When your electrical power goes out, you have two emergency power options: a portable generator or stationary generators. Most people we encounter originally tried using portable, gasoline powered generators.
They end up encountering a number of problems with these units. They can only power a portion of their home and a few key appliances, and operating the generator in the wrong place can prove extremely hazardous to human health because of carbon monoxide poising. Natural gas home generators have proven to be much more effective than gasoline powered equivalents, and far more practical for home use than the diesel generators used in commercial arenas.
When clients ask us about upgrading to diesel, we try to steer than back to natural gas emergency power generators for a number of reasons. The biggest of these is that few homes have the necessary room to operate such a piece of equipment. Diesel has a very long shelf life due to the additives that are in it, so it makes sense to store it in a warehouse environment. A warehouse has plenty of storage room for fuel and for the large fuel tank. Natural gas home generators are much more practical for the smaller spaces located behind garages or in mechanical areas. Gas is clean burning and is a stable source of energy. It is not subject to the same outages that afflict electrical service when trees fall or lightning strikes.
ILD residential electrical contractors provide both the natural gas generator itself and coordinate the turnkey installation of the unit. It is much better to let professionals choose the unit and to coordinate the various parties that will be involve in hooking it up. Determining the size of the unit is the most critical factor in providing safe, whole house power backup. Knowledge of the home service panel and wiring systems will be required to make an accurate assessment of the power needs of the entire house.
It is also necessary to have a conversation with the light company at this point about home power usage. The electric company has detailed records on every home and what its power usage curve is during normal times and at times of emergency. By combining this data from the survey of home demand and electrical subsystems, ILD residential electrical remodeling specialists can then determine exactly how much electricity or maximum amperage will be necessary to power the entire house in a worse-case scenario power outage.
Once this determination is made, ILD orders the appropriately sized unit and obtains from the manufacture information on how much natural gas the home electrical generator consumes per minute. We subcontract a licensed plumber to physically connect the unit to the gas line. The plumber will first check the pressure regulator and pipe work to ensure that the flow of gas meets the requirements of the generator plus those of the rest of the home. Any necessary adjustments will be made at this time.
Once everything is set, the unit is mounted in either a mechanical room or behind the garage and connected to the gas line. In the event that there is no practical or safe place to mount the natural gas home generator, we will hire a concrete company to pour a slab upon which we can install the unit.
If you are interesting in a "Turn Key" emergency standby power generator solution for your home, please call the residential electrical services specialists at Illuminations Lighting Design.
Contact our Master Electrician at Illuminations Lighting Design at 713-863-1133 to learn more about houston home construction, home lighting controls, surge protection, electrical panel upgrades or to schedule a complimentary in home consultation. Labels: Emergency Power Generator Installation, Home Standby Generator Installation, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor, Natural Gas Generators Houston, Residential Backup Generator
Residential power surge protectors offer the best buffer against transient power surges that can quickly destroy appliances, light fixtures, and expensive electronics in the home. Transient power surge is the biggest enemy of any device that operates off a printed circuit board. While the dangers of such an electrical spike are obvious to anyone who has witnessed the power of lighting and lived through a subsequent power outage, few people are aware of just how extensive the damage to their home wiring and appliances can result from such a power spike. Things that people would normally not consider to be vulnerable to power surges from emergency power generators and utility poles can be destroyed in an instant, and without warning.
This is because technology has evolved to such a level of sophistication over the years that all appliances are now manufactured with printed circuit boards. These circuit boards better regulate electrical usage, extending the lifespan of the appliance and reducing energy usage in the process. However, these are very sensitive pieces of equipment at the same time. A transient power surge can quickly destroy the circuit panel in any home appliance and render the device permanently inoperable.
When we consider as well that many lighting control systems, such as Lutron wall box dimmer controls, are also built with circuit panels, we see that even more havoc can be wrecked in a home by a single lightning strike. Lighting does not have to strike the home itself, either. It only needs to hit a nearby transformer to send an overload directly into the house. A residential power surge protector is the only safeguard against the catastrophic failure that inevitably results.
Protecting your residence and home automation equipment has become increasingly complex over the past 30 years. It takes a trained, experienced expert to calculate the size and placement of the surge protector. Size in the electrical world has nothing to do with physical dimensions. Instead, it has to do with the ratio of power delivered to the home factored by the number of electrical devices drawing power from the electrical service panels. This equation, as simple as it seems, becomes much more complex when dedicated circuits are added as variables. Many high-end electronic systems, such as plasma TVs, computers, stereos, and home theaters all require their own dedicated circuit to operate.
