Builders' Show: After stormy weather, generators in demand

Standby generators have certainly drawn the attention of Baby Boomers, considering that 80 percent of sales go to homeowners age 50 or older. At the very least, standby generators—which start up automatically when needed—can protect not only your home but also your life.

We saw standby and portable generators at the International Builders’ Show , from Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group (co-branded with GE), Generac and Kohler. In the months ahead, we’ll be choosing which generators to test this year from among available models.

Briggs & Stratton, as shown in the video, announced 17-kilowatt (kW) and 20 kW models that use the same galvanized-steel housing. Airflow directed out the front of the model, claims the company, lets either unit be situated closer to a house with combustible siding than the five feet that certain other models (including Kohler’s) require. Monitoring of protected circuits comes from the Symphony II power-management system , which includes load control modules. Common in standby generators, these prioritize high-amperage appliances to keep all from cycling on at the same time and overloading the generator.

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