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Robinsons Ace Features:
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. 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.
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 120V electrical cooking
devices, for meal preparation.
The new 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 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.
You can follow any link that is
underlined!
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