WHY ELECTRICAL INSURANCE IS NEEDED...!!!!!!!!!
According to the Insurance Information Institute, whole-house generators act as theft-prevention mechanisms. Owning the unit will keep the power on in the home making it appear inhabited during a power outage, deterring thieves. Insurance companies may award discounts based on this.
Emergency generators are responsible for the well being of the family. They power appliances as well as air conditioning systems, keeping you comfortable after a storm. It especially helps people with medical conditions requiring the use of power to treat their illness.
HOW TO INSTALL .!!!!!!!
However, the voltage is not delivered at a constant 120 volts. With alternating current, the voltage rises and falls in a predetermined rhythm. The voltage oscillates from 0 to a peak voltage of 169 volts. Most appliances and electronics used in the United States are designed to be powered by this form of generated electricity.
During a power surge, the voltage exceeds the peak voltage of 169 volts.
A spike in voltage can be harmful to appliances and electrical devices in your home. An increase in voltage above an appliance's normal operating voltage can cause an arc of electrical current within the appliance. The heat generated in the arc causes damage to the electronic circuit boards and other electrical components.
Smaller, repeated power surges may slowly damage your electronic equipment, too. Your computer or stereo may continue to function after small surges occur until the integrity of the electronic components finally erode and your television, cordless phone, or answering machine mysteriously stops working. Repeated, small power surges shorten the life of appliances and electronics.
Power surges can enter a home through several pathways. In the case of lightning, it can take the path of the cable TV or satellite dish cable, through the incoming telephone lines, or through the incoming electrical service line.
One familiar point-of-use surge suppressor looks like a regular plug strip. However, unless it specifically says so, don’t assume your plug strip offers surge protection.
You can also install special electrical outlets that offer surge protection. Surge protection outlets are useful in locations where there isn't room for a plug-in surge protector, such as near a countertop microwave oven.
Service Entrance Surge Protection Devices usually mount in or on your main electrical panel or at the base of the electric meter. Using a service entrance surge protection device provides protection for your entire electrical system; they protect things such as motors, lights, outlets, light switches, and all the other "hard wired" items in the house that do not plug into an electrical outlet and can't be connected to a point-of-use surge protection device. And if the power surge is created by a lightning strike or power fluctuation on the utility lines, the service entrance surge protection device can reduce the power surge to a lower level before it gets to the point-of-use surge protection device.
Service entrance surge protection devices will either be Transient Volt Surge Suppressors (TVSSs) or secondary surge arresters. It’s difficult to compare the capabilities of a TVSS to a secondary surge arrester because the two are tested differently. Consult an electrician for further advice on how to install a service entrance surge suppression device.
However, the voltage is not delivered at a constant 120 volts. With alternating current, the voltage rises and falls in a predetermined rhythm. The voltage oscillates from 0 to a peak voltage of 169 volts. Most appliances and electronics used in the United States are designed to be powered by this form of generated electricity.
During a power surge, the voltage exceeds the peak voltage of 169 volts.
A spike in voltage can be harmful to appliances and electrical devices in your home. An increase in voltage above an appliance's normal operating voltage can cause an arc of electrical current within the appliance. The heat generated in the arc causes damage to the electronic circuit boards and other electrical components.
Smaller, repeated power surges may slowly damage your electronic equipment, too. Your computer or stereo may continue to function after small surges occur until the integrity of the electronic components finally erode and your television, cordless phone, or answering machine mysteriously stops working. Repeated, small power surges shorten the life of appliances and electronics.
Power surges can enter a home through several pathways. In the case of lightning, it can take the path of the cable TV or satellite dish cable, through the incoming telephone lines, or through the incoming electrical service line.
One familiar point-of-use surge suppressor looks like a regular plug strip. However, unless it specifically says so, don’t assume your plug strip offers surge protection.
You can also install special electrical outlets that offer surge protection. Surge protection outlets are useful in locations where there isn't room for a plug-in surge protector, such as near a countertop microwave oven.
