GENERATORS - Powering up with a generator
When the electricity fails, it can help you through the hard (and hot) times
BY GEORGIA TASKER
Miami Herald
Whew! Close brushes with multiple hurricanes last year taught the wisdom of having a generator at the ready. Since hurricane season is about to reappear on our radar screens, purchasing a generator should top your list of things to consider if you don't want to be caught in a time bind.
These little powerhouses may be noisy and smelly, but they can help us limp along until electrical power is restored. Additionally, whole-house generators can power all appliances with only a 20-or 30-second interruption in service -- for a big price, of course.
Portable generators provide electricity to appliances you deem necessary, from lights and refrigerator to a hot water heater or hair dryer, or depending on the horsepower, all of the above. They are fueled by gasoline, diesel fuel or, occasionally, propane.
The most important information the consumer needs to know is how much power they will need in a specific situation, said Daryl Jones, vice president for business development with Kimco, which sells generators. Nothing is more disappointing than buying one and having it not meet your needs.
Kimco supplied more than 500 portable generators to the Florida Department of Transportation to run traffic lights after last season's storms. The company, based in Wisconsin, operates a website, www.electric generatorstore.com, featuring generators from different manufacturers, plus a calculator that can be used to determine the size you'll need.
Appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners run on one level of electricity, but require a higher amount, called the surge wattage, to turn on.
A window air conditioner requires about 1,200 watts to run, Jones said. But when the compressor kicks in, it needs 4,800 watts. It only needs the higher amount for a few seconds.
While you may not start the refrigerator and air conditioner at once, you should calculate how much power would be required if you did. Several Internet sites offer tables of wattages required, including Generac-portables.com, where you can check off estimated appliance wattages that you may want to power with a generator.
Jones says most people want portable generators that supply between 5,000 and 6,000 watts. Cost ranges from $700 to $1,000.
But there are some extras that can make the generator easier to manage. A wheel kit makes the portables, which weigh between 100 and 400 pounds, easier to move. An electric starter may add 10 to 15 percent to the cost, Jones said, but turning a key is less stressful than pulling a rope.
Motors made by Honda, Yamaha and Robin-Subaru are ''top of the line'' Jones said, and will last a long time.
A new Generac portable features noise-deadening packaging and an aluminum case for use near salt water, he said.
EXTRA FEATURES
The number of receptacles may vary from one to three or four, and gas tanks come in either plastic or the longer-lasting steel. A low-oil shutdown adds to the price, but keeps the motor from burning up if oil runs out. And a General False Circuit Interrupter, GFCI, interrupts electric flow if you or the machine get in water.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has put a hazard page online for using portable generators. The primary caution is to never use the generator indoors because of the toxic carbon monoxide it produces. Inevitably, after a hurricane, one or two deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning are reported due to misuse of generators.
''Portable generators are not dangerous if you follow the basic rules,'' Jones said. ''Under no circumstances should a generator be run inside the house.'' Nor should it be run in an attached garage because the carbon monoxide can escape into the house.
Hurricane Andrew veterans remember the noise of generators as a downside to the joys of a cup of coffee or hot shower. Take this into consideration when locating the generator.
Fuel for the generator, such as gasoline or propane, should be stored outside, never inside. And it must be kept fresh. Also, the generator should be started once a month to keep it ready to run when needed.
Again, caution is advised: Don't store the fuel in the garage. Before refueling the generator, turn it off and allow it to cool to avoid a fire hazard. Running too many appliances off a generator can cause it to overheat.
RUNNING TIME
The running time of a generator depends on the size of the motor and the fuel tank and the watts being produced. A seven-gallon tank can run the generator for 9 to 13 hours, depending on how many appliances are being powered.
A safer but much more expensive way to get power after a storm is a full-home generator that is permanently installed on your property. Home Depot sells generators and subcontracts the installation. Other companies do their own installation.
H.J. and Susan Frank sell and install whole-home generators through their company, Personalized Air and Power in Boca Raton. "There are three questions people ask when buying houses in Florida", H.J. said. 'The questions are: How much? Is it near the water? Does it have a generator?'
Whole-home generators may cost from $13,000 for a house with one air conditioning unit to $22,000 for a home with two air conditioning units.
They turn on automatically within seconds after a power outage and may run for several days, depending on the size. Such an investment solves the problems of saving the wine collection, keeping expensive aquariums running, protecting art collections and home businesses or, more seriously, keeping respirators running.
Small whole-home models are air-cooled, and larger systems are liquid-cooled. A one- to three-ton air conditioning system can be run on a small 15-kilowatt system; two-ton air conditioners require larger generators of 20 or more kilowatts.
If you decide that a whole-home generator is for you, act now. Since last year's storms, Frank's sales have skyrocketed. He sold one a day during February and is booked until June.