For homes, electricity is an integral part, and without it, life can become burdensome. A recent survey has indicated that 66% of UK residents had struggled with a power cut [1]. Electricity dominates people’s lives, from charging devices to operating refrigerators and ovens. Even a sudden blackout of a few hours can lead to food spoilage, physical discomfort, or daily activity interruptions, turning life into a mess.
In such unwanted scenarios, you need a power backup system to power your electric devices seamlessly while keeping things in order. A generator for home use can help in the long run as a reliable power backup system. These generators have high battery capacity and independent renewable energy power sources, making your life easier in unpredictable power outages. This article will explain the sustainable electric generator for home use while listing its impact on future power. Read on as we explore this topic deeper and further.
How to Choose an Electric Generator for Home
Which factors should you consider when purchasing an electric generator for home use? Consider the following factors when going after a sustainable power backup system.
1. Fuel Types
Generators come in two different forms. You can buy either a fuel generator or an electric generator. Both come with their qualities and benefits. A fuel generator runs on fossil fuels like petrol, diesel, gasoline, or propane, contributing to the release of greenhouse gases and the rise of temperatures. Requiring fossil fuel to power and regular maintenance on engine systems, traditional generators even have higher maintenance costs than solar standby generators.
While posing higher upfront costs for equipment of tantamount capacity size, solar generators have lower environmental impacts overall and lower maintenance requirements due to their integrated design. These solar generators use renewable energy from sunlight with the help of solar panels, inverters, and batteries, contributing to the drop in operational costs and the rise in long-term investment return.
Moreover, solar generators neither create ear drumming noise nor risk fuel leaks or gas emissions. Above all, unlike fuel generators, they don’t require much effort for installation, operation, and maintenance, making them a preferable choice for the home. Fuel generators are more suitable for running high-duty machines, and most of the time, they fit best for industrial and temporary use.
2. Installation Methods
Before purchasing an electric generator for home use, consider the installation requirements. Stationary generators are usually permanent installations that require a professional team to set them up. Featuring automatic operation and high power output, they are more prone to be used in commercial and industrial applications. The flip side is that they suck in portability and have higher noise levels, making them ill-fit for small-scale use and on-the-go power needs.
On the contrary, a small generator for home is lightweight and compact in design, allowing users to bring power wherever they need it whenever they need it. They also require minimum effort for installation and operation with their plug-and-play feature, affording much-needed user convenience for laypersons to operate.
3. Brand Selection
No one wants to purchase an electric generator for home use from unknown brands without solid credits and certifications. When browsing online, quickly review the customer reviews, after-sales policies, warranty, and assurance sections, as they directly indicate a brand’s reliability and strength.
The Potential of Electric Generators for Home
Electric generators for homes offer a valuable solution for unpredictable power interruptions, especially in areas prone to severe weather conditions. They are reliable backup systems, ensuring effective emergency response and continuity for essential activities. Here’s a list of their benefits.
1. Reliable Backup Power Supply
One of the primary advantages of electric generators for homes is their ability to provide a reliable backup power supply. During power outages, which can occur due to severe weather, technical issues, or other unforeseen circumstances, a generator ensures that essential appliances and devices continue to operate. This is particularly crucial for maintaining a comfortable living environment, preserving perishable goods in refrigerators, and ensuring the functionality of medical equipment for those with health concerns.
Electric generators are an integral component of any comprehensive emergency preparedness plan. They offer a dependable source of power during natural disasters, enabling homeowners to stay connected, secure, and informed. Additionally, having a generator on hand provides peace of mind, knowing that essential systems such as lighting, communication devices, and heating or cooling equipment can be powered even when the grid is down.
2. Home Entertainment and Exploration Enhancer
An electric generator for homes is a flexible solution to meet the diverse energy needs during entertainment and exploration activities. Portable generators are indispensable companions for exploration enthusiasts, whether camping, RV travelling, or outdoor DIY projects. It provides a consistent and mobile source of electricity to charge essential devices like GPS units, phones, or cameras, ensuring safety and smoothness during outdoor activities.
3. Work Efficiency Guarantee
Electric generators boost work efficiency across offices, construction sites, and farms as an ingenious on-the-go power solution. In offices, generators ensure uninterrupted operations by powering computers, servers, and communication systems, sustaining productivity and data integrity during unexpected power outage situations.
For remote construction sites where electricity may not be accessible, portable electric generators for homes can come in handy to power tools and gadgets. This ensures uninterrupted workflow for the benefit of meeting project deadlines. Similarly, electric generators can be beneficial as a mobile energy source for irrigation systems, machinery, greenhouses, and warehouse management, enhancing overall farm productivity.
In short, electric generators for homes are an essential part of backup power systems. By ensuring seamless operations and minimum downtime, they help to mitigate the impact of power disruptions and enhance working efficiency across different sectors.
Your Go-to Electric Generator for Home to Keep Your Life Working
Given the rising costs of traditional energy and the climate crisis, more than 17,000 UK families turn to renewable energy each month [2]. Homeowners have more appliances and gadgets than ever before, and as a result, their lives could grind to a halt without them, calling for a transition to reliable power sources.