Residential power surge protectors installed by ILD consistently block spikes of up to 300,000 amps. While there are no absolute safeguards against the raw powers of Nature, these commercial grade units represent your best bet in protecting your investment in Houston home theaters, home appliances and electronics. Furthermore, they take up far less space than retail units, because even though they are far more powerful, they are 50 percent the size and therefore much easier for our team to install.
If you are interested in a standby electrical generator or a whole house surge protection system, we invite you contact us at 713-863-1133 or us our online request design consultation form.
Since 1980, Illuminations has grown to include a team of over 50 talented and dedicated employees. Specialty divisions have been created to focus on such disciplines as lighting design, electrical contracting, landscape lighting and home automation. Having specialists in each of these disciplines, while remaining true to the mission of offering home owners the "complete picture" of lighting design, is key to continued success at Illuminations Lighting.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and house lighting plans in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.
Labels: Emergency Power Generator Installation, Home Standby Generator Installation, Home Surge Protection, Houston Surge Protection Company, Residential Surge Protection Systems
There are two types of residential generators: portable and standby (also known as stationary.) During Hurricane Ike last year, many Houstonians attempted to power their essential home systems using portable units bought in retail stores. Some of these homeowners ran into difficulty with gasoline shortages, the dangers of carbon monoxide, and the inability of smaller generators to handle more than a few home appliances.
Portable units sold in stores are typically only 5600W. This is only enough electricity to power certain appliances. They cannot power the entire home, and it is not a good idea to attempt to overload them. Gasoline also burns out more quickly than other fuel sources and produces carbon monoxide. However, if you already own a portable residential generator, ILD will still be happy to make sure it is set up correctly and that it has not been overloaded with too many appliances tied to an extension cord by installing new home wiring specific for emergency power.
We recommend that you have a home standby electrical generator installed in your home. If you invest in a commercial-grade unit, you can count on having enough power to effectively power your entire home in the event of a power failure. Fuel options are much more diverse with stationary units. Models can be installed that run on natural gas, propane, or diesel. Diesel burns much longer than gasoline and tends to be more readily available during storm season. Natural gas and propane can usually be found in even greater supplies in the event of a major tropical storm or hurricane. However, you should never attempt to install a residential standby generator yourself. Such a task requires a licensed electrical remodeling contractor due to the complexities of wiring and the nature of electricity itself.
We recommend that you contact Illuminations Lighting and Design and let us install a residential standby generator for you. We have a number of commercial grade models available, and we will install a model that is best suited to your individual residence. We determine this match by first examining your electrical circuit panel and making sure that they do not have faulty wiring. We check all the major circuits that run to your major home systems to ensure that they are not overloaded. If we find a defect, we will either implement a provisional wiring scheme to route power to major home systems such as the AC, home automation system, and security system in the event of an emergency. It is important to do this first to avoid overloading your circuit panel in the event that power fails, and your residential standby generator goes into operation.
If necessary, we will also install dedicated circuits to essential home appliances such as your television and your computer. This way, you will be able to operate your communications and media devices for the duration of the crisis. With a commercial grade residential standby generator, we can deliver specific power loads to each system and appliance without the risk of overloading the panel or blowing a fuse.
This way, provided your home is secure enough to weather a storm like Alicia or Ike, you have can be assured of uninterrupted, safe power throughout the time of the emergency. Having the assurance that your home has an advanced electrical system with a whole house surge protection in the time of a national emergency is equivalent in value to a home insurance policy. It is an indemnity of your family’s safety, peace of mind, and personal lifestyle.
We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to learn more about our Houston home construction or our lighting blog which is full of helpful Houston Texas lighting information.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and house lighting plans in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.Labels: Emergency Power Generator Installation, Home Standby Generator Installation, Residential Backup Generator, Residential Generator
Generators of all types use the same basic technology to generate electricity. A turbine turns within a magnetic field; displacing electrons in conductive material that create the flow of energy we call "electricity." While the huge generators that power the public power grid may seem a far cry from home electrical generators in both output capacity and engineering design, always remember that the basic technological principles remain the same for both. It is important to keep this in mind when purchasing a home electrical generator because its purpose is to safely and reliably replace the public power grid during an electrical outage. Illuminations Lighting and Design operates as an authorized dealer of home electrical generators and a source of information on choosing the right electrical generator for your home.
