Hot weather causes power shortage, here are 3 things you need to keep in mind before considering buying a generator

Power outages are not only annoying, but in some cases can be dangerous. For example, food in a refrigerator that cannot cool will quickly spoil.

Moreover, the fact that the storms are getting stronger is also the reason why you should start thinking about buying a generator for home use. And here are 3 things to keep in mind before making a decision.

Fuel type

While most generators run on gasoline, some can also run on gas – which fuel you decide to use depends on your own resources available.

If you are in areas where gas stations are hard to reach – having a gas generator ready for emergencies can be the most sensible option.

In case you can afford quick access to a supply of gasoline, it is only a matter of considering the capacity so that the generator uses just the necessary amount of fuel.

Finally, if you really want to be self-sufficient in fuel, you can invest in one or more solar panels. However, it should be noted that in terms of power generation, solar panels do not have many advantages over gasoline or gas generators.

Wattage

When buying a generator, you’ll obviously want to make sure it will have enough output power to run what you need in an emergency.

To calculate the wattage you need – the general formula is to add up the wattage of all the devices you want to power and multiply by 1.5 – this is the minimum wattage the generator must deliver.

Information about the wattage of devices is usually given by the manufacturer on the device itself or in the manual.

If the device does not describe the number of Watt (Watt – unit of power measurement) but lists Ampere (measurement of amperage) and Volt (Voltage – unit of voltage difference), multiply these two values to find capacity.

For example, you need to power a 1,440 Watt refrigerator, a 3,600 Watt oven and an 864 Watt dishwasher – meaning the generator must have at least 5,904 Watts of output.

Expense

Of course cost is a very important factor – and for high capacity you will have to pay more.

You can own a pretty good generator for around 300 USD (about 7 million VND) or boldly invest in models with large capacity for up to several tens of millions of dong.

But to be as economical as possible, immediately limit the devices that you need to power with a generator.

You might consider prioritizing power to mini-fridges and microwave ovens over full-sized refrigerators and ovens. And if the weather is not too hot – try skipping the option of supplying power from the generator to the air conditioner and instead the fan system.