Electric generators for homes are an emerging solution for this challenge, and they have excellent flexibility and capability. They come with excellent conversion efficiency, long lifespans, and broad compatibility. In this regard, Jackery, a pioneer of the solar generator industry, has two solar electric generators for home to offer. Let’s discuss them in detail.
- Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is unique because it can power an average household for weeks. With an expandable 2-12 KWh capacity, you can power everything from small gadgets to large appliances. One of the best things about Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is its industry-leading 25% conversion efficiency, providing 50% more power than competitor products in lowlight conditions.
Product Specs
- Battery: The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus has a 2042.8Wh battery and can keep powering your home for a long time. Moreover, you can increase the power supply from 2 kWh to 12 kWh by adding 5 more battery packs, supported through its lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) technology.
- Portable Design: The Jackery Explorer 2000 plus portable power station weighs around 27.9kg. With the panels counted in, so you can quickly move it anywhere in your home.
- Recharging Time: It can be charged in 2 hours with 6 SolarSaga 200W solar panels and take 25 hours with a 12V car adapter. But, for a quick fix, you can charge it through an AC adapter that can take 1.7 hours to recharge.
- Usage Capacity: It boasts a cycle life of 4000 cycles to 70% DOD and offers consumers a five-year warranty (3-year and an extended 2-year warranty if purchased from the official website).
- Output Ports: It hosts various power outlets to accommodate different gadgets. There are three AC outputs, two USB-A outputs and two USB-C outputs.
- Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus
Another excellent option here is the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus with a 2000W output. It can power a lot of home appliances, from heaters to air conditioners. With MPPT technology, it can achieve 99% charging efficiency and 2 hours of solar charging with 4 SolarSaga 200W solar panels. Jackery has shown its dedication to sustainability by including 100% recyclable packaging in Jackery Solar Generator 1000 plus and has been among the first in the industry to attain a TÜV SÜD Carbon Footprint Verification.
Product Specs
- Battery: The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 plus has LiFePO4 battery cells and 1264 Wh battery capacity, which can be expanded to 5kWh with add-on battery packs.
- Recharging Options: The quickest charge can be achieved by wall charging in just 100 minutes. On the other hand, solar charging takes 2 hours with 4 SolarSaga 200W solar panels, and car charging as an ultimate back plan requires 14.5 hours.
- Usage Capacity: It has endurance guaranteed with a 10-year lifespan design and 4000 full charge cycles with a 70% DOD thereafter. Moreover, it comes with a 5-year warranty (3+2 years extension if purchasing from the official website)
- Output Ports: 2* AC outputs, 2* USB-A outputs, 2* USB-C outputs
FAQs on Using Electric Generators for Home
1. What Is the Difference Between Starting Wattage and Running Wattage?
Running wattage, or rated wattage, is the number of watts continuously used by an appliance during operations while starting wattage is the number of watts an appliance requires for its motor-like parts to be turned on. These watts are the maximum wattage an electric generator for homes can provide.
2. How Do You Determine the Size of Generators?
To calculate the size of a solar electric generator for homes, you must calculate load size – list down all appliances you use and locate their wattage parameters on the manuals. Add together their total wattage. But when deciding the size of generators, always factor in a 25% spare room on top of the total wattage of the appliances [3].
3. How to install a Jackery Solar Generator
Installing a Jackery electric generator for homes is pretty easy. All you need to do is connect the solar panels to the power station as the user manuals say and keep the set in a sunny spot. It is as simple as that. Jackery provides detailed user guides on its official website, covering topics from solar and app connection and charging to safety precautions.
Conclusion
Having a reliable electric generator for homes is crucial during power outages. A sudden power cut impacts the daily life schedule. It can endanger the life-sustaining medicines in refrigerators and critical electric appliances. In such situations, the power generator for homes from Jackery comes to your rescue. You can get Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus or Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, which have enough features to keep your home appliances running consistently and securely.
Jackery is an award-winning brand providing sustainable power backup generators throughout the globe. Their portable generators have an extended warranty, a robust aftercare service and easy shipment. You can learn more about Jackery and see how it can meet your strategic energy needs at home.
References
[1] Utility Week/2023. Two-thirds of UK residents have experienced a power cut. Available at https://utilityweek.co.uk/two-thirds-of-uk-residents-have-experienced-a-power-cut/ (Accessed on Dec 20th, 2023)
[2] The Guardian/2023. UK homes install ‘record number’ of solar panels and heat pumps. Available at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/14/uk-homes-install-record-number-of-solar-panels-and-heat-pumps (Accessed on Dec 20th, 2023)
[3] Edge/2021. How to Size a Commercial Generator. Available at https://www.edgetechnology.co.uk/size-commercial-generator/#:~:text=Once%20you%20have%20determined%20the%20peak%20power%20demand%2C%20ensure%20you%20add%2025%25%20so%20you%20have%20sufficient%20reserve%20capacity.