Making The Electric Power Generator Work For You

Every day the cable news network's run news stories on the state of the environment. It seems that each time we turn on the television set we are confronted by spectacles of a natural world gone wild. Hurricanes, Tsunami’s and floods all seem to be increasing in frequency and ferocity. The effects on global warming seem to be placing communities across the globe in harms way. The aftermath of these disasters always has one thing in common, a lack of basic services, including electricity supply. In these cases an electric power generator can mean the difference between life and death. The electric generator can power anything from a few lights to all the major household appliances, depending on output. Portable electric generators can be powered by a number of fuel sources, including diesel, gasoline, natural gas (methane) or propane. The consumer can make the decision which one of these fuel sources is the most suitable by taking into account facts such as cost, availability and ecological impact. For instance natural gas has the least impact on the environment, however propane is the cheapest energy source. The decision to purchase a portable power generator should be based on the consumer's requirements as far as power output is concerned. The average generator should comfortably be able to supply power to all major household appliances in the event of a power outage. However, a few common sense precautions should be taken to ensure that the generator operates correctly. The generator should be installed by a qualified electrician, this will ensure compliance to all local regulations and prevent possibly damage to the electrical wiring of the home, as well as avoiding the common safety issues when dealing with electricity. The qualified electrician will also be able to install a switching mechanism that causes the generator to begin operating the moment the household electricity supply is interrupted. An electric power generator can also be used for providing power in a number of other areas, aside from the home. Today advances in solar technology make the use of power generators in the outdoors more practical. The foldable solar panel means that the generator no longer has to rely on bulky batteries or fossil fuel for its operation and is now a viable option for camping trips. Other sources of power are now becoming more popular either because they’re significantly cheaper than fossil fuels or are significantly less damaging to the environment. Both solar and wind power are attractive for these reasons. Windmill electric generators are popular where the household is far removed from the national power grid or where supplemental power is required where electrical supply is prone to interruptions. Most windmill electric generators are available in kit form and can be assembled by someone with basic DIY expertise. The larger types which have blades in excess of 20 foot may require expert advice to install. The choice of which electric power generator is most suitable is a personal one, however factors like output and the availability of fuel should always be taken into account. Whichever generator is chosen there is no question that it can make a qualitative difference to the life of the consumer.