SAL-00400
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS
Generator selection, sizing and operation
by Art Nash
M any people in Alaska live out in the Bush. Some
of them do not have a power line coming to
their house. They are able to live without any utility-
in it, by burning fuel the internal movements can
deliver electricity to the generator’s plug-in sockets
without a glitch.
provided electricity and still use lanterns and cook
stoves that can burn gas. And even some people who Selection and sizing
live on the Alaska road system use solar panels to col- When you choose a generator, you may ask yourself
lect energy onto 12-volt batteries. “What is the most electricity I may need? Do I need
pure sine waves of electricity, or can modified sine
That is OK if you want to get some energy in the
waves do just as well?” Ask yourself, “how big of a
daytime — until twilight comes, that is. Or until there
unit will provide the amount of power that I want?”
is a very cloudy day without much sunshine. What
This can be a complex topic and you may want to
then? If a person wants to use TV, clothes washing
reference the generator manufacturers’ “sizing guide.”
machines or maybe a hotplate, they will want elec-
Here is an example from a common generator manu-
tricity. Thus, if you go outside at night in a village, or
facturer: https://powerequipment.honda.com/genera-
even on the edge of populated areas, you may hear
tors/wattage-calculator.
motors running continuously from generators.
This can help you select appliances that can be pow-
ered without having to be overly concerned with
understanding wattage. See how heavy each model is
to see if you want wheels on it. Choose a style you can
start. Ask the dealer selling generators what features
are helpful for your needs. Maybe read the “Consum-
er Reports” generator buying guide.
Once you size things right and have a generator that
you can start easily, it is important to have the right
kind of plug end on a cord you will use to access that
generated electricity.
For the everyday appliances plugged into the wall
sockets at your house, you want a cord plug that has
two flat, metal spades with a round one in between
A generator makes — or generates — electricity. It (you may have heard of these as “three prong plugs”).
is not a simple process, but it is a long-established If you want to start large implements with 240 volts,
one. A motor (think of the kind on a lawn mower for you will need to get a different style plug that may
instance) will be running, and attached to it is a metal have four prongs. Make sure that you have the right
bulb, which inside creates power. If you could look extension cord to draw power from if you expect to
through the metal casing you would see copper wire get what you need from the generator. You have to
and magnets. They turn and make raw electricity. But make sure you have the right plug to safely get any use
where does it go from there? Provided that the air out of your generator.
filter is clean from dirt and the gas doesn’t have water
Safety is an important element in running your gen-
erator, as is familiarity. If you don’t use your generator When operating in cold weather conditions, the
daily, start it up and run it under different conditions choice of motor oil can make a difference at start up.
annually so that you intuitively get a feel for how it Using a lightweight synthetic oil can get immediate
should sound and operate without harm to you or lubrication to the internal moving parts sooner, as
your home. well as make it easier to pull the recoil rope if you do
not have a starter and battery assembly on the genera-
There are a plethora of generators with different inter- tor. You also may consider attaching a small silicone
faces that you can buy. But from where? You can go to heating pad to the oil reservoir that can be plugged
a lumber yard, a hardware store, an internet website directly into to a timer for intermittent warming dur-
such as Amazon.com or even order custom items ing extremely cold weather.
from a website called “generators-r-us”! You might
even buy a used one at a pawn shop, computer listing Finally, one major safety tip: Do not run a generator
or on social media. But it is best to see what you really in your house. You could poison your family with
need and shop around your needs rather than buying carbon monoxide. The exhaust dangers are not worth
a generator and then using your appliances around the electricity you might gain. Keep your eye on any
the unit. Most new generators have a guarantee, but gauges as you operate the generator. Don’t forget to
be sure to check what is being provided in the war- check the oil from time to time (and be sure to keep it
ranty. out of the rain and snow).
Operation Conclusion
What kind of fuel should you pour into the genera- Even if you receive most of your home power from a
tor’s tank? It depends on the manufacturer’s recom- utility company, generators are nice to have in case of
mendation as a fuel tank can hold several different a sudden outage. Or if you are camping in a remote
fluids, but they may not run the engine correctly. area, they are good to have. Sure, some generators
If you have had a generator for a while that burns can be noisy, yet some brands advertise and feature
gasoline, and you can’t get it to start, you should ask the quiet nature of their units. Do you want to always
yourself how long ago you put the fuel into it to see have a way to turn on lights, cook, or heat? Think of
if it is possibly stale. Some generators use furnace your family’s comfort and your pets’ welfare when de-
heating oil (and believe it or not, even propane or ciding if you want to invest in a generator. It may just
vapor from wood can be burned in others designed be the smartest thing you can do to keep your family
as such). When it is started, let it warm up a while happy when in the dark!
before plugging the correct cord in. Listen to hear if it
is consistently running, or if it has spikes in the sound
of the motor.
To simplify information, trade names of products have been used. No endorsement of named products by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative
Extension Service is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not mentioned.
www.uaf.edu/ces or 1-877-520-5211/907-474-5211
Art Nash, Extension Energy Specialist
Published by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the United States Department
of Agriculture. UAF is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, educational institution and provider and prohibits illegal
discrimination against any individual: www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination..
©2024 University of Alaska Fairbanks.
09-21/AN/07-24 Revised June 2024
