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Purchasing a
Generator
If you
choose to buy a generator, make sure you get one that is
listed with the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or Factory
Mutual (FM). Look at the labels on lighting, appliances, and
equipment you plan to connect to the generator to determine
the amount of power that will be needed to operate the
equipment.
For lighting, the
wattage of the light bulb indicates the power needed.
Appliances and equipment usually have labels indicating power
requirements on them. Choose a generator that produces more
power than will be drawn by the combination of lighting,
appliances, and equipment you plan to connect to the generator
including the initial surge when it is turned on. If your
generator does not produce adequate power for all your needs,
plan to stagger the operating times for various equipment.
If you can not
determine the amount of power that will be needed, ask an
electrician to determine that for you. (If your equipment
draws more power than the generator can produce, then you may
blow a fuse on the generator or damage the connected
equipment.)
Using a
Generator
Follow
the directions supplied with the generator. Under no
circumstances should portable generators be used indoors,
including inside a garage. Adequate ventilation is necessary
and proper refueling practices, as described in the owner’s
manual, must be followed.
It is a good idea to
install one or more Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms inside your
home (following manufacturer’s installation directions). If CO
gas from the generator enters your home and poses a health
risk, the alarm will sound to warn you. Many home fires and
deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning have occurred from using
a generator improperly.
Statistics from the
Northeastern Ice Storm of January/February 1997 show that as
many as 100 people were killed and 5,000 people injured by
misuse of a generator at home.
Be sure to let the
generator cool down before refueling Store fuel for the generator in an
approved safety can. Use the type of fuel recommended in the
instructions or on the label on the generator. Local laws may
restrict the amount of fuel you may store, or the storage
location. Ask your local fire department for additional
information about local regulations.
Store fuel for the
generator out of doors in a locked shed or other protected
area. Do not store fuel in a garage, basement, or anywhere
inside a home, as vapors can be released that may cause
illness and are a potential fire or explosion hazard.
Do not hook up a
generator directly to your home’s wiring The safest thing to do is connect the
equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the
generator. There are several reasons why hooking up a
generator to your home’s electrical service is not a wise
idea.
Home-use
(non-industrial) generators do not supply enough amperage to
supply sufficient power for today’s homes (that is, to run a
furnace, lighting, appliances, and other electronic
equipment). Unless your home’s power supply was installed with
a disconnect to the main power feeding lines, power you put
into your home from a generator could backfeed into the
main line and cause problems for the electrical utility
company, your neighbors, or yourself.
Backfeeding is supplying electrical power from a
generator at the residence into the incoming utility lines.
This occurs when the necessary equipment used to isolate the
generator from the incoming power lines is not installed.
The 1999 National
Electrical Code®, published by the National Fire Protection
Association, is a nationally recognized standard for safe
electrical installations. The NEC® does permit an interface
between the normal power source (generally the electric
utility) and an alternate power source (such as a standby or
portable generator) provided that the proper transfer
equipment that prevents backfeeding is used.
Simply connecting a
cord from the generator to a point on the permanent wiring
system and backfeeding power is an unsafe method to
supply a building during a utility outage. Improper connection
methods not only endanger the building occupants, but pose a
serious hazard to electric utility workers as well.
There are a number of
products available that will provide either an automatic or
manual transfer between two power sources in a manner
prescribed by the NEC®. When selecting a product for this
function, it should be one that has been evaluated for safe
performance by a nationally recognized testing organization
such as Underwriters Laboratories.
The product must be
installed according to the NEC®, all applicable state and
local codes, and the manufacturer’s instructions. Homeowners
should only attempt to install such products if they have a
thorough knowledge of safe electrical installation practices
for this type of equipment. Otherwise a qualified electrician
should be contacted.
If you have
additional questions, please consult a licensed electrician,
your local fire department, or your community’s building
safety or engineering department.
This information was
developed with technical advice from the National Fire
Protection Association (publisher of the National Electric
Code®).
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