How to Make Portable Generator Power Clean – [4 Unique Methods]

In a modern-day house, there’s no way one would love the idea of having a power shortage. Especially for households that depend on their home appliances now more than never before. From the simple coffee maker to air conditioners, everything needs enough energy to provide service. And that’s why, people don’t take a chance with power outage events anymore. And they do that by simply getting a backup plan, which is usually a generator.

With amazing power flexibilities of a portable generator also comes the big responsibility to maintain it well. And one of the major areas of maintenance is all about power cleaning. Let’s talk about how to make portable generator power clean and keep it working fine for many upcoming years.

Everything About How to Make Portable Generator Power Clean

From what does dirty power mean to how you can clean it up using different methods, let’s walk through every crucial part of this matter.

A Bit About Dirty Power

You can think of dirty power as electrical pollution. This is becoming quite common and prevalent in many households at the present time. The quality of electricity that is getting delivered to your regular usable devices is directly connected to it. The abnormality of this quality is basically what dirty power means. And it can be very harmful to all expensive devices, gadgets, home tools, or anything that is connected to your portable electronics generator.

The issues that get created by dirty power will result into varying degrees of loss for you. In one line, it’s going to be expensive and very disruptive for your regular life. Not to forget the chances of breaking down and malfunctioning your devices. But through, normalizing or simply cleaning up your generator, you can bring the power back to normal.

Once you notice signs of dirty power, don’t delay fixing it. Common signs are flickering lights, buzzing or overheating devices, frequency swings, nuisance breaker trips, and battery backups that keep clicking over to battery. You’ll be able to discover the presence through your sensitive electronics’ regular functioning. Such as PCs, mobile phones, laptops, and other apparatuses.

Photo by Fumikas Sagisavas, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Use an Inverter Generator for Power Cleaning.

The most convenient and easiest way to achieve clean power is through an inverter generator. It converts the engine's raw AC output to DC and then electronically back to a steady AC wave. Many models also let the engine slow down when the load is light.

So, you get safer power for electronics, and the lower engine speed saves fuel. Champion says its inverter generators keep total harmonic distortion below 3%, compared with about 12% to 20% for its conventional portable generators. Generac describes the same DC-to-AC process giving a cleaner wave.

2. Using Uninterruptible Power System AKA UPS.

A UPS pairs power circuitry with one or more batteries. Placed between your generator and your electronics, the right type can smooth out the generator's output.

There are more than just a few types of UPS available in the market now, and you have to be choosy. Only an online (double-conversion) UPS rebuilds the power into a clean sine wave all the time.

And that converted power will run your daily devices. So that it can maintain a safe electrical environment. There are even smart UPS available that can provide functional powering for all of your sensitive electronics.

Cheaper line-interactive units use an AVR (automatic voltage regulator) to correct voltage, but Tripp Lite notes they offer no frequency regulation. If frequency swings are the main problem of your generator, a line-interactive UPS may keep switching to battery, so choose an online model.

3. Using an Individual Voltage Regulator

An AVR, or automatic voltage regulator, holds output voltage steady as the load changes. It does not fix frequency, which depends on engine speed and the generator's governor.

Many generators already have an AVR built in. A standalone regulator senses voltage changes and corrects sags and surges, which helps with flickering lights and voltage-sensitive tools.

Just make sure you get an AVR that matches your generator. It needs to be capable enough of handling the capacity as well as load. Adding a surge suppressor will make its functionality even better. So, you can add one if there’s no problem with such inclusion.

4. Using Power Line Conditioner.

Another effective way to try is to get a generator line conditioner. It’s quite affordable to get one and pretty good for conventional style generators as well. This line will ensure that there’s no damage done to the expensive appliances due to high voltage. It’s simple and easy to use, even for someone who is new with generators. Here also, you need to get a matching line conditioner depending on your generator.

A Few More Alternatives to Try.

Now the above-provided solutions are pretty much enough to solve your problems with dirty power. However, sometimes, the case can be solved without any of these. So, you should try these alternatives first. And check whether the situation is possible to bring under control through it.

Sometimes the fluctuations that take place constantly with power supply are actually due to some loose or frayed wires situation. This may be the underlying cause that’s resulting in weak connections and eventually distorted power supply.

Also, some people don’t really do anything about the grime and dirt that is getting accumulated in engine. If that’s the case with you, then this can also be a possible cause of power issue. So, make sure to get rid of the excess grime and dirt from engine more than a few times.

Keep up with oil changes, air filter cleaning and spark plug checks as the owner's manual directs. A worn or poorly tuned engine can't hold a steady speed, and unsteady speed means unsteady frequency. And finally, make sure you give your generator some good maintenance and care. Often times its nothing technical but just your generator asking for some caring.

Outdoor Speak: Generators are power horses that you rely on whenever there are electrical outages or additional appliances to run. However, they suffer wear and tear as you use them and most of the time, they break down when you needed them the most: wintertime! Read our post and learn how to resolve this issue: Winterize A Power Washer.

Watch This!

Conclusion

And that was basically some of the most convenient methods of how to make portable generator power clean. It’s actually not a difficult issue to solve. Just pick the one that suits your situation best. And the matter should be under control.

It’s actually pretty disturbing to live in the fear of frying your sensitive electronics due to dirty power. So, don’t let that compromise ever take place in your household. And do something about the power cleaning of your portable generator. Let Your Electronics Live in Peace!

Sources

• Total Harmonic Distortion, Champion Power Equipment
• What is an inverter generator?, Generac
• Tough Decision: On-Line or Line-Interactive UPS?, Tripp Lite