Service Entrance Surge Protection Devices usually mount in or on your main electrical panel or at the base of the electric meter. Using a service entrance surge protection device provides protection for your entire electrical system; they protect things such as motors, lights, outlets, light switches, and all the other "hard wired" items in the house that do not plug into an electrical outlet and can't be connected to a point-of-use surge protection device. And if the power surge is created by a lightning strike or power fluctuation on the utility lines, the service entrance surge protection device can reduce the power surge to a lower level before it gets to the point-of-use surge protection device.
Service entrance surge protection devices will either be Transient Volt Surge Suppressors (TVSSs) or secondary surge arresters. It’s difficult to compare the capabilities of a TVSS to a secondary surge arrester because the two are tested differently. Consult an electrician for further advice on how to install a service entrance surge suppression device.
Reduce Home Insurance Costs With A Home Standby Generator
In Florida or Houston, Texas, owning a home standby generator can have many benefits, especially during hurricane season. The unit helps maintain your quality of life when there is a power outage. It will also protects your assets and save you money by reducing your home insurance costs.According to the Insurance Information Institute, whole-house generators act as theft-prevention mechanisms. Owning the unit will keep the power on in the home making it appear inhabited during a power outage, deterring thieves. Insurance companies may award discounts based on this.
Emergency generators are responsible for the well being of the family. They power appliances as well as air conditioning systems, keeping you comfortable after a storm. It especially helps people with medical conditions requiring the use of power to treat their illness.
The next time a storm knocks out your
power — again — you may find yourself thinking about a standby
generator. Unlike a portable backup generator, which you store in the
garage or shed and roll out during an emergency, a standby generator is
permanently installed on a gravel bed or concrete pad next to your
house. If the power goes out, an electronic switch automatically signals
the unit to turn on, keeping essential household systems and appliances
running even if you’re miles away.
Such systems, which start at about $5,000 and go as high as $40,000, recoup about 53% of their cost at resale, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2013 Cost vs. Value Report. Always-on protection doesn’t come cheap. Here’s how to decide if it’s right for you.
Such systems, which start at about $5,000 and go as high as $40,000, recoup about 53% of their cost at resale, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2013 Cost vs. Value Report. Always-on protection doesn’t come cheap. Here’s how to decide if it’s right for you.
HOW TO INSTALL .!!!!!!!
When permanent standby makes sense
As with any insurance policy, when you buy a backup generator there’s no telling when, or even if, you’ll need it. Whether it’s worth the investment depends on your personal situation, your tolerance for interruptions, and your budget.
If you live in an area with frequent, prolonged outages, rely on electrically powered medical equipment, or work at home and need to stay connected, a backup generator can protect you from a disruption you may not be able to afford.
If you live where hurricanes strike, a generator safeguards family members, especially children and the elderly, against the risks of sweltering heat. If you own a second home, particularly in areas where temperatures regularly dip below freezing, it can protect your property when you’re not around. “A lot of weekenders buy standby generators,” says dealer Chris Sauer, owner of G&G Lawn and Power in Stone Ridge, New York. “It’s a lot more expensive to have your pipes freeze and flood your house than it is to buy a generator.”
If you decide the benefits are worth the cost, here’s how to proceed.
Assess your power needs
Generators are sized according to wattage produced: The more watts, the bigger the unit—and the higher the price tag.
Wattage usage varies from house to house. Your generator supplier or local electrician can do a wattage assessment, or you can ballpark it yourself with an online calculator. You can also get general guidelines from national dealers such as Colorado Standby or Electric Generators Direct.
The next step is deciding what you want your generator to power. At minimum, you can run an “emergency panel” of necessities—say, a central air conditioning unit, the refrigerator, and a handful of lights and outlets. “A 17-kilowatt unit is the standard size for an emergency panel, because it has enough power for a central AC unit,” says Will Ferrigno, owner of Assurance Power in Boca Raton, Florida. If you live in a northern climate with no AC and gas heat, your emergency panel could be as small as 7kW, enough to power some lights, the fridge, and gas furnace.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is a generator with enough wattage to power your whole house. A 3,000-square-foot house with two central air conditioners, an electric range, and a whirlpool tub might require as much as 25kW to 30kW.
A third, newer option is a “load-management system,” a generator that can power everything in your house, just not all at once. Such a system could run that same 3,000-square-foot house with about 20kW, cutting power to nonessential circuits as necessary.
