Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Electric Power Accessories

Investing in a generator means investing in reliable backup power. To make the most of this investment, you might consider adding the following generator accessories. While some are required, others are simply a great idea that you won't regret.

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Portable Generator Accessories

Portable generators have several accessories that will enhance usability and convenience.

Convenience Cords

The only way to get power from a portable generator is to plug appliances into it. The bad part about traditional extension cords, though, is that you have to run several from the outside generator to your indoor items.

Fortunately, there are convenience cords on the market that branch out into multiple outlets. That way, you can run only one cord but connect several items to your generators power. It's a must-have generator accessory if you don't want to be tripping over cords all day!

Generator Enclosure

It's one of the major paradoxes of using a portable generator. You can let it get wet outside (you know, because electricity and water don't mix) but chances are your power outage is happening during a storm. What do you do?

You need a generator enclosure to protect your unit. Generator enclosures come in the form of a tent or covering that goes over your generator to protect it from the elements. They are designed to maintain proper ventilation, unlike homemade covers you might be tempted to throw on there. This generator accessory is another one you really shouldn't go without if you want to rely on backup power in any weather.

Power Transfer System

Power transfer systems allow you to wire your portable generator to your house, which lets you power hardwired items such as your heating system. These systems consist of a manual transfer switch, a power cord, and, when necessary, a power inlet box.

With a power transfer system, you'll simply plug your generator into the transfer switch directly or through the power inlet box and you'll send power to your home's circuits. No other cords required. It's the simplest way to use a portable generator.

Gas Can & Fuel Stabilizer

Never let gas just sit in your generator if you don't plan on using it for weeks or months. Always empty the tank and store any remaining fuel in a gas can. Add fuel stabilizer to the gas to keep it fresh over the time it's being stored. That way, you won't waste fuel or hurt your generator with bad gas.

Standby Generator Accessories

If you have a home standby generator, you already have the best backup power money can buy. However, there are accessories to make it even better!

Generator Pads

Standby generators come equipped with a composite base on the bottom. While it is not required, we highly recommend this generator accessory to raise your generator one grade higher, keeping it level and safe during a torrential downpour.

Generator pads are composed of high-strength fibers and cement, so they won't shift, crack or degrade over time. They also include galvanized bolts for securing your generator directly to the pad.

New to the market are QwikHurricane generator pads. These innovative pads are sold at a weight of 40 pounds for easy transportation. During setup, the installer pours water inside which reacts with a special polymer to form a gel that increases the pad's weight to roughly 330 pounds. You're left with a sturdy and secure generator pad that will protect your standby for years to come.

Batteries

A battery is a required generator accessory. The battery jump starts the standby generator to get the engine running. Otherwise, you need to be home to pull a recoil cord to start it, which totally defeats the purpose of automatic backup power.

To ensure the battery is fresh at time of setup, it's typically not sold pre-installed. Instead, it's often sold as part of a standby generator kit. Otherwise, you need to buy one separately. Learn more about electric generator batteries.

Cold Weather Kits

Your battery will serve you well... as long as it doesn't freeze. If you live in climates where the temperature plummets below freezing for extended periods, you should consider a cold-weather kit as one of your generator accessories.

The kit basically keeps your battery toasty. Plus, it keeps the oil from freezing into sludge. We recommend installing a cold weather kit at the same time your generator is installed.

Generator Monitoring

Generator monitoring utilizes a remote monitoring system attached to your generator. It allows you to check on your standby generator from anywhere in the world via your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

This system will promptly alert you (or your installer) of a potential problem or service issue, giving you ample time to remedy the situation between outages.

Load Management Modules

If you want to get the most power for your money, load management modules are the perfect generator accessory.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Electric Powertek.

Load management modules connect to individual electric circuits in your home and are each assigned a priority level. The priority level corresponds to the importance of the load during a power outage, and the modules manage what comes on or off depending on what the generator can handle.

For example, suppose you connect a module to the circuit controlling your fridge and assign it priority one. The modules will work to make sure the fridge is always powered, even if it means cutting power to lower priority items, such as your toaster. By managing power, the modules potentially let you save money by buying a smaller-size generator than you might otherwise need.

Lift Gate Service

Standby generator systems don't ship in little brown trucks. Instead, they will arrive at your home on a semi-truck designed for loading docks.

We strongly recommend ordering liftgate service to safely lower it from the back of the truck to the curb. Otherwise, it will take an army of people to unload the 500-pound generator without destroying it upon descent.

Accessorize Your Generator

Generator accessories can provide extra protection for your investment and enrich the use of your product. If you have any questions about which generator accessories might benefit you, please contact us at 1-800-800-.

