Generators were first designed and built to provide power to United States Military overseas in Vietnam. Then generators became available as emergency power for hospitals and large industrial facilities. Then generators transformed into portable power that you could pack in the back of your pick up and take to a tailgate party. Now, you can find a generator for any type of emergency power outage, including for your home.

Since homes come in all different sizes and with different power demands, there is a huge selection of generators to assure you find the correct type and size for your application. You can find a lot of information on generators around the web, here we will give you some of the information you cannot.

Portable Generators

Portable generators can be used for small power demands. Ideally, these generators are used for recreational activities or to supply power to tools and equipment. If a traditional home standby generator is not affordable, a larger portable generator can work for you. The largest portable on the market is a Generac 17500W, or 17.5kW. Because there is less installation required, you can save thousands of dollars on equipment and labor.

The downfall to that is there will be a lot more work with the portable generator. These units can usually be installed with manual transfer switches which means you physically have to transfer the power from utility to generator and back. Using the transfer switch is the safest way to regulate power flow. These units can’t be stored outside without protection from the elements. There is no enclosure so the engine and all other parts are exposed which means if a power outage occurs during a rain or snow storm, you wouldn’t be able to use your portable unit. These units can never be operated indoors because the emissions can be toxic in enclosed spaces. Aside from all of that, air cooled units may last a lot longer than portable units, so spending less now could cost you more in the future.

The most popular portable generator is the  Westinghouse WH7500E, also available in a CARB compliant model. CARB Compliant generators are units that have been approved by the California Air Regulations Board which regulates emissions in California. The 7500W generator works great for recreational power and is large enough to supply power to your essentials. The best part, it is under $1000. Kohler has recently unveiled a powerful portable generator line that rivals Generac’s long running reign on portable power. Not to be forgotten, Briggs & Stratton, Champion Power Equipment and Yamaha also offer wide varieties of portable generators and power inverters.

Air Cooled Generators

Air cooled generators are what you would typically use for your home. These units are designed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as durable. The enclosures are designed to protect the innermost parts of the generator from wetness and damaging wind and debris. You can find air cooled units as small as 7kW or as large as 22kW. The smaller air cooled units are ideal for backing up essential items, like lights and food sources. It is not realistic to think a 7kW or an 8kW could power your entire house. The smaller units are a great compromise between the conveniences of a home standby and the affordability of a portable generator.

Air cooled generators are a large investment. It is important to know that aside from the cost of the generator, there are additional costs to install and permit the generator, depending on your local ordinances. We recommend checking with your city or village hall before hiring a contractor to install your unit. They will be able to give you all of the necessary permitting information and even give you a referral to electrical and plumbing contractors. Depending on the size of your unit, you could pay as much to install the generator as you did to purchase it. However, these units (with proper maintenance) could last the lifetime of your home. With the amount of money you will save in the time of an emergency, the investment is worth it. AP Electric even offers an exclusive  Installation Package Selection that provides you with everything you need to get your unit running, and provides the first maintenance kit you will need.

The most popular air cooled unit right now is the  Generac 6551, a 22kW Guardian Series generator. This model is the most popular air cooled on the market. The cost per kW is unrivaled. This unit is powerful enough to back up most homes entirely. Of course, there are limitations to that, which is why we offer a  generator sizing calculator. This tool can help you make the decision between backing up essential items, or your whole home, by estimating power demand and telling you how many kWs you would need for the selected items. While this tool is accurate for estimating purposes, we recommend verifying the information with your electrician.

The  Kohler 20RESAL is a sleek, reliable unit that can be packaged with either a 100 amp or 200amp transfer switch. The Kohler 20kW is a favorite amongst our industry experts because of its reliability and durable structure. Briggs & Stratton, as well as Cummins Power Generation, also offer air cooled generators designed to back up your home’s power.

Liquid Cooled Generators

Perhaps the more expensive choice for your home, the liquid cooled units offer maximum residential power. You can find liquid cooled generators up to 150kW on our site. You wouldn’t see a unit that large being installed next door, but there are models that can be used for residential applications.

Air cooled generators run at 3600RPM and can produce up to 70dB of sound when running. Liquid cooled generators also operate at 3600RPM so the noise level isn’t much different. Generac offers a line called the  Quietsource Series. These units run at 1800RPM, so they are quieter than the units with faster engines. Most liquid cooled units have the same installation clearances as air cooled units, however, you could have them installed further away if you wanted. Liquid cooled units don’t come in packages with transfer switches like air cooled units because there are far more options. To help you find compatible transfer switches we have included the options on product pages.

Before Generac shocked the industry with a 22kW air cooled, you could only find that much power in a liquid cooled 22kW. Generac also offers a 25kW, 27kW and 30kW liquid cooled models. These units are physically larger, but not too large for a house. Typically, you would see something this big in a 3,000 SF home or larger. These units are for the tough power demands, like running all essentials and non-medical equipment.

Cummins Power Generation also offers liquid cooled models that could be installed in residential applications. Their liquid cooled line might be a little more expensive than Generac’s, but Cummins Power Generation started as an engine company. Their generators are truly machines that can run forever if maintained properly.

Of course, Kohler Generators and Briggs & Stratton also offer exceptional liquid cooled products. They have smaller units that can be used in residential applications but we see them used more frequently in commercial applications. The sheer size and aesthetics of these units can be quite breathtaking next to a house.

Whether you choose to use a portable generator, an air cooled generator or a liquid cooled generator we believe you should have some sort of backup power supply. In the event of an emergency being able to have food sources and light can be the difference in thousands of dollars over the life of your home. Here at AP Electric we want to help you find the best possible solution for your power needs.