With 16 current models to choose from, Cummins Onan offers one of the best selections in home back-up power. You have two basic option here:

• Portable Units
• Automatic Standby Units

The portable units are simply units usually on wheels that will start similar to a large lawnmower, and use the small engine to produce power. These are offers in 50 and 60 Hz models and can provide up to 5.4 kW of power, usually enough to power the necessities in a house. This can be accomplished by simply plugging the items into the generator (which has to be run outdoors) or having a transfer switch installed into your home and bypassing the current breaker box.

The standby units are generally installed in a permanent manner outside your home, and then enclosed in a weatherproof enclosure that can come in a neutral stock color, or be adjusted to match your home. These units can also be run on LP or natural gas, and when installed with their transfer switch, switch on automatically when your power goes out, and turn off when the power is restored. Often these units are larger, and designed to run everything in your home just as you would normally.