Connecting Two Parallel Portable Generators

Sometimes you need a lot of power, like when you have to power an air conditioner. However, portable generators that are strong enough to run an A/C unit also tend to be large enough to require multiple people to move them.

Imagine if you could separate your portable generator in half and move half at a time. With tandem generators, you're able to do that. 

Tandem generators are smaller generators that connect together to generate the power of a much larger generator that you may not be able to move.

If you currently have an inverter generator, you can get yourself another compatible portable generator and tether it to the existing one with a set of parallel cables to effectively double the power.

If you don't already have an inverter generator, you can get companion kits that feature two portable inverter generators and the necessary parallel cables for connecting them together.

This kind of a setup is great for RV trips, camping trips, tailgating, and any other situation where you'll have to move your generator by hand to power a large appliance or multiple appliances.

To help you understand the importance of decibels, and to explain why some manufacturers don’t measure them for their generators, we put together a chart and an article that are easy to follow.

For more information about decibels and how they relate to generator noise levels, visit our article: Not Measured by MFG – Why Some Generators Don’t List Decibel Ratings.

Storms Roll Through Upper Midwest and Northeast United States

Spring visited us for a day or two, but Jack Frost is back in town for one final hurrah! The cold, frosty scalawag is bringing with him a storm, and it won't be a little one.

Even with winter getting closer to its end, these storms will continue. As temperatures drop, they'll transition from snow and ice to rain and wind. This also means flooding

Before spring kicks into full gear with raining and flooding, it's recommended that you have a quality portable generators and a battery backup sump pump to keep your power on and your basement dry.

Dumping substantial snow from northern Illinois to northern New England, the storm will start Wednesday night and continue through Thursday. Travel conditions will be strongly effected, and school cancellations are likely.

The heaviest snowfall will be seen throughout interior New England, possibly exceeding 1 foot in the northern part of the area.

The I-95 corridor from Providence, R.I. to New York City to Washington, D.C. will see mostly rain, however colder air plunging southward behind the storm may mean a change from rain to snow toward the end.

Over 100 Thousand Without Power in Georgia

An ice storm has hit the Georgia area. Ice forming on power lines has caused major problems for people in the area, downing power lines and causing power outages.

With power still out, those affected may begin to wonder how they're going to stay warm as the sun begins to descend below the horizon.

If you are among these people affected, you can certainly do something to restore power to your home.

Go to www.ElectricGeneratorsDirect.com, and you'll see they have many different kinds of generators in stock. Portable generators are the lightest, most affordable, and easiest to get going. Just don't run the unit inside your home, garage, or cellar. The carbon monoxide fumes produced are very deadly. Leave it outside away from doors and windows and run extension cords from it to power your utilities inside.

If you're new to generators, call during the day and speak with one of the experts. They'll help you by answering any questions you might have. Visit the on-site electric generator Buyer's Guide to help you find the perfect model for you, and you'll be warm and watching television again in no time!

If you're looking for a more permanent fix that will kick on as soon as the power goes out, you can get a home standby generator from the same place and hire an electrician and a plumber to come out and install it for you.

Businesses that are worried about keeping the power on have an even better option with commercial standby generators to help keep their coolers, lights, and everything else up and running through power outages. Take a look at Electric Generators Direct.

How to Power Your Home With a Portable Generator

Too many times have I heard from people who plugged their generator directly into a wall outlet to power their home. This is not only extremely dangerous, it's illegal! Do NOT plug into a wall outlet with your generator. This is called backfeeding, and it can be deadly for power line workers.

To power your home with a portable generator, you have to use what is called a power transfer system. It allows you to run the generated power into your circuit board properly. Remember though, if you don't have a powerful enough generator, you won't be able to power your whole house. You can instead turn on only the rooms you are able to power.

Another important thing to remember is that you want to keep your generator outside and away from any windows or doors while it's running. Generators produce carbon monoxide, which is very deadly. Carbon monoxide can build up in your home very rapidly if you have your generator running in your garage, inside your home or basement, or even outside a window or door where it can seep in.

Keep your generator a fair distance away and run a heavy-duty generator cord to the transfer switch inside.

If your main electric panel is installed inside your garage, you've lucked out. Running to an electric panel in a garage is the easiest and least expensive option. Purchase a transfer system compatible with your generator, and have an electrician install it for you.

If your electric main panel is in your basement, you have a couple of options to choose from. you can either run a power cord through an open basement window, or you can mount a power inlet box on the outside of your house near your electrical panel.

The second of those options is better as you could imagine. The power inlet box is then hardwired into your manual transfer switch.

When the power goes out, you just have to run an extension cord from the generator to the power inlet box, flip a few switches and you're back up and running with backup power.

A standard transfer switch installation takes around 3-4 hours and will only cost about $200-$300. While that may seem like a lot, it's a worthwhile investment when the power goes out and you've got less to worry about.

Winter Storm Cleon: Ice Storms and Power Outages

From now through Sunday, December 8th, Winter Storm Cleon will be dumping rain, ice, and snow from Dallas, Texas to Maine. As northwestern arctic air moves south, it will meet increased moisture from the southwestern United States.

This will mean more snowfall for western Colorado, bringing their storm totals up to 1-2 feet of snow. Worse news however is the path of dangerous ice storms and the likelihood of widespread power outages.

If you don't already have a home standby or emergency backup generator, now may be a good time to invest in at least a portable emergency generator in case there is a major power outage in the area you live in. Portable generators are affordable and easy to stow away when they're not being used. Electric Generators Direct has an in-depth buyer's guide to help you find the perfect model for your home.

The path of ice and power outages is expected to cover the following areas:

• Dallas, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Memphis, Tennessee
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Albany, New York
• Boston, Massachusetts

Other areas closely surrounding these cities will be effected as well.

With temperatures rapidly dropping, a major power outage could be detrimental for those living in the path of this storm. If you don't already have a backup emergency generator in place, we strongly suggest you consider one now. You can have one shipped directly to your home on short notice, so it's not too late. 

We have many in-stock that can be shipped to you overnight. We also recommend using a generator canopy like a GenTent to shield the generator from freezing rain and ice. Remember never to run a generator in your home or garage as the carbon monoxide from the engine is very deadly.

If you need assistance determining what portable generator you will need for your home, you can speak with me or another generator expert by calling 1 (800) 800-3317.

Pick a Size - But Not Any Size

As you're shopping portable generators for the first time, you may find yourself overwhelmed with options. Your first question will likely be "What size generator do I need?"

The size of the generator will usually reflect its power. If you need more starting amperage to get powered up, you're going to likely need a bigger portable generator.

To determine how large of a generator you really need, you can follow the formula posted below.

Starting Amps x Volts = Watts

The starting amperage load will be much larger than the running load, which is why proper calculations need to be made to properly size your unit.

Because every home is different, I recommend having a certified electrician do your wattage calculation.