Generator Safety

Generators have firmly entered the lives of ordinary people. In order to operate the generator safely, a few simple rules should be followed.

With the onset of winter or with a regular outage, people are in a hurry to purchase a mini-power station. For many, this is the first experience of operating a generator.

Take a few minutes, make sure your generator ready for work. Check the level of oil and fuel in your generator, and if a long-term blackout is expected, replenish the fuel and supplies - filter, spark plugs, oil.

There are also several important safety instructions that we recommend that you observe while the generator is running.

To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning (carbon monoxide):

• Always use generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and air vents.

• Never start generators in homes, garages, basements or other enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, even with ventilation. There are many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning and, unfortunately, even fatal.

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Generator models change frequently. We recommend that you read the instruction manual, sometimes they give practical advice.

• Install an exhaust gas detector (with battery backup) Carbon Monoxide (CO) in your home in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

• Carry out a CO Test regularly and replace the batteries if necessary.

To avoid the risk of electric shock:

• Keep the generator dry. Use it under an open canopy or build a small extension for the generator to keep it clean and protected from rain.

• Connect the necessary electrical appliances directly to the generator, use a quality extension cord. Make sure the cable cross-section matches the power of the generator used.

• Make sure that the entire length of the extension cord is cut or torn and that the plug has three poles, including a ground contact.

• NEVER plug the generator into an electrical outlet. This connection method can lead to electric shock to electricians and other workers repairing power lines.

• If you need to connect the generator to the house wiring to power the appliances, contact a qualified electrician and install the appropriate equipment, whether ABP unit to automatically switch the load from the city to the generator and vice versa, or it can just be a cross over switch.

• Know the specifications and specifications of your generator and the power your generator is capable of delivering. Try not to overload it. Recommended load for the generator is 75% of the nominal. The time of continuous operation is indicated in the passport for the generator. Typically, the generator runs continuously for 8-12 hours, depending on the capacity of the fuel tank.

• If the generator is portable, then ground it before each start-up to avoid electric shock.

To avoid a fire:

• Before refueling the generator, turn it off and allow it to cool. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.

• Always store fuel outside the living area in a special container.

• Keep fuel separate from the generator.

• The space around the generator must not be blocked by objects.

Sergey Seromashenko