How to Install a Standby Generator in 8 Steps

Tired of the frequent power outages and horrific weather events? Finally getting a generator to save your home from plunging into darkness every time the light goes out? We got you covered. Standby generators have become more of a necessity owing to the ongoing electricity snags. A sudden outage and you’re left to deal with torches or candles, if you’re old-school, for hours or even days. 

But thanks to our technology geeks, things have become easier now. You can buy or, even better, order yourself a standby generator and you’re good to go for as long as the generator runs out of fuel. You can install a standby generator in as easy as eight steps. You can either go for a professional to fix it up for you or do DIY. 

However, there are a few essentials you need to have knowledge of prior to buying a generator and are all stated below. So without further ado, let’s dive right into the article, shall we? 


Standby Generator

As evident by the name, standby generator is an alternate to keeping the lights working in your house when electricity goes out. In short, a backup power storage system. It is capable of providing power to your house, office, commercial and even industrial utilities depending upon its size and power voltage. 

They usually used fixed-locations and concrete grounds as footing to reduce the noise and, vibration by passing through the ground. Standby generators can supply electricity for days on end in the course of extensive blackouts depending upon the nature of fuel it consumes. 

It can work on Natural Gas, Propane or Diesel. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. With Natural gas your generator would work for as long as main gas line supplies Natural Gas. But it would be the first thing to go off in case of an earthquake etc., to avoid potential damage. With Diesel, the only drawback is refueling. 

There are a few factors one must consider before purchasing a standby generator. These include upfront cost, fuel and maintenance rate, noise, fuel storage and safety. 


Steps to Install a Standby Generator

Now that you know the all the essentials, let’s move on to the steps we need to follow to install a standby generator.

Step 1: Select an Installation Site

Selecting where to install the generator is the most important step in its successful long-term working. You need to make sure it is at least five feet away from all doors, windows, houses, garden and fresh air intakes. A small water-free area will less flood risks. 

Leave space around the generator for the technicians, plumbers and electricians to easily solve any underlying problem without moving the equipment. Also, make sure to double-check all community restrictions. So the homeowners or the community association is well with you installing a generator and doesn’t go uproar afterwards. 

You can either install it on the roof of your house or outside the premises. If you decide to place outside the building, make sure you thoroughly check the site before installation. The area will not be suitable to station the generator if it is prone to changing or if there is a risk on flood or constant water puddles. It can render the machine inoperable. 

Step 2: Form a Strong Foundation 

A generator is capable of making a lot of noise and by a lot I really mean A LOT. But since generators are heavy machines and perform work through energy from mechanical tasks, they produce vibration as well. 

Within the boundaries of your home, the noise and vibration can be challenging to deal with, especially when it’s for long. That’s why homeowners install concrete pads reinforced by compressed gravel beds. It helps keep the generator in position and stable. 

When you go purchasing the concrete pad, make sure to measure the dimensions of your generator and the installation area. It is explicitly created depending upon the width, shape, weight and height of your generator. An undersized concrete pad can give rise to a bunch of problems. 

Also, its thickness must be in accordance with the weight and position of the generator. Concrete pads are often used with vibration insulators to reduce the vibrations produced. It helps prevent other sensitive equipment in the building from getting damaged due to vibrations. 

Step 3: Secure the Concrete Pad 

To make sure the concrete pad remains in place and the generation doesn’t cause it to move, secure the pad with rivets, bolts or nails to lock it in place to the generator. Stainless steel nails would work best. You can use more for better security but four bolts on each side have proven to work fine. 

This way your generator will have an environment stable enough to deliver you the current you need in your life.  

Step 4: Add the Fuel

To make anything work, you need to provide energy. With humans it’s food, with machines it’s fuel. Now, as mentioned previously, generators work on three types of fuel of which the most commonly used and having most benefits is Natural Gas. 

Generators can run ad infinitum as long as the main gas utility line keeps working. Hence, no need to get a fuel tank since they are directly linked to the Natural Gas channel in your locality. Also, it’s less expensive and is easily accessible. 

The only drawback it carries is that it would be the first thing to cut down in events of a tornado or hurricane so the chances of any explosion, big or small, are lessened. 

Step 5: Connect It to Electricity

You might need an electrician for this part as it can get slightly complicated and any fault in the wiring can lead to very unfortunate events. Standby generators are usually fitted with ATS which stands for Automatic Transfer Switch. It causes the generator to force start up in seconds after the power failure. 

The best part about ATS is that it prevents electricity from going back into the grid. It can result in serious misfortunes such as explosions, complete black out or even cause death of workers on the site at time of back feeding. 

According to your configuration of the generator, the ATS then transfers control power to selected panel that sends it further to other circuits or send power to all circuits at once. Either ways, the incoming power is completely separated from generator’s power. 

Step 6: Diagnostic Signals

Since its 2021 and everything is only a screen away only. To reduce the risk of authorized access and accidental damage, engineers programmed the machine to send diagnostic signals to the house owner using internet, of course.  

This ensures the maximum safety and least risk of anything going wrong. 

Step 7: Power Simulation

The transfer switch lies right beside the breaker box. It monitors the incoming and outgoing of electricity. And kick starts and stops the generator respectively. 

Step 8: Self-Test

You might think the job is done by now. The generator is doing its job and everything’s fine. But you may just be a little wrong. After every two weeks, the generator has been programmed to jump start automatically for a whole of twenty minutes to ensure its proper working. 

This step doesn’t involve much assistance from you but is necessary all the more. 


Conclusion

Dealing with blackness is not difficult anymore. A standby generator can last for up to twenty to forty years with an average use of hundred hours per year, depending on how well you treat it. 

Thank brings us to the end of this post. We hope it proved to be helpful to you. Have fun!

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