Consult the right professionals
Most of the time, your generator supplier will also provide setup service. That’s a good option, because you know the installer will be familiar with your equipment. A less expensive way to go—and your only option if you’ve purchased the generator online—is to hire a plumber to connect the unit to its fuel source (usually propane or natural gas, though some run on diesel) and an electrician to hook it into your house’s power supply. Both should be licensed and certified for the brand of equipment you’re installing and familiar with local codes that govern such things as how close the generator can sit to the house, how big the fuel storage tank can be, and whether you need a permit.
Calculate your costs
Prices vary by brand and location (just try buying one in South Florida after a hurricane), but an emergency panel unit of 7kW starts at around $4,500 before installation, while a 17kW unit runs from about $6,000 uninstalled to $12,000 fully set up. A 25kW to 30kW model costs from about $13,000 uninstalled to between $20,000 and $30,000 with installation. The national average for an installed system, according to the Cost vs. Value Report, is $11,410.
The type of fuel also affects cost. You may need to plumb for a gas line, for instance, or purchase and install a propane tank. Diesel units come with their own tanks, but diesel fuel is expensive and needs regular treatment so that it doesn’t clog the engine over time. (Even if your generator never kicks in, it will burn about 10 gallons of fuel a year in weekly self-tests.) “Talk to your plumber and your utility company before you buy a generator to make sure you can get an affordable power source,” says Brad Corgill, a technical sales rep at Colorado Standby in Colorado Springs.
Once you’re set up, you won’t have to worry about being stuck in the dark or freezing cold again. What’s more, a standby generator can add to your home’s value, which should make you feel doubly warm all over.
As with any insurance policy, when you buy a backup generator there’s no telling when, or even if, you’ll need it. Whether it’s worth the investment depends on your personal situation, your tolerance for interruptions, and your budget.
If you live in an area with frequent, prolonged outages, rely on electrically powered medical equipment, or work at home and need to stay connected, a backup generator can protect you from a disruption you may not be able to afford.
If you live where hurricanes strike, a generator safeguards family members, especially children and the elderly, against the risks of sweltering heat. If you own a second home, particularly in areas where temperatures regularly dip below freezing, it can protect your property when you’re not around. “A lot of weekenders buy standby generators,” says dealer Chris Sauer, owner of G&G Lawn and Power in Stone Ridge, New York. “It’s a lot more expensive to have your pipes freeze and flood your house than it is to buy a generator.”
If you decide the benefits are worth the cost, here’s how to proceed.
Assess your power needs
Generators are sized according to wattage produced: The more watts, the bigger the unit—and the higher the price tag.
Wattage usage varies from house to house. Your generator supplier or local electrician can do a wattage assessment, or you can ballpark it yourself with an online calculator. You can also get general guidelines from national dealers such as Colorado Standby or Electric Generators Direct.
The next step is deciding what you want your generator to power. At minimum, you can run an “emergency panel” of necessities—say, a central air conditioning unit, the refrigerator, and a handful of lights and outlets. “A 17-kilowatt unit is the standard size for an emergency panel, because it has enough power for a central AC unit,” says Will Ferrigno, owner of Assurance Power in Boca Raton, Florida. If you live in a northern climate with no AC and gas heat, your emergency panel could be as small as 7kW, enough to power some lights, the fridge, and gas furnace.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is a generator with enough wattage to power your whole house. A 3,000-square-foot house with two central air conditioners, an electric range, and a whirlpool tub might require as much as 25kW to 30kW.
A third, newer option is a “load-management system,” a generator that can power everything in your house, just not all at once. Such a system could run that same 3,000-square-foot house with about 20kW, cutting power to nonessential circuits as necessary.
Consult the right professionals
Most of the time, your generator supplier will also provide setup service. That’s a good option, because you know the installer will be familiar with your equipment. A less expensive way to go—and your only option if you’ve purchased the generator online—is to hire a plumber to connect the unit to its fuel source (usually propane or natural gas, though some run on diesel) and an electrician to hook it into your house’s power supply. Both should be licensed and certified for the brand of equipment you’re installing and familiar with local codes that govern such things as how close the generator can sit to the house, how big the fuel storage tank can be, and whether you need a permit.
