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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.
Properly locate the generator outdoors away from doors and windows. An
open door or window will allow dangerous exhaust fumes to enter the
building. 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 (eu2000i, EN2500, EG2500, etc.) can be used to power microwave
ovens, as well as toaster ovens, and other 120V electrical cooking
devices, for meal preparation.
The Honda EU3000is inverter generator is idea 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 EM5000S is a great
choice for homeowners with larger power requirements such as deep well
water pumps. Contact a 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. |
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Generator Safety