Skip to content
Technician

—Comparing the options

Portable or installed backup generator

A portable generator is moved and plugged in; an installed one starts itself and feeds the circuits it is wired to.

A portable generator is brought out when the power fails and connected to the appliances it is running, usually with extension leads or a proper inlet. An installed generator sits permanently, starts automatically and feeds the essential circuits through a changeover arrangement. The difference is convenience and how the connection is made.

Comparison guides weigh two electrical options against each other and note where each one fits best.

The electrical point is the connection. A generator must never feed the installation without a changeover or transfer arrangement, because it could back-feed into the supply. That connection is the part that decides how much of the home can be covered and how safely the backup works.

01In short

The points that matter most

  • Convenience

    An installed generator starts itself; a portable one is brought out and connected.

  • What it feeds

    A portable covers what it is connected to; an installed one feeds the wired circuits.

  • The connection

    Both need a safe connection so they cannot back-feed into the supply.

02Detail

What each option involves

  • Portable generator

    A unit kept for outages, connected to appliances through leads or a proper inlet.

  • Installed generator

    A permanent unit with a changeover feeding the essential circuits.

  • The changeover

    A transfer arrangement that keeps the generator and the supply apart.

03Checklist

Before choosing

  • List the essential loads

    Which circuits must keep working during an outage.

  • Decide on convenience

    Whether the backup has to start on its own or can be set up by hand.

  • Check the position

    Where a generator can sit, for fuel, noise and exhaust.

—In practice

Putting it into practice

List the circuits that must stay on during an outage, because that decides the whole setup. The connection must use a changeover or transfer arrangement so the generator can never back-feed into the supply. Decide whether the backup has to start on its own or can be set up by hand.

Common mistakes

Plugging a generator into a socket
Back-feeding through a socket is dangerous and can energise the supply. The connection must use a changeover.
No list of essential loads
Without a list of what must stay on, the generator is sized and connected to the wrong circuits.

04Questions

Questions people ask

Can I plug a generator into a socket?
No. That can back-feed into the supply and is dangerous. The connection to essential circuits must use a proper changeover or transfer arrangement.
What is a changeover?
A transfer arrangement that keeps the generator and the mains supply apart, so only one can feed the installation at a time.
Which is better for a villa?
It depends on how often the power fails and how much must stay running. An installed unit is convenient; a portable one is a smaller commitment.

05Related

Related guides

This guide sits under installation. All topics are on the guides page.

—NEXT

Planning backup power?

Tell us which circuits must stay on. We will plan the changeover and the essential loads.

Send the details+971 56 181 0106WhatsAppInstallation