Calculate your costs
Prices vary by brand and location (just try buying one in South Florida after a hurricane), but an emergency panel unit of 7kW starts at around $4,500 before installation, while a 17kW unit runs from about $6,000 uninstalled to $12,000 fully set up. A 25kW to 30kW model costs from about $13,000 uninstalled to between $20,000 and $30,000 with installation. The national average for an installed system, according to the Cost vs. Value Report, is $11,410.
The type of fuel also affects cost. You may need to plumb for a gas line, for instance, or purchase and install a propane tank. Diesel units come with their own tanks, but diesel fuel is expensive and needs regular treatment so that it doesn’t clog the engine over time. (Even if your generator never kicks in, it will burn about 10 gallons of fuel a year in weekly self-tests.) “Talk to your plumber and your utility company before you buy a generator to make sure you can get an affordable power source,” says Brad Corgill, a technical sales rep at Colorado Standby in Colorado Springs.
Once you’re set up, you won’t have to worry about being stuck in the dark or freezing cold again. What’s more, a standby generator can add to your home’s value, which should make you feel doubly warm all over.
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
In the United States, most homes use electrical power in the form of 120-volt, 60 Hz, single phase, alternating current.However, the voltage is not delivered at a constant 120 volts. With alternating current, the voltage rises and falls in a predetermined rhythm. The voltage oscillates from 0 to a peak voltage of 169 volts. Most appliances and electronics used in the United States are designed to be powered by this form of generated electricity.
During a power surge, the voltage exceeds the peak voltage of 169 volts.
A spike in voltage can be harmful to appliances and electrical devices in your home. An increase in voltage above an appliance's normal operating voltage can cause an arc of electrical current within the appliance. The heat generated in the arc causes damage to the electronic circuit boards and other electrical components.
Smaller, repeated power surges may slowly damage your electronic equipment, too. Your computer or stereo may continue to function after small surges occur until the integrity of the electronic components finally erode and your television, cordless phone, or answering machine mysteriously stops working. Repeated, small power surges shorten the life of appliances and electronics.
Where Do Power Surges Come From?
There are several sources of power surges. They can originate from the electric utility company during power grid switching. A common cause of power surges – especially the most powerful surges – is lightning. Power surges can originate inside a home when large appliances like air conditioners and refrigerator motors turn on and off.Power surges can enter a home through several pathways. In the case of lightning, it can take the path of the cable TV or satellite dish cable, through the incoming telephone lines, or through the incoming electrical service line.
How Can I Protect My Property?
Point-Of-Use Surge Protection Devices (SPDs), combined with a good grounding system, should protect your electronic and electrical appliances from most electrical surges. An SPD does not suppress or arrest a surge; it actually diverts the surge to the ground.One familiar point-of-use surge suppressor looks like a regular plug strip. However, unless it specifically says so, don’t assume your plug strip offers surge protection.
You can also install special electrical outlets that offer surge protection. Surge protection outlets are useful in locations where there isn't room for a plug-in surge protector, such as near a countertop microwave oven.
The Two-Tiered Approach
Point-of-use devices can protect particular appliances in your home, but a more comprehensive approach to surge protection is to combine point-of-use devices with another device, like a service entrance surge protector or an electrical panel surge protector. By installing two tiers of surge protection, you’ll be able to protect your home from all but the most powerful surges.Service Entrance Surge Protection Devices usually mount in or on your main electrical panel or at the base of the electric meter. Using a service entrance surge protection device provides protection for your entire electrical system; they protect things such as motors, lights, outlets, light switches, and all the other "hard wired" items in the house that do not plug into an electrical outlet and can't be connected to a point-of-use surge protection device. And if the power surge is created by a lightning strike or power fluctuation on the utility lines, the service entrance surge protection device can reduce the power surge to a lower level before it gets to the point-of-use surge protection device.
Service entrance surge protection devices will either be Transient Volt Surge Suppressors (TVSSs) or secondary surge arresters. It’s difficult to compare the capabilities of a TVSS to a secondary surge arrester because the two are tested differently. Consult an electrician for further advice on how to install a service entrance surge suppression device.
