You've made the smart choice by deciding to shop for a backup generator. You know that in an emergency, blackout, or natural disaster that having backup generators on hand means no stumbling in the dark, or needing to find hasty alternatives to rig up for conveniences like appliances, hot water, or temperature control devices like air conditioners or heating. Now that you've come this far, how do you find the right home generators or backup generators for your lifestyle? Shopping by voltage here at Winco can help you quickly and easily narrow down the best contenders in backup generators. To select the best backup generators for your needs, it's a good idea to consult your electrician, but our handy FAQs and tables can help you research your power needs alone, as well.
Shopping by voltage is easy when you know what you're looking for. To decode some of the "electrical speak", a 120 volt appliance would be one that used the simple two-prong plug most homeowners know well and are already familiar with - lamps are a good example of an appliance that uses 120 volts. 120/240 refers to larger appliances, such as dryers or refrigerators, that use a large three or four prong plug to draw their power; the two voltages of 120 and 240 are available through the same plug for a more demanding appliance to draw on throughout its working cycles. If you want to be prepared for a simple blackout by having the lights remain on, a 120 volt backup generator would be up to the task, but if a whole house generator that can keep everything running is more your aim, a 120/240 would be a better fit.
When it comes to phases, single phase home standby generators keep the power flowing into a typical house or living space uninterrupted, allowing homeowners to keep the lights on, the stove operational, the hot water available, and other appliances running as if the blackout never occurred. Naturally, some buildings need more power than others, which is where three phase backup generators come in. With larger industrial models coming to the rescue for buildings like hospitals and office buildings, three phase backup generators offer a smooth flow of power to even the most demanding users. The three phases alternate to ensure that no one appliance can stave off the power flow to another, such as life support in a medical situation, or network servers in an office.
