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Portable Generator for Home Backup

Portable Home Generators keep essentials working during an outage. Depending on size, they might run the refrigerator and sump pump. With enough power, they might be a Whole House Portable Generator.

Portable Home Generators

Portable Home Generators run essentials working during an outage. Depending on size, they might run sump pumps, refrigerator and freezer, lights, and even medical equipment during an outage. What you can run depends entirely on how much power generator can supply. Choose a generator by how much power you need with a 25 percent margin.

A small Portable Generator for the House can run just a few appliances. A larger, Whole House Portable Generator could run major appliances like furnaces and air conditioning with the right connection, but not with a regular extension cord.

Extension cords are good for a few small loads or generators with only 120-volts receptacles. Ideally, a 240-volt generator cord plugged into a transfer switch provides the easiest and safest connection option.

Portable Generator for House

Portable Home Generators have power ratings in Watts or Kilowatts. The typical household 15-Amp outlet provides up to 1800 watts. 20-Amp circuits supply up to 2400 watts. These same outlets on a Portable Generator for House appliances can only supply as much power as the generator’s rated capacity in continuous or running watts.

This Sizing Guide for Portable Home Generators explains Starting Watts and Running Watts. Some generator product names include the starting watts, other use the running watts. Either naming method is valid. Check the product specifications for the power you need. Don’t buy Portable Generators for Home Use on the product name alone.

Portable Generators for Home Use

Some Portable Generators for Home Use only provide 120-volt power. Others have a mix of 120-volt and 240-volt receptacles. If you’re only planning to run extension cords from the generator to your appliances, you can choose the 120-volt only option. These generators usually have less power capacity than models offering 120/240-volt outlets.

A Whole House Portable Generator should offer 120/240-volt outlets to run major appliances including an air conditioner, furnace, and other hard-wired appliances.

Whole House Portable Generator

A Whole House Portable Generator has enough power capacity to run many appliances, including at least one major appliance, all at the same time. Ideally, they connect to the house with a manual transfer switch which makes connections easy and allows hard-wired appliances like a central air conditioner to run.

This type of Portable Generator for House appliances has a power rating ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 running watts and 240-Volt Outlets. Generators with a rated capacity over 12,000 watts may need a whole house manual transfer switch or a pair of 50-amp transfer switch connections.

Portable Home Generators

When the power goes out, the best Portable Generators for Home Use have the power needed to run your essential appliances and conveniences. Good options to consider are Electric Start, 120/240-Volt Receptacles, and Dual Fuel Capability. Remember that Propane and Natural Gas produce less power than gasoline. See the generator specifications for LP or NG rated capacity.

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Portable Home Generators keep essentials working during an outage. Depending on size, they might run the refrigerator and sump pump. With enough power, they might be a Whole House Portable Generator.

Portable Home Generators

Portable Home Generators run essentials working during an outage. Depending on size, they might run sump pumps, refrigerator and freezer, lights, and even medical equipment during an outage. What you can run depends entirely on how much power generator can supply. Choose a generator by how much power you need with a 25 percent margin.

A small Portable Generator for the House can run just a few appliances. A larger, Whole House Portable Generator could run major appliances like furnaces and air conditioning with the right connection, but not with a regular extension cord.

Extension cords are good for a few small loads or generators with only 120-volts receptacles. Ideally, a 240-volt generator cord plugged into a transfer switch provides the easiest and safest connection option.

Portable Generator for House

Portable Home Generators have power ratings in Watts or Kilowatts. The typical household 15-Amp outlet provides up to 1800 watts. 20-Amp circuits supply up to 2400 watts. These same outlets on a Portable Generator for House appliances can only supply as much power as the generator’s rated capacity in continuous or running watts.

This Sizing Guide for Portable Home Generators explains Starting Watts and Running Watts. Some generator product names include the starting watts, other use the running watts. Either naming method is valid. Check the product specifications for the power you need. Don’t buy Portable Generators for Home Use on the product name alone.

Portable Generators for Home Use

Some Portable Generators for Home Use only provide 120-volt power. Others have a mix of 120-volt and 240-volt receptacles. If you’re only planning to run extension cords from the generator to your appliances, you can choose the 120-volt only option. These generators usually have less power capacity than models offering 120/240-volt outlets.

A Whole House Portable Generator should offer 120/240-volt outlets to run major appliances including an air conditioner, furnace, and other hard-wired appliances.

Whole House Portable Generator

A Whole House Portable Generator has enough power capacity to run many appliances, including at least one major appliance, all at the same time. Ideally, they connect to the house with a manual transfer switch which makes connections easy and allows hard-wired appliances like a central air conditioner to run.

This type of Portable Generator for House appliances has a power rating ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 running watts and 240-Volt Outlets. Generators with a rated capacity over 12,000 watts may need a whole house manual transfer switch or a pair of 50-amp transfer switch connections.

Portable Home Generators

When the power goes out, the best Portable Generators for Home Use have the power needed to run your essential appliances and conveniences. Good options to consider are Electric Start, 120/240-Volt Receptacles, and Dual Fuel Capability. Remember that Propane and Natural Gas produce less power than gasoline. See the generator specifications for LP or NG rated capacity.

Home Backup - FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A. There are three safe, legal options to connect a portable generator to a house. The safest, fastest connection is a manual transfer switch with inlet box which allows you to make a single connection and power a fixed number of circuits. An interlock allows you to power the entire circuit breaker panel, but you must manage the power yourself by turning off breakers that would overload the generator. The final option is to use outdoor extensions cords rated for the generator outlet they are plugged into.
A. Mid-sized portable generators can power a portion of the house, and large portable generators can power more. Portable generators with up to 18,000 running watts could even power your central air conditioner. If you’re thinking about a generator with more than 12,000 watts, you might need a second transfer switch.
A. A small home with window air conditioners or a 1-ton central air conditioner could easily run on 10000-12000 watts or less. Larger homes with larger appliances require more power. Norwall has portable generators up to 18000 running watts that could provide most, if not all the power, for many larger homes.
A. The one that meets your needs. If you’re considering a portable generator for home backup, first decide what circuits will receive power during an outage. Calculate the total load of those circuits, then choose a generator with 25% to 35% rated watts over your total load. Tri-fuel generators will run on gasoline, natural gas, or propane, and dual fuel will run on propane or gasoline.
A. Never backfeed your house by plugging it into an appliance outlet. It is dangerous and illegal. If you’re dead set against a transfer switch, use an interlock. The generator could power any circuit in the house, but you must manage the power by turning off breakers you don’t need. Extension cords running to specific appliances are the only other option.
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