Installing a standby generator is the best way to ensure you’re prepared for power outages. This type of generator is wired directly into the house’s electrical system and will automatically switch over when an outage occurs. A standby generator is a major investment. It lets you run your AC or heating and keep the food in your fridge and freezer from spoiling. You’ll also have the lights on and be able to watch TV and charge your devices.
However, it’s essential that you choose a generator that’s powerful enough to meet all your potential needs during an outage. In this article, we’ll look at the different factors that go into sizing a standby generator. Our electricians at Suburban Services Group in Burnt Hills, NY, can accurately determine how much power you need and install your generator.
Whole-Home Generator vs. Essential Circuit Coverage
With our generator service, you can opt for standby generators that provide whole-home coverage or only essential circuit coverage. Essential circuit coverage means that the transfer switch will only send power to certain pre-designated circuits that you deem most important. This usually includes the circuits that supply power to the kitchen, bathroom, living room, refrigerator, sump pump, and HVAC system. Essential circuit coverage is the most cost-effective option. You won’t need as large a generator as you would if you want whole-home coverage.
How Electricians Size Standby Generators
For essential circuit coverage only, the process if fairly simple. Our electrician factors in your chosen circuits. These are usually things like the HVAC system, refrigerator, lights, and often the TV. For central or ductless AC or a heat pump, the size of the outdoor unit is the biggest factor in determining what size generator you need. Outdoor HVAC units almost always have a much higher electrical load than anything else in a home. The exception is if you have an electric furnace. Most electric furnaces have even higher power demands than ACs and heat pumps.
The process is more complex if you want the generator to supply whole-home coverage. To determine what size standby generator a house needs, our electrician needs to perform an electrical load calculation. This involves finding out the wattage of everything the generator needs to power and then adding it all together. The electrician will start with the major draws, like the HVAC system and essential major appliances. They will also factor in the wattage of the TV in the living room and the lights throughout the home.
Even if you want complete whole-home coverage, the electrician won’t suggest a generator that supplies 100% of your maximum potential electrical load. That’s because you’ll rarely need to supply power to every appliance, electronic device, and light in the house at one time.
Load-Shedding Capabilities in Whole-Home Generators
Some of our most advanced generators feature load-shedding capabilities. This is intended to prevent overheating, which would cause the generator to shut down. We would program the smart switch based on which circuits are the highest priorities. The switch will always supply power to the highest priority circuits. If the generator is operating at close to full capacity, the switch will shed the lowest priority loads. This enables you to buy a slightly smaller generator than you would need if you require all the circuits, all the time.
This means that you will face additional decisions. You’ll need to choose which loads are your highest priorities and which loads you’re fine with the switch shedding. Priority appliances might include the HVAC, refrigerator, stove, oven, and water heater.
The HVAC system is usually given the highest priority. If necessary, the switch can temporarily stop sending power to the lowest priority circuits. These low-priority circuits usually include things like the bedrooms, washing machine, clothes dryer, and dishwasher. The motors in an HVAC system draw much more power when starting up. Load shedding ensures that this extra power draw doesn’t result in the generator getting overloaded. Refrigerator, freezer, washing machine, and dryer motors also have a higher start-up load. The switch may temporarily shed low-priority loads when any of these appliances turn on. The switch can be programmed to automatically repower the shed circuits when the generator recovers.
Contact a Trusted Expert
Suburban Services Group is the electrical company to trust for standby generator installation in the Ballston Lake region. We’re a Premier Generac Dealer and offer some of the best generators money can buy. Our experts are also ready to assist with all your electrical and generator repair and maintenance needs.
To schedule a consultation and get help determining what size generator you need for your home, contact us today.