More To Consider
- Make sure any surge protectors you purchase are listed as UL Standard 1449. This is a national benchmark and means the product has been thoroughly tested.
- Select a point-of-use surge protector that has an indicating light and/or audible alarm to show when it needs a replacement.
- Look for SPDs that come with a manufacturer's warranty. Some warranties cover only the device; others also cover any damaged equipment connected to the device.
- Direct lightning strikes are powerful enough to overwhelm even the best surge protection; that said, the ultimate surge protection is to unplug equipment from the wall if you suspect a surge might be coming.
How Does A Power Surge Cause Damage?
In the United States, most homes use electrical power in the form of 120-volt, 60 Hz, single phase, alternating current.However, the voltage is not delivered at a constant 120 volts. With alternating current, the voltage rises and falls in a predetermined rhythm. The voltage oscillates from 0 to a peak voltage of 169 volts. Most appliances and electronics used in the United States are designed to be powered by this form of generated electricity.
During a power surge, the voltage exceeds the peak voltage of 169 volts.
A spike in voltage can be harmful to appliances and electrical devices in your home. An increase in voltage above an appliance's normal operating voltage can cause an arc of electrical current within the appliance. The heat generated in the arc causes damage to the electronic circuit boards and other electrical components.
Smaller, repeated power surges may slowly damage your electronic equipment, too. Your computer or stereo may continue to function after small surges occur until the integrity of the electronic components finally erode and your television, cordless phone, or answering machine mysteriously stops working. Repeated, small power surges shorten the life of appliances and electronics.
Where Do Power Surges Come From?
There are several sources of power surges. They can originate from the electric utility company during power grid switching. A common cause of power surges – especially the most powerful surges – is lightning. Power surges can originate inside a home when large appliances like air conditioners and refrigerator motors turn on and off.Power surges can enter a home through several pathways. In the case of lightning, it can take the path of the cable TV or satellite dish cable, through the incoming telephone lines, or through the incoming electrical service line.
How Can I Protect My Property?
Point-Of-Use Surge Protection Devices (SPDs), combined with a good grounding system, should protect your electronic and electrical appliances from most electrical surges. An SPD does not suppress or arrest a surge; it actually diverts the surge to the ground.One familiar point-of-use surge suppressor looks like a regular plug strip. However, unless it specifically says so, don’t assume your plug strip offers surge protection.
You can also install special electrical outlets that offer surge protection. Surge protection outlets are useful in locations where there isn't room for a plug-in surge protector, such as near a countertop microwave oven.
The Two-Tiered Approach
Point-of-use devices can protect particular appliances in your home, but a more comprehensive approach to surge protection is to combine point-of-use devices with another device, like a service entrance surge protector or an electrical panel surge protector. By installing two tiers of surge protection, you’ll be able to protect your home from all but the most powerful surges.Service Entrance Surge Protection Devices usually mount in or on your main electrical panel or at the base of the electric meter. Using a service entrance surge protection device provides protection for your entire electrical system; they protect things such as motors, lights, outlets, light switches, and all the other "hard wired" items in the house that do not plug into an electrical outlet and can't be connected to a point-of-use surge protection device. And if the power surge is created by a lightning strike or power fluctuation on the utility lines, the service entrance surge protection device can reduce the power surge to a lower level before it gets to the point-of-use surge protection device.
Service entrance surge protection devices will either be Transient Volt Surge Suppressors (TVSSs) or secondary surge arresters. It’s difficult to compare the capabilities of a TVSS to a secondary surge arrester because the two are tested differently. Consult an electrician for further advice on how to install a service entrance surge suppression device.
More To Consider
- Make sure any surge protectors you purchase are listed as UL Standard 1449. This is a national benchmark and means the product has been thoroughly tested.
- Select a point-of-use surge protector that has an indicating light and/or audible alarm to show when it needs a replacement.
- Look for SPDs that come with a manufacturer's warranty. Some warranties cover only the device; others also cover any damaged equipment connected to the device.
- Direct lightning strikes are powerful enough to overwhelm even the best surge protection; that said, the ultimate surge protection is to unplug equipment from the wall if you suspect a surge might be coming.
