There\u2019s nothing worse than losing power during an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lights go out. The refrigerator shuts down. Your stove and microwave quit. Sometimes our heat and cooling systems go out, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve ever been in a blackout situation before you know exactly how vulnerable your home becomes when the electricity is switched off. This already frustrating situation is only compounded even more by the fact that there\u2019s no telling when the powers going to come back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankfully though, with the help of a portable generator, you and your family won\u2019t have to worry about all the headache, hassle, and frustration a blackout brings to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll have lights. Your refrigerator will keep things cool. Your stove and microwave will let you prepare meals. And you won\u2019t have to worry about your HVAC system \u201cgoing dark\u201d, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you spend any money on a quality portable generator, though, it\u2019s important to understand how portable generators work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve ever wondered how do portable generators work, this is the guide for you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Learning how do portable generators work really starts off with learning about the core components and how they work with one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of these core components play a big role in the performance of portable generators. Working in concert with one another they are able to turn your fuel source (gasoline or diesel fuel most of the time) into usable electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The heartbeat of every single portable generator is the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to the small engine found in snowblowers, lawnmowers, and other pieces of yard equipment, most portable generators have engines that are a little bigger \u2013 and many of them run off of diesel fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, though, the ICE in a portable generator is responsible for turning fuel into mechanical energy. And that\u2019s the \u201csecret sauce\u201d behind how your generator produces usable electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you turn on your portable generator you are firing up the ICE so that it activates the alternator.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The alternator is the powerplant of the system. It\u2019s the system that converts the mechanical energy of the ICE into electricity using a rotating component (sometimes called a rotator). This rotating component creates a magnetic field as it spins around a bundle of wound metallic coils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This actually produces the electrons that are later converted into usable energy through the outlets on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The starter mechanism is the switch that flips your ICE into action. It\u2019s the same kind of mechanism you\u2019ll find in your car \u2013 a tiny little engine that gets everything rocking and rolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the starter can be triggered with an electric key just like right along mowers and automobiles. Other times, though, you have to pull on a cord to crank the starter yourself and your ICE into high gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBreaking Down the Core Components of Portable Generators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Heartbeat \u2013 The Internal Combustion Engine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Powerplant \u2013 The Alternator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Jumpstart \u2013 The Starter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Juice \u2013 The Fuel System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n