Backup Generators

Backup Generators

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Outside, it’s a dark, snowy evening. Insite, the family is feeling the winter spirit, watching a movie, cozy in their home theater room when, out of nowhere, the house goes dark. Now what?  Before this happens to you, it might be time to consider a backup generator for your home. There are several options, and the experts at Keating Electric can help you decide which one is best for you and your family.


What are the Main Types of Home Generators?


There are two types of back-up generators you can choose from for your home.  The first is a Portable Emergency Generator that you roll and set up outside when you lose power. But if you want a stress-free generator solution, we suggest the Automatic Standby Generator that is ready to automatically supply power the minute you lose electricity. 


Portable Emergency Generators

A Portable Emergency Generator is a small gasoline-powered engine that can be fairly easy to store and only brought out when the need arises. These range in sizes between 2500 watts to 8000 watts. The small 2500 watt generator can handle small home lighting and the heating system. The 8000 watts generator can handle more including a few appliances, the heating system and some general lighting and power needs. 


Portable Emergency Generators must be wheeled into position and manually connected to a power inlet that gets mounted on the exterior of your home before they can be used. It is important to make sure you have someone available who is physically capable of getting it where it needs to be. You’ll also need an adequate supply of gasoline on-hand to keep the generator running.


Automatic Standby Generators

An Automatic Standby Generator is a permanently-mounted generator unit that gets hardwired into your home’s electrical system. This generator will sense a power outage and automatically turn on, giving you only a few seconds without electricity. 


Automatic Standby Generators tend to be larger, both in size and capacity, than portable generators and are often fully capable of powering your entire home. They are also frequently powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) or propane, which eliminates the need to store gasoline.


Things to Consider When Purchasing a Generator


While the experts at Keating Electric will gladly help you choose the best generator for your home, it’s important for you to think about what your needs are. For example, if you travel frequently or don’t want the hassle of keeping gasoline on hand, having an automatic standby generator makes the most sense.  It’s always ready and will keep your heating system running even if no one is home during an outage. If your budget is more of a concern, portable emergency generators have a much lower price tag.


What Electrical Circuits Do You Need?


When the power goes out, do you want emergency power for just your heating system and refrigerator, or do you want the whole house to be fully powered? The answer to this question will not only affect the type of generator you should purchase, but also the type of connection you’ll need to your home’s electrical system.


I want to power my whole house


Usually if you want to power your entire house you would select an Automatic Standby Generator, but people with smaller homes may opt for a larger Portable Emergency Generator. In either case, if you want to power the whole house you need a transfer switch that allows the entire circuit breaker panel to be energized while preventing flow of electricity back into the utility grid. With an Automatic Standby Generator, the transfer switch is activated automatically. 


I want to power just a few essentials


To power only a few circuits, a Portable Emergency Generator is a great choice.


The most common transfer switch option for portable generators is a separate circuit breaker panel that is mounted next to the main panel. This will have six to ten circuit breakers in it, and only those circuits will have power while you are running the generator. This option will provide built-in protection for the generator, as it will only allow a certain amount of electricity usage based on the generator size. A Portable Generator will require the homeowner to manually activate the transfer switch and be mindful of electricity usage to avoid overloading the portable generator.


Generator Maintenance


Internal combustion engines, such as your car, don’t like to sit around unused for long periods of time. Your generator is no exception! Leaving it sitting in the garage for too long without running can cause the rubber seals to dry out and crack, causing irreparable damage.


Running your generator for a brief period every month is critical to its longevity. If you have a portable generator, this means getting it out and starting it up for five to ten minutes every month or so.


One major advantage to an Automatic Standby Generator is that it will take care of the monthly maintenance for you. Once a week it will turn itself on and run for a few minutes and give a quick diagnostic readout on its display. This way you will know for certain that it will be there for you when you need it the most.



Automatic / Standby Generators

Automatic Standby Generators & Installation - Westchester

 

Automatic / Standby Generators are permanently-installed automatic backup power solutions that delivers power directly to your home's electrical system. It can power your entire home, or only the most essential appliances and services.

 

Portable Emergency Generators

Portable Generators & Installation - Westchester

 

Portable Emergency Generators are low-cost, manually-operated, gasoline-fueled backup power systems. They are designed to give you power where you need it the most: well pump, furnace, certain appliances, and a few light fixtures, etc.

 


Last April, I invested in a portable home generator and your company installed it for me. I am very happy to report that on its first use it performed flawlessly and my wife and I were thankful that we had invested in this equipment and your great service…If I can be a reference for your business beyond this note, please do not hesitate to give prospective customers my name and number. Best regards and thank you all again.


— Grover Foster / Hillburn, NY

BACKUP GENERATORS

Keating Electric provides automatic standby and portable backup generator installations and related services throughout Westchester County, NY, including the following towns & cities:
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