Generally speaking, home electrical generators fall into two categories: stationary, (or standby) and portable. To determine which best suits your needs; it is critical that you first determine if you require electricity for the entire home or for only essential appliances and communications equipment. If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, then err on the side of overestimating the time you will be without power. Hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and tornado's in Central Texas and The High Plains have destroyed power grids in the past, leaving entire urban areas blacked out for days. If you think you might face such a situation in the future, we recommend that you invest in a standby home electrical generator that requires minimal refueling and will supply power to the entire home. This assumes, of course, you are far enough from the immediate disaster area that you can safely remain at home without evacuating. Illuminations Lighting and Design will help you select between fuel options ranging from natural gas, propane, or diesel fuel (which burns much longer than gasoline), and we will help you install your home's new electrical generator in a safe, well-ventilated, secure location.
If you live in a part of Texas less prone to natural disasters than to occasional intermittent or rolling blackouts, then you can cost-effectively invest in a portable generator. While most portable home electrical generators will supply electricity to only the essential appliances and perhaps one or two rooms, this usually meets the immediate power needs of most temporary outages that pose no threat to life. However, please keep in mind the importance of safe usage if you choose to use a portable electrical generator fueled by gasoline. Pure carbon monoxide gives off no odor, and it can kill before it becomes evident. Call Illuminations Lighting and Design for expert advice on how to select and operate a gasoline-powered home electrical generator, and always err on the side of caution when using highly flammable fuels and toxic exhausts.
If you are planning to invest in a portable electrical generator for evacuation purposes, consult with one of our specialists first to make certain that the device you have in mind can meet your needs during travel, or in any emergency facilities to which you may relocate.
In any event, it always proves wise to consult with an expert first to ensure you have sufficiently considered all the factors required to safely generate home electrical power. The team at Illuminations Lighting and Design consists of a highly trained, professional, and customer-friendly staff that stands ready to help you make these decisions and ensure maximum protection and quality of life.
Contact us at 713-863-1133 and let us install a home emergency generator system designed specifically for you home.
Labels: Beaumont Texas Emergency Generators, Electrical home back up generators, Emergency Power Generator Installation, Houston Emergency Backup Generators, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor
Illuminations Lighting Design located in Houston, Texas specializes in residential emergency generators for any size home. Our experienced Journeyman electricians, under strict supervision from our Master Electrican, can install and maintain any size whole house emergency generator from Onan.
Extreme weather conditions, construction mishaps, and many other unforeseen complications can interrupt the electrical power you and your family depend on to continue your daily activities. When electricity is lost - day or night - you can be assured that your home will have all the comfort and convenience you depend on from
Illuminations Lighting Design.
Clean, efficient, quiet, and neighborhood friendly, all Onan emergency generators run on either natural gas or propane. Since most homes in Texas have natural gas, this is the most popular and sensible solution. Why, because even under the worst possible conditions, natural gas is available usually without interruption. We can arrange for a professional plumber to make the necessary provisions to connect your new generator for a
turn-key solution.
Onan offers many models ranging from 11kw to 45kw residential emergency generators:
RS12000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/9-11 kW
Weight: 575 lbs (261 kg)
Length: 45 in (1143 mm)
Width: 34 in (864 mm)
Height: 39 in (986 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 70 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
RS15000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/14-16 kW
Weight: 1,213 lbs (550 kg)
Length: 58 in (1473 mm)
Width: 28 in (711 mm)
Height: 37 in (940 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 71 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
RS20000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/20 kW
Weight: 1,135 lbs (515 kg)
Length: 64 in (1626 mm)
Width: 28 in (711 mm)
Height: 50 in (1270 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 71 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
RS45000
Power Ratings: 60 Hz/42-47 kW
Weight: 2668 lb (1160 kg) Natural Gas2752 lb (1197 kg) LP
Length: 101.5 in (2578 mm)
Width: 41.3 in (1049 mm)Height: 71.8 in (1824 mm)
Sound Ratings: Less than 66.3 dB(A) at 23 ft (7 m), average
Nothing is more important to your family's emergency needs than an automatic transfer switch to insure a safe orderly transfer from the power company to stand by emergency power. Onan makes a automatic transfer switch for all there emergency generators.
RST Automatic Transfer Panel
Power Ratings: 60, 100 or 200 Amp120/240V, 1 phase
Weight: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
Dimensions: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
RSZ Automatic Transfer Switch
Power Ratings: 100 or 200 Amp120/240V, 1 phase
Weight: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
Dimensions: Varies by model and enclosure type; see spec sheet for details
Onan provides the power that keeps you going - on the water, on the road, in your work, and at home. Whether you live in Houston, Austin, San Antonio Texas, you never know when a storm may blow in. Why not give yourself peace of mind with an emergency generator from Illuminations Lighting Design.
Onan is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc.
Labels: Electrical home back up generators, Emergency Power Generator Installation, Emergency Power Generators, Houston Emergency Backup Generators, Houston Texas Contractors
