GENERATOR TYPES
Power outages are a common occurance and can last any where from a few minutes, from routine maintenance to a few weeks caused by natural disasters. This is why most business and some home owners decide to invest in some type of generator.
HOME GENERATORS
These generators are typically the smallest in terms of dimension and output. An average home will require anywhere from 5-10kW to be able to operate appliances. a/c units and electronics. Most of these generators will serve as a buck-up or emergency power source for when there is a power outage. Similar to an a/c fan, these units are normally installed outside, typically on the side of the home. These generators can also operate on the natural gas that can already be found in homes used to fuel stoves and heaters. Different forms of propane are also a another form of fuel for these kinds of generators. Whenever power outage is sensed the backup generator automatically kicks on and provides temporary power to the home.
BUSINESS GENERATORS
Most essential businesses will invest in one or more emergency back up generators. Businesses like hospitals, grocery stores, gas stations and telecommunication stations rely on a constant supply of electricity to run their daily operations. Loss of power for a long period of time could result in substantial losses. Like, home generators, these are known as standby generators because they are only meant to operate whenever electricity is cut off from the main power source. These types of generators will vary greatly on size and output since some business require more power to run a larger facility. Some business, such as hsospitals, can have as many as 4, high output generators on standby. Large generators like this run off of diesel, however, some smaller generators found in smaller business can run off of natural gas.
CONTINUOUS AND PRIME GENERATORS
In more remote areas where there is not an electrical grid present, continuous use or prime generators can be used to meet the demands for electricity. A prime generator can be labeled when it is operating anywhere from 8 to 12 hours a day. An example use for this would be a work shift that may last up 12 hours, in a mining or construction project. In cases where a constant supply of electricity is required up to 24 hours a day, a continues generator can be brought in to meet demands. These generators can be the main source of power for residents of islands or very remote areas of a country.
