How to Buy and Use a Generator

The lights go out. Who are you going to call?

In some cases, it's going to be your friend with a generator. However, next time a power outage hits, maybe you could be prepared with one yourself.

What is a generator exactly?

It's an electricity-producing engine, with an alternator attached. Hospitals, hotels, casinos—such as Barona—and other major operators use them. So do homeowners and campers.

"I like to tell people it's just like your lawn mower," said Jeff Ruland, the owner of the Sears store in Ramona. His store had a run on generators over the weekend following which extended from Baja California and Yuma, Az. to Orange County. Electricity was off for up to 12 hours for some five million residents.

Backup generators come in a variety of sizes and produce different levels of electrical output to run a variety of appliances. Their output is measured in watts or kilowatts. Consumers can choose from models that run off propane, diesel, gasoline or natural gas and even some that produce electricity when they are driven behind a tractor. Some units can run on more than one type of fuel. Some are so portable they can be hand carried; others are larger and installed outside homes and businesses, somewhat like an air-conditioning system.

The biggest factors to consider about a generator are the amount of electricity you'll need and the cost of the unit to provide it. Generators for larger homes and small businesses can run anywhere from about $1,800 to $15,000. On the other hand, businesses can lose thousands of dollars in products and services in just one night of outage.

"Even if the average homeowner adds up what's in their fridges and freezers, you'd be surprised how much it is," Ruland said. He recommends a Craftsman unit that costs about $700.

"There's no point buying more than you need," he said.

Consumers can also order a wide selection of generators through companies on the Internet offering brands such as Honda, Yamaha, Briggs & Stratton, Baldor and Honeywell.

Having a generator can bring a certain peace of mind and perhaps a whole new circle of friends.

So, let's look at the options.

Small, portable generators are useful for camping trips, short power outages or construction. They can be carried by hand or toted on wheels, and their output can range from 1 to about 17.5 kilowatts (kw), whereas some that are used for businesses and agriculture may produce up to 150 kw. Some portable generators are designed for short power outages and others can be used all day every day on construction sites. Depending on what is needed, they can range from approximately $300 to $8,000.

Recreational vehicle (RV) generators can provide enough electricity to keep a motor home running. They run about $2,000. Sometimes these run on propane and are considered more of a specialty item.

To keep an entire home or small business running, you might want to use what's called a standby generator, which is designed to switch on automatically if the power fails and operate the air conditioning, office equipment or whatever. It is installed outside a home or office and can run on propane, diesel or natural gas. These generators start out at about $1,800 and can go up to $15,000 or so.

"It all depends whether people want the luxury of keeping the air conditioning on, or if they have an elderly relative, for example, who might have a medical condition," Ruland said.

For agricultural enterprises, there's an option called a power take-off (PTO) generator designed to be used behind a tractor. The tractor engine turns a shaft connected to the PTO to generate electricity for other equipment. A PTO generator starts at about $1,300.

Since power outages aren't everyday events, and we're all watching pennies, renting a unit is another option.

As with any fuel-operated engine, there are safety considerations. Storing the fuel for generators can be a potential fire risk, for example. SDG&E offers a safety tip sheet for homeowners wanting to use backup generators. It is attached to this article and can be downloaded. The utility cautions consumers never to plug a generator into a power outlet because it can backfeed electricity into a system in which someone is working to restore power and thereby injure workers. Generators should only be used outside the home. State law requires people to notify SDG&E before they use their backup generator for the first time, according to the utility company.

"You don't want to run your generator at full capacity," Ruland said. "It could overheat or shut down."

Watch this SDG&E power outage safety video to see portable and standby generators. This SDG&E link contains general outage information.

Maintaining a generator is the same as a lawn mower, Ruland said.

"Put fresh gas in it and top up the oil—just standard 30 weight. Remember the octane of the fuel drops off after three or four months in storage. The freshest, largest storage is in your car," Ruland said. "Be proactive. Get a syphoning hose so you can get gas out of your car for your generator in an emergency."