Generators are a great source of power whether it comes to home back up power, camping, powering your RVs, or in case of outages where you need emergency power. But with generators also come different concerns regarding how safe they are and how to operate them properly. All of us use various sensitive electronics like TVs, refrigerators, mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc in our day to day life. So, can generators damage electronics?
In short, the answer is Yes. Some generators which supply uneven power can fry sensitive circuits due to voltage surges especially when the generator runs out of gas. Many electronic devices that we use today have some kind of microprocessors and microchip components that are devised only to handle specific voltages to perform a particular task.
These sensitive components might not be able to handle the huge amount of power or voltage surges that can cause permanent damage. These surges can also result in a short circuit due to arcing between two conductors that are physically not connected.
You might not notice the effects of voltage surges immediately. The electronic devices may still work but will damage and reduce the life of your mobile phones or laptop, computers. That’s one of the reasons why some devices last longer than others even though they belong to the same brand.
In conventional generators, the AC alternators convert the mechanical energy of the motor to electrical energy in the form of multi-phase alternating current and it doesn’t result in very clean AC power.
Honda with its innovative inverter technology introduced the Microprocessor-controlled Sine Wave Inverter which generators electricity with smooth sine-wave characteristics that result in high-quality power output.
Inverter generators with less than 3% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) are really the safest option for sensitive electronics as they ensure that the power does not surge through the circuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are generators safe for electronics?
Not all generators are safe for electronics, especially the sensitive electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc. Conventional generators doesn’t really contain that technology which we may call the safest for the electronics.
On the other inverter generators with its Sine Wave Technology tend to produce much clean AC power that is much safer for sensitive electronics.
Can a generator ruin appliances?
Overloading a generator can really damage your appliances so you should never run devices or other electronic gadgets unnecessarily. Also, don’t refuel a running generator when it’s running as the heat from the engine parts or exhaust can ignite the gasoline.
Can I use a surge protector with a generator?
Yes, you can use a surge protector with a generator as it will protect your appliances from damaging surges.
How do I make my generator power safe electronics?
One of the ways to do that is by using an uninterruptible power supply. You should look for a UPS with a Generator Mode. These UPS devices are really good at recognizing and compensating for the power from a generator.
Are inverter generators safe for electronics?
Generally, inverter generators are considered to be safe for electronics since they produce electricity without any surges.