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.
NEW!! During
Florida's recent hurricanes it was noted that many cities didn't have
adequate generators to run their sewer systems during power outages, and
many nursing homes had enough fuel to run generators for only three days.
Schools in Punta Gorda and Pensacola were closed for more than two weeks.
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. |
