the buildup of sludge in the engine, gasoline stabilizers must also be added to the tank in the off-season. Q. Q. Do I have to connect my refrigerator to begin my generator? A. No. No. Q. Q. What is the consequence if I don’t have the endurance or willpower to begin recoil (lawnmower type) generator? A. There are models with electric start which use keys to activate the. They generally cost more. Q. A standby generator (https://cse.google.com.tj/) is too costly for me. Do I have alternatives? A. Renting is a great alternative. You can use the phone book to locate stores that rent household appliances. There’s a chance that you’ll be in a long line if you are renting after the event. Q. What is the cost I should pay to get my generator? A. Portable gas generators are available in price between $700 and $5,000, based on the model, power, and other options.
