Churning with voltage and resembling an explosion at the wire factory, the breaker panel exudes mystique. But it's just a big switch, filled with other smaller ­switches, which lead to the switches ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Anyone who's lived in a home or apartment has probably heard the terms "fuse box" or "circuit breaker" before. If you ever experienced a power ...

100 amps: In an older home that has an electrical panel with only 60 to 80 amps, an upgrade may be needed to power a modern home; 100 amps is typically considered the minimum amount of amps a home ...

Sales of portable generators tend to spike around major storms. But getting a portable generator up and running in a hurry often means bypassing the recommended installation procedure and making do ...

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us? No one likes to be in the dark during a storm. Those who live in cities may not ...

A whole-house generator can keep your home comfortable and safe during power outages, but only when it is installed and used correctly. Because these systems run on fuel and connect directly to your ...

The design of a generator system requires many hours of detailed planning with the goal of creating an extremely reliable backup power source. Properly installed, the ...

Kelly has over 10 years of experience writing about home design and improvement for many prominent publications. She also spent several years working at a tech startup for an interior design game ...