Back Up Generator for Home: How to Choose the Right Generator

Power cuts can happen unexpectedly, leaving your home without lighting, heating controls, refrigeration, internet access and other essential equipment.

A back up generator for home use can provide an independent source of electricity when the mains supply goes down, helping you keep essential appliances and equipment operating until normal power is restored.

At Power-Generator.uk, we supply a wide range of petrol generators, diesel generators and inverter generators suitable for domestic, professional and emergency backup applications throughout the UK.

What Is a Home Backup Generator?

A home backup generator produces electricity independently from the mains electricity supply.

During a power cut, a suitable generator can provide temporary electricity for selected household appliances and equipment such as:

• Fridges and freezers
• Lighting
• Wi-Fi routers
• Televisions
• Mobile phones and laptop chargers
• Boiler controls
• Pumps
• Home-office equipment
• Other essential electrical equipment

The amount you can operate depends on the generator's available output and the combined electrical demand of the equipment being powered.

What Size Generator Do I Need for My Home?

This is one of the most important questions when choosing a backup generator for home use.

Generator output is normally measured in watts or kilowatts.

1kW = 1,000 watts

If the equipment you want to operate requires a combined 3,000 watts, your generator needs to comfortably supply that demand.

You should also consider starting wattage. Equipment containing electric motors, compressors and pumps can require substantially more power when starting than during normal operation.

Typical household equipment

These figures are examples only. Always check the manufacturer's stated electrical requirements for the equipment you intend to use.

Instead of trying to power everything in the property, many households choose to concentrate on essential items during a power cut.

What Is the Best Generator for Home Backup?

There isn't one generator that's right for every home.

The best option depends on how much power you need, how frequently you expect to use the generator, your preferred fuel type and whether portability and noise levels are important.

For most buyers, the choice will be between petrol, diesel and inverter generators.

Petrol Generators for Home Backup

Petrol generators are a popular option for occasional emergency backup.

They're available in a broad range of outputs and can provide a cost-effective way of keeping essential equipment operating during temporary power cuts.

Petrol generators can be particularly suitable for:

• Occasional home backup
• Emergency power
• Workshops
• Trade applications
• Portable power
• Outdoor equipment

For households with higher power requirements, larger open-frame generators can offer substantial output while remaining portable.

Diesel Generators for Home Backup

Diesel generators can be particularly attractive where longer running periods or more regular generator use is expected.

They're widely used for domestic backup, commercial applications, workshops, farms and industrial applications.

One option available from our range is the Pramac PMD5000S Canopied Diesel Generator, providing a compact enclosed diesel solution for customers looking for dependable backup power.

For customers requiring a larger diesel generator, we also supply the Excel Power XLD9500Q 6.5kW Diesel Generator.

Diesel generators may be worth considering for:

• Longer-duration power cuts
• Regular backup use
• Rural properties
• Workshops
• Farms
• Commercial premises
• Higher-demand applications

Inverter Generators for Home Use

An inverter generator can be a particularly good choice when clean electrical output is important.

Inverter generators electronically regulate the electricity they produce and are popular for powering equipment such as:

• Laptops
• Televisions
• Chargers
• Home-office equipment
• Electronic devices
• Sensitive electrical equipment

Inverter generators are available in both compact outputs and considerably larger sizes.

For customers requiring substantial output while retaining inverter technology, the Excel Power XL12000iE 10.5kW Petrol Inverter Generator is one of the higher-powered options available from our range.

Silent Generators for Home Backup

Noise can be particularly important when operating a generator around residential properties.

Our range of silent generators includes enclosed models designed to reduce operational noise compared with conventional open-frame generators.

A silent generator may be worth considering if the generator will be used:

• Close to residential properties
• For extended periods
• At workplaces
• In noise-sensitive locations

No combustion generator is completely silent, so appropriate positioning is still essential.

Portable Generator vs Whole-House Backup Generator

There is an important difference between a portable generator and a permanently installed standby generator.

A portable backup generator is normally brought into use when required and can supply selected appliances or equipment.

A permanent standby generator is integrated into the property's electrical system and can potentially provide a much more comprehensive backup solution.

Permanent installations require suitable electrical design, switching equipment and professional installation.

For many households, a portable generator offers a significantly more affordable way to maintain essential power during an outage.

Can I Connect a Generator Directly to My House?

A generator should never be connected to a household electrical system using an improvised connection.

Incorrectly connecting a generator to a property can cause dangerous backfeeding into the electricity network.

If you intend to connect a generator to your home's fixed electrical installation, the system should be designed and installed by an appropriately qualified electrician.

This may involve fitting suitable changeover equipment so that the generator and mains electricity supply cannot energise the installation simultaneously.

Never attempt to power your home by connecting a generator into a normal wall socket.

