subject: Generators, Cut Grass and You [print this page] Generators, Cut Grass and You Generators, Cut Grass and You
My childhood in the inland Northwest was something of a daily adventure; from going out in blizzards to take care of the animals to walking a mile to the bus stop every morning, there was always a chance something exciting could happen. Sometimes, nature decided it didn't play quite a large enough role in our lives. Then, it would whip up some nasty wind storm, knocking down power lines, pulling up trees, and putting our rural home in isolation from the outside world.
When this happened, to quote someone much more eloquent than I (Charles Dickens, specifically), "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." It could be pretty tough, being stuck in our house because fallen trees were blocking all the roads and not having any communication farther than upstairs to downstairs. However, after the first couple of times this happened, my wise parents went shopping for generators. They are all about family time (my parents, not generators), so we all trucked down to the store to learn about these miracle machines.
We learned a lot about each kind of generator, their strengths, weaknesses, main uses, etc, and I'll share this with you in a minute. But first, I want to tell you about the most interesting thing I learned there. It has to do with Asia, WW II and generators. What else does a story need? Now, chances are you're not going to be buying a World War II era generator for your home or business, but these are in fact responsible for providing power to thousands of families in South Asia. The Economist reports that an Indian firm is fitting WW II machinery with biomass gasifiers that can use rice husks as fuel. They create mini-grids, with each machine supplying power to about 600 families. Not only does it use natural products that would otherwise be left to go to waste, it is also a completely sustainable model. Who knows, maybe someday we will be able to buy generators that will run off of pine needles or cut grass.
Anyway, back to generators you might actually be looking at. There are numerous types of generators, so it's important to do some research before you decide to buy. Since my family knew the main purpose of our generator was to be there in emergencies and we wouldn't be taking it from our house or moving it, we settled on a Gillette Home generator. Gillette has been around since 1955, and they have continually been at the forefront of innovation in the field. Today, they are the leader in portable brushless generator design. Common brushless generators today produce up to 40% harmonic distortions on their wave forms. High harmonic distortion will damage, or even destroy, microprocessor based equipment. This means your computers, radio, amplifiers, and even garage door openers and fire alarms can be affected. However, in 1994, Gillette completely re-designed its line in order to provide an average of 6% harmonic distorted wave for a clean and safe emergency power source. Gillette has also made it a point to produce high quality, reliable, and especially quiet, standby power sources.
From then on, storm-induced house arrest was something I actually almost looked forward to. Our Gillette has been going strong for years now, so naturally I'm a little biased, but let's take a look at other good companies, as well.
Champion is a strong company based in the US and with manufacturing facilities in the Zhejiang province of China. They specialize in the design, manufacture and support of dependable and affordable generators, and have a deep commitment to customer service.
Another name you probably know is Coleman. Coleman PowerMate has been a leader in the industry for over 40 years, and has a wide range of products. As generators go, they focus mostly on portable machines.
A note on use of and care for generators; it is wise to keep them at least 25 feet away from the house to prevent the emitted carbon monoxide from entering your home through doors or windows. Just like with your boat engine or lawn equipment, you should also winterize your generator if it will not be in use. Just don't leave gas in it out of season, or add some ethanol stabilizer.
With some simple maintenance and sensible use, your generator should last through years of use, be it recreational, home backup or professional.
