Permanent standby generators are small power generation units that can be permanently installed at any home or business. Permanent Standby generators can be used in the event of power grid failure to provide reliable power for the circuits and appliances they are connected to.

How Do They Differ From Portable Generators?
Standby generators differ from smaller portable generators in that they are permanent installations and are not meant to be moved once installed at a location. Permanent standby generators offer a number of advantages over smaller portable generators. Since standby generators are not meant to be moved, they can incorporate increased sound baffling to reduce system noise. Also these units are larger, allowing them to generate increased power capacity. Another benefit of their increased size and mass is that they are capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions where a normal portable generator would be damaged or rendered unusable.

How Do Standby Generators Work?
Standby generators work by using a fuel such as natural gas or liquid propane to power an engine that generates electricity. They can also be run from other fuels including gasoline and diesel. Normally, the generator is connected to the house through a transfer switch that interfaces with a structures main electrical panel.

Smaller generators can produce as little as a few hundred watts of power, whereas larger industrial size generators can produce hundreds of thousands of watts of power. The most common and widely available standby generators for residences range from seven thousand watts to fifty kilowatts of power.

How Do Standby Generators Supply Power To Residences?
In the event of a power outage, the transfer switch automatically isolates the house from incoming power lines to prevent electricity from the generator traveling down the lines. Then the transfer switchs brownout timer is activated and begins counting down to ensure that the power outage is not temporary. Once the brownout timer counts down (typically about 10 seconds), the generator begins a warm up cycle. When the generator is warmed up the transfer switch routes power from the generator into the main electrical panel and restores power to the circuits it is connected to. When the main utility power is restored to your house, the automatic transfer switch will move the house or business back to main power and isolate the standby generator, thus preventing any chance for electrical feedback. Now that the standby generator is isolated, it will shut off, begin to cool down and await the next power outage.

This article and its contents are copyrighted by Generator Power Solutions 2006.