When your home’s electricity goes out unexpectedly, you don’t have to be left in the dark. With a generator, you can keep you home running until the power comes back on. But how do these appliances work? Below, Zelek Electric of Old Lyme, CT, shares some basic information that will help you better understand generators.

While motors convert electrical energy into mechanical, generators convert mechanical energy into electrical. They can be fueled with wind, water, or steam, but your average commercial or residential one will be fueled by gasoline. Despite its name, a generator does not actually create electricity out of thin air. With a gas-powered engine and an electromagnet, it channels electrical charges from wire coils in the alternator into the circuit.

This electromagnet is called a rotor because, propelled by the engine, it spins inside the wire coils of the alternator to create a magnetic field. This then transfers the voltage in the coils to the circuit. You can plug any light, fan, heater, or small appliance into your generator, and it will work.

Generators have numerous uses from camping to construction to powering your home during blackouts. There are a lot of different types, ranging from small and portable to permanent, or standby, generators.

When you prepare to use a generator at your home, make sure you have enough gasoline, but don’t top the tank off. Generators should be run outside for ventilation purposes, and the exhaust output should always point away from your home. For the most efficient and safest use, connect it directly to your home though a special generator outlet that can be installed by an electrical contractor.

Whether you’re preparing for winter blackouts, or you just want to have a backup plan, a generator is a great option. The experts at Zelek Electric can help fit your home with one and coach you on its use. They specialize in clean solar energy and can help you find ways to save money. Contact them today at (860) 434-9726, or visit their website to learn more.