2. Find the right location for the charger (garage, driveway, side of house, curbside on public road).

3. Check your homes electrical capacity.

4. Schedule installation work.

Once you have decided to get your home EV ready, you need to decide on the type of charging you will need. Residential charging is divided into two types: “Level 1” uses a standard (120v) household outlet and “Level 2” (240v) uses a more powerful heavy duty socket . Level 1 charging is inexpensive since all that is needed is a 120V outlet and a Level 1 charger, (which is essentially a special extension cord that comes with the EV at purchase). Level 2 is more involved since heavy duty wiring, circuit breakers, and a separate EV charger are needed.

How to select the right category of charger?

Level 1 chargers provide 3-5 miles of range per hour of charging and should only be used if you have a plug-in hybrid car[1] , rather than a fully battery electric car. Plug-in hybrids have small batteries and limited electric range and can fully charge using a Level 1 charger overnight. Battery electric cars have large batteries and driving ranges that average over 200 miles, with some models offering a range of over 400 miles. In these cases, the faster Level 2 (10 – 30 miles of range) per hour are needed unless you only drive a few miles per day.

Preparing your house for a Level 1 EV charger.

The first step in this process is to see if you have any outdoor (water protected) outlets installed near where you park your car. This could be an outlet on the wall of your house that you might use for outdoor power tools or other plug in items. You might also have outlets in your garage. Check to see if the outlets are 3 prong style, which are needed for Level 1 EV chargers. See figure 1.

If the outlet is exposed to the elements (rain), then it should have additional features such as a waterproof cover, and a “GFI” circuit.  See Figure 2.

If you have either of these outlet types, then there are no additional steps that you need to make for a Level 1 charger.  You are EV ready!  You can connect your plug-in hybrid and get an instant (though relatively slow) charge right away.  For some people, this modest outlet is all that is needed since the number of miles that they travel on a regular basis is limited by the small battery in their car.  For other drivers who want to get their house fully EV ready, additional steps (and hardware) are needed.

Preparing your house for a Level 2 (240V) EV charger.

If you are planning on a fully electric car then, except for a few circumstances where you might just drive short distances every day, you will need to get a Level 2, 240 Volt charger.  Level 2 chargers are capable of adding 10-30 miles of electric range per hour and can fully charge an EV battery overnight.  The planning and installation for this type of charger is more involved, but you will end up with a much more powerful, future proof and useful charger for your EV.

Surveying possible locations for Level 2 charger.

Level 2 chargers can be located either in a garage, outdoors in a driveway, or “curbside” at your house or apartment.  When looking for a location for the charger, try to find a spot that is at or near where you park your car, and also someplace that is nearby some existing electricity.  For those who have a garage, this is a perfect location.  If you don’t have a garage, look for a place that the wiring can be placed, such as the side of your house.  If this is not possible, pick a place in the driveway where you could locate a small pole that would hold an electrical outlet.  

In some cases, this pole mount system can be used in homes that do not have driveways.  To accomplish this, a homeowner would need to find (unmetered) street parking that is adjacent to land owned by the homeowner, then run the electrical underground  to the edge of the homeowner’s land so that the charging cord could reach from street parking to the electrical charger or outlet.[2]

Once you have determined the best location, the next step is to choose the electrical hardware.  The easiest way to get your house EV ready is by installing a heavy duty electrical outlet.  These outlets (called “NEMA 14-50” types) are commonly used for electric dryers, so electricians are very familiar with them.  Installing the outlet and not a “hard wired” charger gives you flexibility.  Once this outlet is installed, in the future you can simply plug in your charger when you get one, and you can also take your charger with you when you move.

Surveying your home’s electrical capacity. 

Since Level 2 (but not Level 1)  EV chargers draw a considerable amount of power, you will need to ensure that your home’s electrical system is up to the job prior to installing the wiring for the charger.  To do this, you should check your main electrical panel.  If the box is full and there are no blank spots left for new breakers, then you might need to upgrade your electrical panel while you are having the EV charger wiring installed by the electrician.  Older homes that do not have central AC might only have a 100A (amp) electrical panel, while newer homes have 200A panels that would provide more room for an EV charging circuit.  The need for an upgrade is not bad news in itself; upgrades are commonly done in older homes and make your home ready for future clean electric heating as well, but they will add cost to your EV wiring installation.

The final step in the process is to find and hire an electrician to complete the installation.  To do this you can start some research by talking to friends and neighbors who already have EVs, or you can call your electric utility.  Make sure that the electrician is fully licensed and insured, and that he/she is either getting a permit or following electrical code requirements.

[1] Plug in hybrid cars have both gas engines and batteries. Depending on the car model, batteries provide roughly the first 20 miles of range, then the gas engine takes over.

[2] Individual municipality restrictions may apply, consult permitting authorities prior to undertaking this type of work.

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