Standby generators
A standby generator is a back-up electrical system that operates automatically.
[Robert B. Hickey ''Electrical Construction Databook'', ]McGraw Hill
McGraw Hill is an American education science company that provides educational content, software, and services for students and educators across various levels—from K-12 to higher education and professional settings. They produce textbooks, ...
, 2002 , Chapter 14 Within seconds of a utility
outage an automatic
transfer switch senses the power loss, commands the generator to start and then transfers the
electrical load
An electrical load is an electrical component or portion of a Electric Circuit, circuit that consumes (active) electric power, such as electrical appliances and Electric light, lights inside the home. The term may also refer to the power Power con ...
to the
generator. The standby generator begins supplying power to the
circuits. After utility power returns, the automatic transfer switch transfers the electrical load back to the utility and signals the standby generator to shut off. It then returns to standby mode where it awaits the next outage. To ensure a proper response to an outage, a standby generator runs weekly self-tests. Most units run on
diesel,
natural gas
Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
, or
liquid propane gas.
Automatic standby generator systems may be required by
building code
A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for construction objects such as buildings and non-building structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permis ...
s for critical safety systems such as elevators in high-rise buildings,
fire protection systems, standby lighting, or
medical and life support equipment.
In 2002, approximately 0.63% of homes in the United States had installed a backup generator; that figure rose to approximately 5.77% by 2023.
[Laura Daily]
What to know before investing in a standby home generator
''Washington Post'' (August 29, 2023). The
wattage of typical whole-home generators varies from 7.5
kW to 26 kW.
[
]
See also
* Diesel generator
* Electric generator
In electricity generation, a generator, also called an ''electric generator'', ''electrical generator'', and ''electromagnetic generator'' is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in an externa ...
* Emergency power system
* Uninterruptible power supply
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or uninterruptible power source is a type of continual power system that provides automated backup electric power to a electrical load, load when the input power source or mains electricity, mains power fai ...
References
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Power station technology