If I got a generator for my house to be prepared for a power outage (California wildfire country) – how does that work? Do I have to run extension chords from any appliances I want on generator power? Is there a way to connect a generator to the house so that lights work?
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What you’re talking about is a whole house standby generator. They are installed with an ATS(automatic transfer switch) which automatically starts the generator and switches over when the power from the street goes out. You’ll need to have a fuel source, depending on your location, it could be Natural Gas or Propane. These systems are wired directly into the house so everything comes back on. (Some systems are set up to provide power to essential systems, food storage, some lighting, a few outlets, heat.)
There are also portable generators, which can be connected to the same fuel sources as above, or can run on gasoline. These can also be wired into the whole house, but more often you’ll see extension cords running to the important appliances.
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