If you own a portable generator, compliance with
equipment operating procedures is critical to the safety and well being of your
family. Non-compliance with safety
regulations and operating guidelines could result in the carbon monoxide poisoning
of loved ones and extensive fire damage to your home.
Employees are encouraged to familiarize themselves
with these generator safety tips so that they’re knowledgeable and are well
prepared for hurricane season:
Always operate a generator in accordance with the manufacturer’s
guidelines and instructions.
To avoid being electrocuted, use heavy duty, outdoor-rated cords with a
wire gauge adequate to plug individual appliances into your generator. Do not operate more appliances and equipment
than the output rating allows.
Never connect a generator to a wall outlet or to the electrical system in
your home since that can cause damage to your equipment and can be a
life-threatening danger to your family, neighbors, and repair crews.
Always operate your generator
outdoors on a level surface in a well-ventilated, dry area away from air intakes
to your home. Your generator needs an
unlimited supply of fresh air for proper cooling during operation so ensure
that it has a minimum of three to four feet of spacing on all sides, including
the top. An open door or window will
allow dangerous exhaust fumes to enter your home. Since combustion engines create carbon
monoxide, which can be lethal, good ventilation is critical.
Be sure to have adequate fuel for your generator and manage consumption
by running for only a few hours at a time.
Never add fuel to your generator when it is running, and always store
additional fuel in approved gasoline containers.
If connecting a generator into your home wiring is necessary on a
temporary basis, a transfer switch must be installed by a licensed electrician.
A transfer switch permits the transfer
of the load from the utility company power source that normally supplies power
over to the portable generator. A transfer
switch will isolate the circuits supplied by the generator. This transfer switch will prevent “backfeeding,”
a term that refers to the inadvertent energizing of circuits in both systems. Backfeeding most commonly occurs when a
generator is connected directly to the electric panel or circuit in a home. Feeding power into the utility system during
an outage will energize the transformer.
This could pose a serious threat to the power line and to the service crews
who are unknowingly working with an energized line as they attempt to restore
power to your home and your neighborhood.
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