Home Generator: Selecting, Sizing And Connecting: The Complete Guide

While brief rolling blackouts may be just an annoyance, power loss for days or even weeks can be very costly and even life-threatening. Unfortunately, for many homeowners who do not have a background in electrical engineering, choosing, sizing and connecting a backup generator can be challenging. What type is best for prolonged power outages? How to accurately determine the required wattage? Is my existing natural gas service sufficient to run a standby system? How do I safely connect a portable generator to the house wiring? These are some of the commonly asked questions.