With cold winter months on the horizon, it's more important than ever to have a constant supply of electricity in your home to keep your heating appliances running. The most obvious solution to avoid an unexpected power failure is to buy a standby generator. But how do you connect it to your electrical installation, and what do you do with your electrical panel when the device takes over in the event of a power cut? Find out in this article.
With cold winter months on the horizon, it's more important than ever to have a constant supply of electricity in your home to keep your heating appliances running. The most obvious solution to avoid an unexpected power failure is to buy a standby generator. But how do you connect it to your electrical installation, and what do you do with your electrical panel when the device takes over in the event of a power cut? Find out in this article.
A standby generator is designed to power your home in the event of a power failure. Generally speaking, the generator must be able to supply electricity to the whole property, and must therefore be connected to the whole-house circuit. It runs on fuel, often gasoline or diesel, depending on the model.
Fuel consumption varies according to power. Basically, the more powerful a generator is, the more electricity it can supply, but the more fuel it consumes.
The main drawback with this type of device is the noise it can make. The main drawback with this type of machine is the noise it can make. It can even be hard to hear yourself talk when you're standing in front of one. That's why a generator is installed outside the house, in a separate room specially set aside for the purpose.
Yes, a generator needs regular maintenance. Since it's a combustion engine, it requires much the same maintenance as a car engine, i.e. oil changes, filter replacement and regular refilling of the fuel tank.
Installing your new standby generator doesn't just happen, especially if you're planning to use it to power your whole house. First of all, there's no need to install miles of multiple outlets and extension cords throughout your home to plug in appliances when the generator takes over. Your usual electrical circuit may well suffice to carry both the main power supply and the generator's current in the event of a power cut.
Next, be aware that it's risky and highly inadvisable to connect your emergency generator directly to the electrical panel. For a safe and proper installation, use a generator panel, also known as a transfer switch. This is an additional box installed in or near the main panel, which will take over the supply of electricity via the generator in the event of a power failure.
All the steps involved in installing your transfer switch must be carried out by an experienced electrician. Even if you know a thing or two about electricity, don't try to do it yourself, for the simple reason that it's extremely dangerous. Even before you buy your emergency generator, call in a master electrician to help you choose the right wattage for your needs. If you have an obsolete electrical panel, chances are you won't be able to connect a transfer switch to it. Only modern panels with circuit breakers, not fuses, can accommodate this type of device.
Depending on the power of the generator, it may be appropriate to connect only the utility circuits to the switch, or the entire electrical installation. Utility circuits include rooms and areas where power is absolutely essential, such as where heating appliances are located, the refrigerator and the living room for watching TV and relaxing. All theres left to do is to connect the generator to the transfer switch.
There are two main types of transfer switch: manual and automatic. The former will activate the power supply from the standby generator to the house after you've activated it manually. In other words, there will be a delay between the blackout and power being supplied via the standby generator, until you activate the start button.
The automatic switch, on the other hand, will immediately switch on the standby generator as soon as the main power supply is interrupted. This is a more practical solution, since you won't have to go back and forth, and the outage time will be very short. So even if you're not at home when the outage occurs, your home will automatically be supplied with power, allowing heating and lighting to continue working until you return.
The only downside to the automatic switch is its much higher price. That's why the manual version is the one most used in Canadian homes today.
If you're considering the purchase of a standby generator for your home, your safety and comfort are top of mind. Our technicians have the skills, experience and equipment to carry out a safe installation in accordance with current standards. You'll enjoy years of peace of mind without the worry of power failures.
