The Benefits of a Regular Workout for Your Generator

A generator that sits idle for extended periods of time can experience several different types of problems including thickened fuel, dried seals and moisture accumulations that can result in rusted metal surfaces. One way to avoid these issues and extend the usable life of your generator is to give it an occasional workout even if you don’t need it for backup power at the time.

Here are some of the advantages of giving your generator a workout during the months when it is not in regular use:

* Running your generator burns fuel, which can prevent it from thickening by clearing it out at regular intervals.
* Fuel running through the system lubricates engine seals and gaskets which helps to retain their elasticity. It also prevents the accumulation of carbon in the system.
* As the generator heats up, accumulated moisture evaporates, thus reducing the potential for rust.

The best type of workout, which will enhance your generator’s operating efficiency and extend its usable life should include:

* Running your generator once a month – The issues of standing idle can start after only a month, which can be alleviated with regularly planned operation.
* A run time of at least 2 hours – Much like taking a car out on a freeway, running your generator for at least 2 hours allows it a long steady run that keeps the engine in shape.
* Connect your generator to appliances so that the demand load is greater than 60% – Generators are built to meet their stated demand load, and running your generator with that kind of load can give it a real-life workout level.

These steps can keep your generator’s parts moving freely, your fuel fresh, and the engine lubricated. Additionally, regular workouts will have your generator ready to go when you really need it.

Insuring your Business Operations with a Honda Standby Generator

Businesses take out all kinds of insurance policies for virtually any risk that may be encountered including general liability, product liability, commercial property insurance, and a variety of others. One risk that can be devastating, yet receives little attention, is the potential for losses incurred during power outages. Here, one of the best insurance policies available for businesses is the purchase of a Honda standby generator to provide backup power when outages occur.

A recent study on recovery times after major outages released by the Associated Press directly addressed the risks to which businesses are subjected when extended blackouts occur and there is no source of backup power. Using Hurricane Sandy as the most recent example, the study found that it took 13 days to restore power to 95% of the customers that lost power and while almost two weeks in the dark may have seemed like an eternity to affected customers, the time taken for the restoration of power was less than comparable outages in previous years.

Due to the unique characteristics of the severe weather that resulted in extended blackouts, the study also revealed that each event required different resources, repairs etc., which made advance preparations difficult if not impossible. For example, in the case of Sandy, many utilities had to repair their own power generation equipment before they could even contemplate the return of power for their customers. In each event covered by the study, different forms of resulting damage could only be dealt with after they occurred, extending the time to full power restoration.

For businesses, one of the biggest takeaways from this study has to be the fact that when an extended power outage occurs, customers are essentially on their own until power can be restored. Considering the potential for loss in these scenarios, going without a backup power source can be one of the biggest risks a business can take. For this reason alone, business owners, not willing to subject their business to massive losses due to a lack of power are installing Honda standby generators as their own insurance policy against the vagaries of weather and a power grid that grows more fragile with each passing year.

Honda standby generators come with a variety of power output options ranging from The Honda EB3000, with an output of 3000 watts to the Honda EB 10000 with a power output level of 10,000 watts. For more information about taking control of your power needs with a Honda standby generator, visit: http://www.generator-hph.com

How a Little Preparation can Help to Avoid the Most Critical Mistakes Made with Portable Generators

In the rush to switch over to backup power during an outage, there several critical mistakes that are commonly made that can result in danger to people in the house, poor power generation results, and the home being left in the dark despite having a portable generator at the ready. Fortunately, with a small amount of preparation, these mistakes can be avoided and you’ll be able to run essential appliances and lighting until power is restored.

The list of avoidable mistakes includes:

1) Running a portable generator in a location where emissions can drift into the home – A portable generator will often be moved close to the home to keep it out of the rain and so that extension cords can reach essential appliances. Instead of making this kind of rushed decision, put in an open shelter that is located a safe distance from the home from which you can run the generator. Secondly, buy 12 gauge extension cords that are long enough to reach essential appliances in the home from the shelter for the generator.
2) Plugging the portable generator directly into the service panel – This can pose a big danger to utility workers as excess power from the generator flows backwards in the power lines once the main source of power comes back on line. Instead, have a professional install a transfer switch that can power several appliances using one extension cord.
3) Underestimating fuel requirements – Fuel instantly becomes a high-demand item once the power shuts down and finding it when you need it most can be difficult. Instead, keep a couple days worth of fuel on hand to help you weather the storm. Generally speaking, a portable will use ten to twenty gallons of gas per day while a propane burning generator will use an average of six twenty pound propane tanks.
4) Not performing minimal maintenance on the generator – Like any engine, your generator will need an occasional oil change. Because a generator may not be used for extended periods, either empty the fuel tank or add a fuel stabilizer to prevent fuel from turning into a syrupy sludge.

With a Honda portable generator a little bit of preparation can go a long way toward safe, efficient, and abundant power generation. For more information on the best practices in backup power generation, as well as buying the right portable generator for your needs, visit: http://www.generator-hph.com