Generator Safety

Black outs, rolling brownouts, what are the options? There is no quick fix to the situation facing many areas of the country as power demand continues to outpace the available resources.

Many homeowners are investing in small output portable generators for recreational and other uses and are now adapting them for use as temporary home power. This versatility is one of the many advantages of portable generators, however everyone should consider how to safely apply the power from the portable generator in a residential situation.

While portable power is ideally distributed through a professionally installed transfer switch, homeowners can easily and safely use a smaller output portable generator to power essential home appliances. There are several safety considerations anyone using a generator should be aware of when powering home appliances. Always read the owners manual before operating your portable generator for back up power.

Never operate an internal combustion engine inside your home, basement, garage or any other enclosed area. The generator needs a minimum of 3 to 4 feet of spacing on all sides (including the top). A generator needs an unlimited supply of fresh air for proper cooling during operation. Since combustion engines create carbon monoxide, which can be lethal, good ventilation is critical. Keep the generator dry and always operate it on a level surface. Never add fuel to your generator when it is running and always store additional fuel in approved Gasoline containers.

It is very important that you never feed power from your portable generator into a wall outlet. This is commonly called back feeding and causes several safety concerns. This causes a very dangerous situation as power back feeds into the Power Company lines and can cause severe injury or death to linemen working on power lines. In addition when the Power Company restores power it can feed directly into your generator causing severe damage to your portable generator.

Another problem associated with back feeding is that the generator may be capable of producing more amperage than the individual household circuit can safely handle. This can cause overheating in your home circuits and create a fire danger.

The safe application of power to your home is achieved simply by using a quality extension cord and surge protected power strip from the generator directly to the appliance that you want to power. Using a power requirement chart you can determine which appliances can be powered safely. During power outages the main concern is for powering sufficient light for the safety of your family. If power is out for several hours you will want to power your refrigerator and freezer to insure that no food spoilage occurs. Remember that it is not necessary to continually power these appliances if your generator has a small power output. Power management will allow you to utilize a small generator to power several appliances safely.

Portable generators over 2000 watts can be used to power microwave ovens, as well as toaster ovens, and other electrical cooking devices, for meal preparation.

The new Honda EU3000is inverter generator is ideal for homes without 220 Volt emergency requirements. If you own a higher output generator with 220-volt capability, you should consider having an appropriate manual transfer switch professionally installed in your home for your added convenience and safety. The Honda EM5000 is a great choice for homeowners with larger power requirements such as deep well water pumps. Contact your nearest Honda Generator dealer or qualified electrician to determine the best transfer switch to match your generator choice.

Once you master the art of "Power Management" you will discover that a small portable generator can safely provide many of the conveniences you count on everyday. And when the power comes back on you will be able to take and use your generator at the park, at the lake, on the boat, tailgating before the big game, as well as many other applications around the home you may never have thought of.