Selecting the Right Size Generator
You wouldn’t buy a Volkswagen Beetle for a family of six; why buy a generator that doesn’t fit your requirements? At Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc. our site survey professionals will calculate your generator needs based on the National Electrical Code (NEC) load calculation form. This form is required by many city/counties in Virginia to acquire an electrical permit for a generator installation.
Based on your specific requirements, your electrical load/appliances, and service size, our professionals present options that meet NEC load calculations required for a safe system that meets code requirements, your needs, and your budget. Under-sizing, your generator may shut your generator down during an outage. Generac systems provide for an automatic shutdown when the generator is overloaded. Shutting down during a utility power outage is not the result you want for your investment. Choosing a professional who sizes your home standby backup power solution is key to your desired outcome…power when the power goes out.
Control your Power with a Generac Automatic Standby Generator installed by Hale’s Electrical Service, Inc.
Generac’s new Evolution™ technology allows consumers to use a smaller size generator for a larger application than prior models. This means a lower final package price to you and a more powerful solution for you to Control Your Power! Evolution technology involves load management controls that enable a heat pump system with back up heat strips, as are popular in the Mid-Atlantic Region, to operate on a 20kW Air-Cooled Generac generator, versus the previously requires 25kW Liquid-Cooled Generac generator. This system’s cost is approximately 50% less than a Liquid-Cooled system. Evolution™ technology when applied to your installation is called a Managed System, as certain circuits will be temporarily in a “holding pattern” until enough generator power is available to safely operate those circuits without overloading and shutting down the generator. These “holding patterns” are generally very brief, approximately five minutes until the appliance/circuit which is being “managed: will try to come on again.
Your load calculation and your load management created by your Hale’s professional can mean the difference between your Generac generator operating properly or shutting down when a utility power outage occurs and you expect your investment to provide power. Power You Control, properly calculated and managed, will smoothly transition your home’s electrical load as it is needed and called for during an outage, with minimal inconvenience or interruption (traditionally a new Generac generator will transfer power in 20-30 seconds after power is lost) to your daily life, while maintaining your Generac system’s integrity.
While many systems are designed by our site survey professionals to operate as a Whole House Solution, these Load Management Systems apply load management for those times when temperatures outside are extreme. During these extreme weather periods, an outage may require emergency heat strips to become disabled while power is not available to sufficiently power the heat strips. At intervals, power is available when other items in your home are not operating, hence managing the home’s load. Without this load management, your generator may shut down due to system overload. If you are away from home and your generator shuts down from overload and not being properly sized and managed, you might come home to a warm refrigerator, frozen pipes, water in your basement or a myriad of other annoying circumstances.
Proper sizing and a full understanding of the difference between Whole Home, Managed Home, and Select Circuit backup power systems is key to your complete satisfaction. Our site survey professionals will discuss your needs, review your current power requirements and work with you to create a system that meets your needs both for your home standby backup power and your budget. Call our knowledgeable staff at (804) 518-3060 or contact us to schedule your FREE in-home site survey from one of our certified Generac professionals to discuss and tailor a system to meet your needs. Serving Central Virginia for over 10 years! Call today!
