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Safety Tips When Using a Portable Electric Generator

Portable electric generators are used by home owners and business owners who are looking for a preventative way to maintain their power and electricity in the event of a power outage. These small diesel power generators are an ideal power source for a short period of time.

One of the most important safety tips to keep in mind when using electric generators is to avoid connecting the diesel power generator directly to your home or office’s wiring. Connecting the electric generator to the building’s wiring can be a deadly choice to you and other people in the area because the home or office’s wiring can “back feed” to the power lines that are connected to the building.

Utility transformers can increase the “back feed” to thousands of volts, which could injure or kill a utility line person working on or repairing the power lines many miles away from your location. Not only could you injure a worker, but this could also cause an expensive damage to your electric generator.

There is one safe way to connect your portable generator to the existing wiring. Have a licensed electrician or contractor install a transfer switch. This switch will transfer the electrical power from the utility power lines to the power coming from your electrical generator. To prevent any electrical line mishaps, you will want to work with a professional, no matter how simple the task may seem. Read all of the manufacturer instructions that come with your electrical generator and keep these reading materials handy at all times. You will want to be familiar with the names of all of the parts and what job and functions each part does. Safety should always be kept in mind when operating these types of devices.