BACKUP POWER A few words of advice for buying a generator

Prices for portable generators start between $500 and $700.
By GARY DYMSKI
LONG ISLAND NEWSDAY
First the blackout, then Hurricane Isabel. Whether because of outdated technology or an irate Mother Nature, it doesn't take much to put a residential electrical system out of commission. No electricity can mean more than no comfort. In cases of compromised health, continually working residential electric power can be a necessity.
According to published news reports, the August blackout affected about 50 million people across the Northeast and Midwest. Last month, Hurricane Isabel slapped parts of the East Coast, knocking out electrical power to more than 6 million homes.
For many homeowners without power, the solution was putting a portable generator to use. While a portable generator can help a homeowner through powerless periods by supplying electricity to an appliance or selected lights in a room, a small unit can't supply power to an entire household. And before you run out to buy a portable generator so you're ready for the next blackout, here's a little advice: starting prices for portable generators are between $500 and $700, and like other gas-powered, small-engine equipment, they need regular maintenance.
Rick Brashears, a product manager for DeWalt compressors and generators, says his company makes several generators between 2,900 and 7,000 watts that are designed to be used by professional contractors at job sites. "But a lot of people like our generators for backup power in the event of a blackout or power outage," Brashears says.
Important considerations
Brashears says proper sizing and regular maintenance are critical if a generator is to perform up to consumer expectations. Most experts say a 3,500- to 5,500-watt generator would be able to run the essential household appliances -- furnace fan, freezer, refrigerator and some lighting -- in homes between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet.
But calculating needs is simple: Add the wattage of your appliances and lighting fixtures and pick a generator that will capably handle the load. Most electrical items list wattage use on an attached label. Amperage often is listed in place of wattage. To calculate wattage, multiply the amperage times the voltage (120 or 240) required by the appliance or item.
In addition, the generator should have a start-up rating. Since more electricity is needed at start-up, it is important to have a generator that will handle the extra load. (A 4,000-watt generator might have a 5,000-watt start-up rating, for example.)
Brashears, who lives in Maryland, was still feeling the effects of Hurricane Isabel last month; his home was without power for several days, and he was running some appliances, including a refrigerator, with a portable generator.
"My neighbor across the street bought a generator recently because he was concerned about not being able to run his basement sump pump in the event of heavy rains and flooding," Brashears says. "Right now, he's pretty happy."
Generally simple to use
For the most part, using a portable generator is simple. Properly rated extension cords can be run directly from outlets on the generator to appliances, lamps and other electrical items (some generators have several outlets). To keep the engine running smoothly, regular maintenance should be followed.
A properly maintained generator has a long life span. "Easily 10 years or longer," Brashears says. Also, some generator engines are extremely efficient; a 7-gallon gas tank can keep a generator running for nearly 12 hours. When in use, the generator -- remember, it's a gas-powered item -- should be placed outdoors to properly ventilate carbon monoxide waste.
"I've actually read about people running generators indoors," says George Thompson of Briggs & amp; Stratton power equipment. "People should know that these engines are like the engines on your lawn mowers or other lawn and garden equipment; they need to be run in a ventilated area."
Whole-house systems
Thompson says people considering a generator purchase shouldn't overreact because of the recent power outages. Home generator systems, which can monitor the utility company's power supply, and, in the event of an outage, use an automatic transfer switch to convert the home to generator power, can run from $10,000 installed. Some smaller generators also can be directly connected to the home's service panel and use a transfer switch; leave these installations to an experienced and licensed electrician.
Thompson acknowledges a whole-house automatic system might be a bit elaborate for the common homeowner. "Most of the time, I would think a portable generator and properly rated extension cords would be enough to help most households through a power outage," Thompson says.
If being without power for some essential needs isn't enough to stimulate your purchasing juices, remember generators have other applications. For starters, Thompson says, recreation activities, such as camping and running tools on large properties, have long been primary uses for generator power.
Brashears agrees that generators are multipurpose machines. Lately, however, he knows the neighbor with a generator can be the most popular guy on the block. "One of our neighbors is bringing food over to store in our freezer," he says.