Sizing Up Your Home Backup Power Supply: What Capacity Do You Need?

A reliable power supply is a basic need in an ever-evolving digital world. Unfortunately, we cannot always rely on energy suppliers to remain consistent in delivering on that need. This is where the market for home power backup supplies came into existence. These machines are designed specifically to cater to your personal and home power backup needs. However, choosing the right backup solution can be a daunting task for anyone. This is why we’re here to break it down for you.

Why Do I Need a Home Backup Power Supply?

Now you might ask, why is a home backup power solution even necessary? Well, as mentioned before, the energy suppliers that we rely on can also falter at times. Bad weather conditions – such as storms, blizzards, hurricanes, or any number of natural disasters could also impact your power supply. Grid failure can lead to unplanned and prolonged power outages as well. 

Your home needs electricity to function correctly – from keeping the fridge running so food doesn’t get spoiled and keeping your security system functioning at all times to keeping the internet working and allowing life to continue without disruption. Prolonged outages can lead to frozen pipes, flooded basements, and moldy walls - all of which can have devastating financial repercussions and can be a major safety hazard. A home backup power solution ensures that you have a consistent energy supply and added reassurance during an emergency.

The Different Types of Generators Available 

During a power outage, a generator can be used for an immediate and convenient power supply. Choosing the type of generator to invest in is a task of its own accord. You have to consider multiple factors – such as your location, your budget, the frequency of power outages, and more. Below are 4 main types of generators available on the market:

Fuel Generators

As its name suggests, a fuel generator is any generator that is powered by a fuel source such as gasoline, diesel, or propane. These machines convert mechanical energy into electrical energy by burning the fuels and are usually used as a power backup in cases of emergency or as outdoor energy sources. 

Inverter Generators

Inverter generators are typically smaller, easier to carry around, quieter, and produce fewer emissions than other portable generators. However, inverter generators tend to be more expensive and produce less power. Rather than running at a constant speed, inverter generators automatically adjust their engine speeds to meet electrical demands – this is what reduces the noise levels and fuel consumption. These machines can also store energy which makes them perfect for traveling or use in an RV.

Solar Generators

Solar generators run on energy from the sun. They provide clean, renewable power used to maintain an entire household’s electric needs. This type of generator uses solar panels to absorb sunlight through a photovoltaic process to store the energy for use at a later time. Solar generators are handy - even during colder seasons - and offer a reliable and safe alternative to generators that run on fossil fuels. 

The Mango Power E Solar Generator provides an impressive 2000Wh solar energy input. The device is portable and sleek – allowing you to take your power supply wherever you need it to be. The Mango Power Solar Panels are built with ETFE Solar Cell Lamination that is higher than most conventional solar panels and has magnetic pads for convenient transportation. Mango Power presents a seamless and clean energy solution that will keep your home’s power supply constant. 

Whole House Generators

Whole house generators – also known as standby generators – are used to power heavy-duty appliances and keep an entire household’s energy supply running without faltering. These generators are usually permanent fixtures on a residence and are typically connected to a built-in fuel supply. While they tend to be more costly and take up a large amount of space, they do ensure a consistent power supply by automatically switching on in the event of a power outage. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing A Home Backup Battery 

When choosing to invest in a home power backup supply solution, it’s important to run over a list of the factors to consider before heading to your nearest store:

List Your Priority Appliances 

When using a generator, you have to prioritize which appliances should be given power during an outage. Deciding which appliances to keep running is your first step to owning an efficient home backup supply solution. Remember that each appliance will use a different amount of power. The main appliances to consider are your refrigerators, overhead lights, TV, stoves, and internet routers.

Calculate The Wattage Needed

After establishing a list of which appliances are necessary, you should prepare to do some math. Generators are categorized according to the wattage they produce – usually measured in watts (W) or in kilowatts(kW) where 1000 watts equal one kilowatt. Make a list of the amount of wattage required by each appliance you deem necessary and tally up a total. 

When considering the wattage required, you have to know the difference between running watts and starting watts. Your running watts – or rated watts - are the continuous watts needed to keep the appliance running. Starting watts, on the other hand, refer to the extra watts needed within the few seconds it takes to start up motor-driven products - such as a refrigerator or power tool. 

To calculate your wattage requirements, simply: 

1. Establish the list of necessary appliances you want to keep running.
2. Make note of the running watts and starting watts of each appliance – these will be found on labels, data plates, or in the user manual of each device.
3. Add up all the running watts for each appliance on your priority list. 
4. Choose the highest number in the starting watts list and add it to your total running watts. 
5. The final number is the wattage your home backup generator will have to meet. 

This is an example of a typical appliance list, however, please refer to the exact amount on the devices you own.

The Size of Your Home 

When choosing a home generator, you have to also consider the size of your home. This will indicate how large of a generator you need to be considering. Using a generator that is too small for your residence will result in poor performance while using one too large will be inefficient and lead to wastage. 

Outlet Compatibility 

Ensure that the generator you intend on buying has outlets that are compatible with your appliances – especially if you choose to buy your home generator online or from an overseas store.  

Budget 

While generators may be a smart choice, investing in one can be a financial strain on many people. Be sure that you have the budget to purchase a generator that will effectively meet all your home backup needs. Remember that portable generators tend to be more affordable than fixed ones. 

Portability

Depending on your usage of the generator, how portable it is should also fit into the factors you want to consider before buying one. Decide if you’re looking for a lightweight generator that can be taken on camping trips and moved around easily or if you need a generator that stays in place on your property.

Duration and Frequency of Outages 

The place you live in and the weather you’re most likely to experience will also determine the type of generator you should get. If you’re likely to experience long power outages that happen frequently, a fixed standby generator would probably be a better choice. However, if you’re keeping a home backup generator in case of an emergency in an area not necessarily prone to blackouts, you can probably choose a smaller option. 

Why is it Important to Have the Right Sized Generator?

While generators do effectively do the same thing, choosing the right generator for your specific needs will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. There are multiple reasons to pay more attention to what you put in your cart when looking for a home power backup supply: 

Safety

It should not have to be said that generators can be dangerous if they are used incorrectly. Like any electric device, generators have the potential to cause serious physical harm and can lead to explosions and fires when handled poorly. Using a generator that is being overworked due to insufficient planning can cause fires, explosions, and serious injury. Using fuel generators incorrectly also increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Be sure of the type of generator you need and how to operate it. 

Efficiency

Choosing the wrong-sized generator will result in a wasted investment. A generator too large for your needs will become more of an expense than an asset and a generator too small will not be able to meet all the requirements. 

Reliability

Generators that are not precise to your needs will ultimately become a burden. The strain of pushing itself to reach a power supply it was not built to meet will ensure that your generator breaks down easily and performs poorly. As the device degrades, the maintenance it requires will further put a dent in your wallet. 

Performance

The wear and tear on a poorly chosen generator will show itself in the dwindling performance of the device. A system over its capacity will not keep up with your energy needs and might end up damaging the appliances it keeps trying so hard to run. System failure and device damage will be eminent if you don’t consider the correct size for your home backup generator. 

Now that you have a firm grasp on why calculating the correct size of your home backup supply solution is important, make use of Mango Power’s excellent range of renewable home energy backup solutions. From the impressive Mango Power E to the sturdy and consistent Mango Power Union, we’re sure to have a home energy backup to suit your needs.