Inverter generators are a great alternative to standard portable generators. Although they are more expensive, inverter generators are much quieter, safer, and more energy efficient. In this post, we’ll show you exactly what inverter generators are, how they work, and how to know whether an inverter generator or a whole-home generator is the better option for powering your home in a blackout.
What Is an Inverter Generator?
Inverter generators are a special type of portable generator that provides safer, “cleaner” electricity. Standard non-inverter portable generators provide what experts call “dirty” electricity, which essentially means that the power isn’t consistent as there are often spikes where the voltage suddenly increases. These voltage spikes aren’t really an issue if you’re just trying to power a few lights, but the spikes or power fluctuations can easily damage more sensitive electronics like computers, smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, or even TVs.
For instance, if you were to plug your laptop into a standard portable generator, the power fluctuations would often lead to operating errors or cause memory loss. Similarly, trying to charge your phone or tablet from a standard portable generator will often cause the device to freeze up and experience errors. It could even fry the motherboard.
Inverter generators don’t have the same issues with power fluctuations and always provide steady electricity without any spikes in voltage. Standard portable generators directly convert mechanical energy into alternating current (AC) power, which is the standard current used by virtually all electronic devices. Inverter generators do the same thing, but the difference is that these units convert the AC power into direct current (DC) power. The power then flows through the unit’s inverter, which again converts it from DC back into AC power.
Converting the power from DC back to AC ensures that the voltage can’t ever spike and allows an inverter generator to put out a steady, consistent flow of electricity. This means you can safely plug your computer or any other sensitive electronic device into an inverter generator without having to worry about the device suffering any damage or experiencing errors.
Another thing about inverter generators is that they can speed up or slow down their motor based on how much power is currently needed, whereas standard portable generators always run at full speed. If you were to plug a single lamp into an inverter generator, it would run at the lowest speed. The motor would then continue to speed up so the generator provides more power as you plug more things into it. This makes inverter generators much more energy efficient since they burn less fuel when running at a lower speed. It is also part of the reason why inverter generators tend to last longer as the wear and tear on the unit is also reduced when running at lower speeds.
Can an Inverter Generator Power a Home During a Blackout?
Inverter generators are most commonly used for outdoor activities like camping and tailgating as they can power things like pellet grills more safely compared to a standard portable generator. An inverter generator can also come in handy during a blackout as it will allow you to keep your phone charged and use your computer.
Larger inverter generators typically put out somewhere around 5,000 to 7,000 watts. This is typically more than enough to power much of your home, but it won’t be sufficient to keep your heating and air conditioning running or power everything in your home at once.
Both inverter generators and standard portable generators can be connected to your home’s electricity system to enable you to keep your lights on and power at least some of your appliances and devices during a blackout. However, the only way to do this safely is by having an electrician install a transfer switch onto your main electrical panel.
A transfer switch safely connects the generator to the electrical system, and it also works to isolate the home from the electrical grid to prevent electricity from flowing out of the home and back into the grid. You are legally required to have a transfer switch when connecting any type of generator to a home. Without a transfer switch, the electricity flowing back into the grid could seriously injure or kill any utility workers in the area who are working on the grid and trying to get it back online.
Inverter Generators vs. Whole-Home Generators
While inverter generators can definitely be useful in some situations, they generally aren’t an adequate solution for powering your entire home during a blackout. The only way you can effectively ensure you have enough electricity to power your HVAC system and everything else in your home is to install a standby or whole-home generator.
Whole-home generators don’t have an inverter, which means they just produce AC power instead of converting it to DC and back to AC. Despite not having an inverter, whole-home generators are much more advanced than other generators and are far better at regulating the power to prevent surges and voltage spikes. This means that you can safely plug your computer, phone, and other sensitive electronics into an outlet in your home when the whole-home generator is running and powering your home during a blackout. However, it is important that whole-home generators are properly maintained or else they can potentially experience issues with power surges.
One major advantage of whole-home generators is that you never need to worry about adding more fuel as you do with any type of portable generator. This is because whole-home generators are typically connected directly to your home’s natural gas supply so it always has a constant source of fuel. You can also choose to install a large propane tank to supply fuel to your generator. In this case, you would typically be able to run the generator for around one full month before it would finally run out of propane.
Whole-home generators are also superior because they can run for much longer continuously. Most inverter generators and portable generators can only run for between six and 16 hours at a time before you need to shut them off so they can rest and cool down. As long as a whole-home generator is well-maintained, it will usually be able to run for somewhere around 500 hours continuously, meaning it could continue supplying power to your home for around three full weeks.
Another advantage of whole-home generators is that they are typically connected to the home via an automatic transfer switch (ATS), whereas inverter generators usually need a manual transfer switch. With a manual transfer switch, you would need to go outside to start the generator and then manually activate the switch so the generator can send power to your electrical system. An ATS works differently as it will automatically signal the generator to run the instant it detects that your power has gone out. If the power goes out in the middle of the night, a whole-home generator will start powering your home and allow you to turn the lights on within just a few seconds.
Our Services
Aurora Pro Services Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electrical, & Roofing is a full-service electrical contractor, and our licensed electricians specialize in whole-home generator installation for customers in Greensboro and the Triad area. We can also help maintain your generator so it always works when you need it or repair any issues the unit has. If you need any other residential electrical service or any plumbing, heating, or air conditioning service, we can take care of that as well. To learn more about the benefits of installing a whole-home generator, give us a call today.