Never Operate a Generator Indoors

Petrol and diesel generators produce exhaust gases containing carbon monoxide.

A generator should never be operated:

• Inside a house
• Inside a garage
• Inside a shed
• Inside an enclosed porch
• Close to windows
• Close to doors or ventilation openings

Generators should be positioned outside in an appropriately ventilated location and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

230V Generators for Home Use

Most standard household equipment in the UK operates from a 230V electrical supply.

When choosing a generator for home backup, check that the machine provides the correct voltage and socket configuration for the equipment you intend to operate.

Some professional generators provide both 110V and 230V outlets, while others are designed specifically around 230V applications.

What Is AVR?

Many conventional generators are equipped with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR).

AVR helps regulate the generator's output voltage as the electrical load changes.

AVR-equipped generators are commonly used for backup, professional and trade applications.

For particularly sensitive electronic equipment, you may instead prefer one of our inverter generators.

Petrol vs Diesel vs Inverter Generator

As a general guide:

Petrol Generator
A practical and economical choice for occasional home backup and portable electricity.

Diesel Generator
Well suited to longer running periods, frequent operation and higher-demand applications.

Inverter Generator
Ideal where regulated electrical output, electronics and potentially reduced noise are priorities.

You can compare our complete ranges of petrol generators, diesel generators and inverter generators before deciding which is most appropriate.

What About Three-Phase Generators?

Most domestic users require single-phase power.

However, certain workshops, commercial premises and larger properties may have equipment requiring three-phase electricity.

For these applications, see our range of three-phase generators.

Can a Power Station Be Used Instead?

Not every backup-power requirement needs a combustion generator.

Portable power stations can be useful for smaller electrical loads where quiet operation and indoor usability are priorities.

Depending on capacity, a power station may be suitable for:

• Phones
• Laptops
• Wi-Fi equipment
• Lighting
• Small electronics
• Short-duration emergency power

For much larger loads or extended running periods, a conventional generator may be more appropriate.

How Much Power Do You Actually Need?

One of the best ways to avoid purchasing an unnecessarily large generator is to identify your essential loads.

For example, during a power cut you might only need:

Fridge + freezer + boiler controls + Wi-Fi + lighting + phone charging

That can require dramatically less electricity than attempting to operate electric heating, ovens, kettles and other high-demand appliances simultaneously.

Make a list of the equipment you consider essential and calculate the combined running and starting requirements before selecting your generator.

Choosing a Home Backup Generator

Before ordering, consider:

1. Total running wattage
2. Maximum starting wattage
3. Petrol, diesel or inverter technology
4. Required voltage
5. Socket configuration
6. Expected running time
7. Noise requirements
8. Portability
9. Electric or recoil starting
10. How frequently the generator will be used

It's usually sensible to select a generator with some spare capacity rather than choosing a machine that will constantly operate at its maximum rated output.

Home Backup Generators from Power-Generator.uk

At Power-Generator.uk, we supply generators for home backup, trade, commercial, professional and industrial applications throughout the UK.

Browse our ranges:

• Petrol Generators
• Diesel Generators
• Inverter Generators
• Silent Generators
• Open Frame Generators
• Three-Phase Generators
• Power Stations

If you're unsure which generator is appropriate, our team can help you compare available options based on your expected power requirements.

Need help choosing a generator?

📞 0800 222 9069
🌐 Power-Generator.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

What size generator will run a house?

There is no single generator size suitable for every property. It depends on which appliances you intend to operate and their combined running and starting power requirements.

A household looking to maintain only essential equipment may require considerably less generator capacity than someone attempting to provide power to most of the property.

Can a 5kW generator power a home?

A 5kW generator can provide useful emergency power for a selection of household appliances, but whether it is sufficient depends entirely on what is running simultaneously.

High-demand equipment such as electric heaters, kettles, ovens and showers can consume a significant amount of the available capacity.

Is a petrol generator good for home backup?

Yes. A petrol generator can be a practical choice for occasional emergency backup because petrol generators are available in numerous power outputs and are generally easy to transport.

Are diesel generators better for home backup?

A diesel generator may be particularly suitable where longer running periods or more regular use is expected.

For occasional emergency use, petrol may provide a more economical solution depending on your requirements.

Is an inverter generator suitable for a house?

Yes. Inverter generators are particularly attractive where sensitive electronics form part of the intended load.

Larger inverter generators are also available for users requiring considerably more power.

Can I plug a generator into my house?

Never attempt to backfeed electricity into your home through a standard wall socket.

Any generator connection to a property's fixed wiring should be designed and installed by an appropriately qualified electrician using suitable changeover and protective equipment.

Where should I operate my generator?

Combustion generators must be operated outside in an appropriately ventilated location and positioned away from doors, windows and openings where exhaust gases could enter the property.